A loyal-beyond-the-call-of-duty pup has been reunited with family after standing guard over her owner’s body in the wilderness for more than 10 weeks.
Colorado hiker Rich Moore, 71, went missing in August, when he went to climb Blackhead Peak in the San Juan Mountains east of Pagosa Springs.
Rescuers searched for days along the treacherous, steep mountainside that rose between his parked car and the peak, but the experienced hiker could not be located.
“We searched from just under the peak-top and directly west, searching down the mountain toward where his car was located,” said Taos Search and Rescue’s Delinda VanneBrightyn, who joined the search along with her certified K9 AkioYodasan. “Winds were directly from the west/southwest. It was so steep, we were inserted in by a helicopter. He was found 2.5 miles east of the mountaintop beneath where we were inserted.”
A hunter happened upon Moore’s body on Oct. 30, long after the search had been called off. Finney, the 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, was found by Moore’s side. She had lost half her body weight and was down to 6 pounds from her original 12.
The next day, a recovery crew was flown in to fetch Moore’s body and his faithful companion. After a visit to the vet, Finney was reunited with the rest of Moore’s family, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office said.
“Jack Russells are pretty fierce, I have to say, they’re tough little dogs,” said VanneBrightyn. She called Finney’s fortitude a “magnificent story of survival” as well as a testament to the dog’s dedication and loyalty to Moore.
Moore’s cause of death was hypothermia, which can cause someone to become confused and disoriented, Archuleta County Coroner Brad Hunt said.
Finney probably survived on small animals such as mice while dodging predators that could have included mountain lions, coyotes and bears, VanneBrightyn said Tuesday.
“If that dog could talk it would be an amazing story,” she added. “We probably could not even believe the story the dog would tell.”
With News Wire Services
Theresa Braine
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