Some rescues take minutes. Clifford’s took two years.

Beneath the shade of a mulberry tree, surrounded by sprawling cornfields, lived a large red dog with three legs and a powerful fear of human beings. Every sound could send him running. Every unfamiliar movement threatened the fragile safety he had built for himself.

When Cathy Cornell discovered him, she knew helping him would require more than good intentions.

Day after day, she returned with food and fresh water, learning his habits and respecting the distance he needed to feel safe. Along the way, two vulnerable pups needed rescuing, coyotes threatened the surrounding fields, and Clifford’s unpredictable movements made every small improvement feel uncertain.

Then he disappeared.

For approximately six months, Cathy searched, fearing the worst. A farmer’s unexpected information eventually led her to orange orchards miles away, where a familiar van, a gentle voice, and a simple touch brought a remarkable moment of trust.

But finding Clifford was only part of the battle. His injuries required veterinary care, and his future depended on people willing to give him the life he had never known.

Told through Cathy’s firsthand experience, Clifford Under the Mulberry Tree is a deeply personal account of rescue, persistence, and the beautiful transformation that becomes possible when compassion lasts longer than fear.