A California Dog That Was Lost and Found Months Later in Deep Snow Is Reunited With Owner

A California Dog That Was Lost and Found Months Later in Deep Snow Is Reunited With Owner
Courtesy of Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends
Updated:

A beloved dog that went missing in August 2021 has been reunited with his owner after a backcountry skier found him four months later, huddled up in deep snow.

Pit bull-terrier mix, Russ, was discovered curled up in the snow near Twin Peaks, west of South Lake Tahoe in California on Dec. 16, seemingly unable to move. The frozen pup growled at the individuals who observed him.

However, a man skiing west of Tahoe saw the dog and managed to take photos and posted them online.

El Dorado County Animal Services Officer Kyle Shumaker was notified and he tried his luck but was unable to reach Russ through the 5-foot mountainside snow and steep terrain.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://tahoepaws.org/">Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends</a>)
Alerted to the emergency, TLC 4 Furry Friends & Tahoe PAWS director Wendy Jones called animal search-and-rescue volunteers to respond. Experienced animal tracker Leona Allen, 61, and her volunteer partner, Elsa Gaule, donned their snowshoes and stepped up.
The pair drove their dog rescue equipment, plus a sled borrowed from Officer Shumaker, to the site, according to a Facebook post. Russ was tracked down to a spot up the mountain and found, frozen stiff, under a tree. His rescuers breathed a sigh of relief when he lifted his head.
(Courtesy of <a href="https://tahoepaws.org/">Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends</a>)

After Gaule earned his trust, the duo wrapped Russ in a blanket and placed him on the sled into one of their arms to keep him warm. “Since it was dark,” said the welfare group, “the trek down the mountain was slow and methodical.”

Shumaker drove Russ to a vet for assessment where he was declared healthy and his microchip traced his elated owner.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://tahoepaws.org/">Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends</a>)

“When contacted, the owner was ecstatic to find out that his dog was alive!” the organization wrote on Facebook. “Russ had gotten scared and run off from his owner’s vehicle while he was in Tahoe for a job ... in August!”

After Russ went missing, the owner had reported the case to Animal Services and continued his fervent search until he was, himself, evacuated when the Caldor Fire neared his home in Riverside County. He later assumed Russ was gone for good.

After the rescue of Russ, volunteers visited him every day “to remind him that he was loved” until he was ready to make the journey home to Riverside. His story went viral, with hundreds of Facebook comments commending TLC 4 Furry Friends & Tahoe PAWS and El Dorado County Animal Services for saving the lost dog’s life.

Russ and his owner have since been reunited.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://tahoepaws.org/">Tahoe PAWS & TLC 4 Furry Friends</a>)
Allen reflected, speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle: “I keep reliving the moment when he opened his eyes and lifted his head, and just the joy and elation inside of me was overwhelming. It’s one more life that gets to live happy and warm and safe.”
Share your stories with us at [email protected], and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter