On June 18, 2021, Betsy and Jim Chaffin’s ten-month-old Cockapoo, Bella, got separated from the retired couple and their two other dogs at Capitol Creek Ditch Trail in Colorado (via The Aspen Times).
The next day, they returned to the trail and put up missing dog posters, but after a week of desperately trying locate Bella, they started to feel hopeless.
“You just feel so guilty,” Betsy explained. “We just figured a coyote got Bella.”
Bella Was Lost, But Renewed Hope Was Found
However, on day ten, a miracle happened. A hiker saw a dog that matched Bella’s description, but the pup ran away before anyone could attempt a rescue.
“We think she went into survival mode where she did nothing but hide, eat, and drink,” Betsy said. That’s all Betsy needed to continue her search. “Betsy never gave up hope,” Jim said of his wife.
The couple renewed their search efforts, pulling out all the stops in an attempt to lure Bella to safety. Over course of three weeks, the Chaffins contacted the Aspen Animal Shelter, a self-proclaimed pet dog psychic, and placed missing dog ads on the radio.
The couple also scattered some of Bella’s belongings along the trail and set up a pup tent “with some of their clothes and Bella’s toys inside.” Nothing worked.
‘It’s A Bit Of A Miracle’
Betsy then decided to place missing dog posters further down the trail. On June 17, almost a month to the day that Bella went missing, a worker at a nearby ranch, named Ochoa, spotted her and approached close enough to read the number of Bella’s tags.
He left a voicemail for Betsy, and after an hour drive, the Chaffins reunited with Bella, who had lost half of her bodyweight.
“It’s a bit of a miracle,” Betsy said, with Jim stating that, “the thing that really touched us was the outpouring of support.” He added, “one of the real gifts was the connections to the community.”
Could this be a sequel to Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey? The Chaffins can only wonder what their beloved Bella went through during her harrowing adventure.
“How does any dog survive in the White River National Forest for a month, much less an eight-pound, ten-month-old, little Cockapoo?” the Chaffins wrote.
“There was plenty of water between the creek and the rains. Was she eating grasses, cow pies, an occasional varmint? This is a drainage populated by coyotes, fox, mountain lion and bear — how did she manage to hide? What stories Bella could tell but will never be told.”
Tips To Make Sure You Won’t Lose Your Dog
Even the best pet parents can have slipups or accidents. But these guidelines can help you keep your dog safe:
- Microchip your dog and keep the info updated
- Put a collar on your dog with current ID tags
- Teach them the commands “come” and “stay”
- Keep them on a leash in public
- Keep your home and yard secure with a fence or enclosure
- Have your dog spayed or neutered to prevent wandering
- Pay attention and always supervise outdoor playtime
- Get a dog seat belt for car rides
- Keep your dog’s documentation available, including a recent picture
- Keep your dog indoors when you’re not home
Are you surprised Bella survived getting lost in the wilderness? Has your dog ever gone missing? Let us know in the comments below!
