Family dog survives 98 days on deserted New Jersey island

[A HERETIC I AM]

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale — a tail, really — about a brave beagle and a family's refusal to give up.

Buddy, a 4-year-old beagle, was reunited with his New Jersey family on Monday after 98 days spent on unihabited Gull Island in New Jersey's Manasquan Inlet. The Kelleys, of Eatontown, N.J., lost control of Buddy on Aug. 31 as the family attempted to switch the dog's leash while frolicking on Dog Beach in Manasquan.

Two months later, Buddy — who had lost so much weight he was little more than skin and bones — was spotted along railroad tracks near the deserted island. (Snip)

(snip) Exactly how the dog survived is unclear, but Kelley said Coast Guard officials told her the dog might have survived on dead seagulls found on the island. But by the time a local man, "Muskrat" Jack Neary, successfully trapped Buddy on Monday, the once-35-pound dog had dropped to just 19 pounds.

Wow. 35 pounds to 19. Poor lil fella!
More here

[Mz Pip]

1. He looks exhausted!

What an ordeal for all involved. Beagle are smart little dogs and this one was no exception. Lucky guy back home in a nice warm bed.

I love happy endings!

[CreekDog]

5. a little too smart sometimes

:loveya:

[starroute]

2. Manasquan has always been a mythical place to me

When I was a kid growing up in New York City, the weather reports would talk about coastal conditions from Manasquan to Cape May. I've never been to either one, and though I eventually found out that Cape May was merely the southern tip of New Jersey, to this day Manasquan lingers in my imagination as a mythical place.

This story -- right down to the mention of "Muskrat" Jack -- does absolutely nothing to change that.

[monmouth]

8. When I was married I lived in Manasquan for many many years. Nice town....n/t

[kimi]

3. Ah, that's a great story for the holidays

or any days. How fortunate all of them are.

[amandabeech]

4. Get well soon, Buddy.

Lots of love from his family should help.

[Hannah Bell]

6. I don't get it--the dog slipped the leash on the mainland, but was found on the island?

[FarCenter]

7. NJ Transit tracks cross the island

But so much for the theory that Lassie will find her way home! He was going south instead of north.