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Judi Lynn

(160,452 posts)
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 08:06 PM Nov 2020

After a year lost in the woods, dog reunites with owner

yesterday

ARNOLD, Mo. (AP) — Nearly a year after Walter the dog went missing in suburban St. Louis, apparently wandering the woods behind an industrial park, the golden retriever is back with his owner.

KSDK-TV reports that Kate Olson of New Hampshire was in Arnold, Missouri, visiting relatives last Thanksgiving when Walter slipped out of his collar and took off. Olson stayed in Missouri for weeks searching for the dog and printing and distributing fliers.

She eventually returned to New England but got calls about sightings. She returned in January to search again. No luck, so she created a “Where’s Walter?” Facebook page and enlisted animal rescue groups in the search.

Finally, on Friday, Olson got the call she had been waiting for. A group based in Belleville, Illinois, called Lost Paws Trapping was able to capture Walter. Olson immediately got on a plane and was reunited with Walter Friday night.

More:
https://apnews.com/article/1-year-lost-in-woods-dog-reunites-owner-fca32d9cbf2eaffed7e20f0f48619eac

~ ~ ~

WATCH: Dog missing for nearly a year finally reunited with owner

By Sam Masterson NewsRadio 1120 KMOX

ARNOLD, Mo. (KMOX/AP) — A nightmare that began at a family Thanksgiving gathering near St. Louis, has finally had a miracle ending nearly a year later.

Kate Olson of New Hampshire was visiting relatives in Arnold, Mo. last Thanksgiving when her golden retriever, Walter, slipped out of his collar and took off.

She stayed in St. Louis for a few weeks hoping to find him. Although eventually returning to New England, she never gave up on him. She printed fliers and took trips back to St. Louis when she got a hot tip about a Walter sighting.



Photo credit (Lost Paws Trapping)
Olson estimates she spent about $1,000 in her search.

She also created a “Where’s Walter?” Facebook page and enlisted animal rescue groups in the search.

And on Friday, Olson finally got a call she was waiting for. It was from a social-media based pet group called Lost Paws Trapping. Olson immediately got on a plane and was reunited with Walter Friday night.

More:
https://www.radio.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/dog-missing-for-nearly-a-year-finally-reunited-with-owner?utm=newsbreak

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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After a year lost in the woods, dog reunites with owner (Original Post) Judi Lynn Nov 2020 OP
Thank you for posting this... Unrepentant Fenian Nov 2020 #1
Just found a short video taken by the people who try to trap lost critters. Judi Lynn Nov 2020 #6
never give up hope NJCher Nov 2020 #2
I have an interesting story about losing our dog. texasfiddler Nov 2020 #3
Wow. Thank goodness. Everything came together at just the right time. That would be shocking! Judi Lynn Nov 2020 #5
Happy happy! Blue Owl Nov 2020 #4

Unrepentant Fenian

(1,078 posts)
1. Thank you for posting this...
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 08:15 PM
Nov 2020

I love stories like this! I can only imagine how Walter and Kate felt when they saw each other!

Judi Lynn

(160,452 posts)
6. Just found a short video taken by the people who try to trap lost critters.
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 08:58 PM
Nov 2020

This was an earller attempt when Walter was still very frightened, and he ran away:

https://www.facebook.com/261438284438417/videos/3667954893263105

I love these stories, like you, Unrepentant Fenian. Animals are really helpless in a world with so many horrendous threats. They need concern and caring, always, when they are domesticated animals, not really prepared to fend for themselves against such odds.

No doubt Walter didn't want to let Kate out of his sight for a long time!

texasfiddler

(1,989 posts)
3. I have an interesting story about losing our dog.
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 08:42 PM
Nov 2020

My wife was bicycling with our dog "ginger". We live on a rural country road and about 2 miles from our house ginger spotted a rabbit and slipped out of her collar/leash and chased the rabbit into the woods. My wife frantically called for her and tried to find her with no luck. Unfortunately, we had to eventually call the search off. It was nerve racking going to bed knowing she was out there somewhere alone. The next morning I printed out flyers with her picture on it. I placed these flyers at stop signs and intersections within a mile of her disappearance. As I was traveling down one of the busy roads about a quarter mile from the incident I noticed a home owner leaving their house. I caught him at the end of the driveway an showed him the flyer with the picture of ginger. He looked at the flyer and as he gazed over the flyer across the busy road from his house he said "I think I see her". I turned around and sure enough looking at me under a fence across the road was ginger. I was so happy and shocked how the whole thing transpired. I still can't believe how that happened.

Judi Lynn

(160,452 posts)
5. Wow. Thank goodness. Everything came together at just the right time. That would be shocking!
Tue Nov 17, 2020, 08:52 PM
Nov 2020

It would seem like a miracle. It must have been overwhelming.

It's so good Ginger didn't travel any farther away than that. The neighbor who spotted her must have been so happy for you, Ginger, and your wife, as well, knowing how rare it is when everything works out just perfectly.

Your event can bring tears to the eyes of a stranger just reading about it! Thanks.

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