Our world can be dangerous for people and pets. Natural and personal disasters have torn interspecies families apart. Every so often, though, a flicker of hope flares into a brilliant reunion.
Here are but a few “tails” of courage, steadfastness and love — and two testaments to microchipping.
Southern Oregon. July, 2021. Tammie Broggin pleaded with Betty, her six-year-old Newfoundland-Shepherd mix, to hop into Broggin’s car with her other six dogs as the Bootleg fire raged toward them. Broggin had to evacuate, but Betty wouldn’t budge. Heartsick, a distraught Broggin sped away with her canine crew, leaving Betty behind. Three months passed before officials allowed Broggin to search the burn area. Betty hadn’t been seen and there was no sign of her. Broggin resigned that Betty had perished.
Nearly eight months later, a dog was found crouched in a garden in Bend, Oregon. It was Betty. She’d padded 150 miles north from her home in Klamath Falls. City of Bend Animal Control officers brought Betty to the Humane Society of Central Oregon. A microchip scan ID’d Broggin as Betty’s human. Having later fled the Monument fire in Northern California, Broggin and her dogs were en route to Oklahoma when she got the call. Betty would be coming home.
Russ, a pit bull terrier mix, reportedly bolted from his human’s car last August as the Caldor fire circled Lake Tahoe, California. He was later spotted by skiers but growled when they approached. By the time Leona Allen from the nonprofit TLC 4 Furry Friends found him last December 16th, Russ appeared to be nothing more than a lifeless mass in the snow. Allen screamed with joy when Russ opened his eyes and lifted his head. Such began Russ’ harrowing rescue operation in the crags of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
A rescue team trekked Russ up a steep slope then eased him down the mountain on a sled. A volunteer kept him warm and calm. Following a veterinary evaluation, Officers with El Dorado County Animal Services tracked down Russ’ human using microchip data. Russ’ human was “ecstatic” to learn that he was alive, officials from TLC 4 Paws told the Associated Press.
In Big Stone Gap, Virginia, one stray dog a family adopted showed his gratitude in a way no one expected — and wound up getting home to his original family. On the morning of December 2, 2021, Charity Golloway awoke to Butler’s frantic barking. Peering outside her window she saw flames in Butler’s doghouse quickly spreading to Golloway’s home. Local volunteer firefighter, Justin Stidham, said that the fire was sparked by an electric lamp that had been placed by Butler’s shelter to keep him warm.
“If it wasn’t for that dog . . . we would’ve been there for hours fighting that house [fire],” Stidham said.
Earlier last year, Butler showed up at Golloway’s home. After getting no response to pictures posted on social media, the family adopted him. When Butler mugged with first responders on the Facebook page of a local news affiliate, his original owners spotted him and reached out to the Golloways. Butler’s real name is Cooper.
“He’s going to be leaving us and that makes me want to cry,” said Golloway, “but I’m happy for him. We’ll be staying in touch.”