Posted on 11/15/2023 4:52:26 PM PST by yesthatjallen
A loyal dog stayed by her dead owner's side for nearly three months on a hiking trail - and the starving pup weighed just 6lb after surviving on insects and chipmunks, and fending for herself in the Colorado mountains.
Rich Moore, 71, and his black and white Jack Russell, Finney, disappeared on a hike on August 19 in Blackhead Peak, located in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado.
The arduous search for Rich and his dog was the 'most comprehensive' in the Sherriff's team's history - and despite having other K9s searching for Finney and handlers calling out his name in the mountains, it did not lead to a sighting.
The missing man's body was then discovered by a local hunter on October 30 in the Lower Blanco drainage basin - and by a miracle, little Finney was still by his side.
Rescuers who had come to collect Moore's body were able to coax loyal Finney away from his remains with a can of dog food - after loyally sticking by for three months.
The gaunt dog was still wearing her purple collar with 'Finney' written on the tag, but the personnel said that she was so skinny it was drooping off of her neck.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
The dog didn’t have to suffer; there was plenty of food right there. Any cat would have been well-fed when found.
He finally found his way out.
Never go alone..a simple fall can do you in.
I would expect nothing less from a Jack. Amazing little dogs. Brave as a lion, stone cold killers of vermin. Most are very sweet and cuddly. Always up for an adventure.
The picture didn’t show.
Why not?
I think he’s old enough to make his own decisions.
He, probably, ate the guy.
Cats would have, for sure.😜
I’m surprised that Finney survived that long near a decomposing body. There are lots of predators/scavengers in those woods (bears, coyotes, cougar) who would be attracted by the smell and who would see a starving Jack Russell terrier as a meal.
Would a cat do that? {ducks}.
Never go alone.
And always leave a written hike plan behind with someone, so they know where you plan to go and when to expect you to return.
That’s my prayer as well. My husband died almost 2 years ago. I have no kids or siblings. It’s just 4 dogs and me. My fervent prayer is to outlive my dogs and not end up in a nursing home. I want to die on my farm.
I have Irish Wolfhounds. Not many people want a dog that weighs between 150 and 200+ pounds.
I think the buddy system is a wise choice. Only a human counts as buddy…
I hiked Lone Peak in Utah when I lived there. An older couple, probably late 60s passed us hiking up. They had lunch at the peak and greeted us again on the way down. If that’s what you do, you get accustomed to it.
A simple fall can do you in if you’re alone in your own home, too. I always prefer to hike and hunt alone.
It came through that time. Pretty good.
First, don’t die on us.
Second, somebody would take the dogs. You’re rural, so one of your neighbors would help out.
Should you drive your car to the store tomorrow? Things happen all the time you cannot control.
So he sits home alone with his dog. Keels over dead... alone.
How is that any different?
Sitting in the easy chair, eating cheetos like you, he could still die alone.
I prefer the buddy system. At least there’s somebody there to take my dog home and tell the recovery team where to find my body.
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