Missing New Milford Dog Finds His Way Home After 13 Days

NEW MILFORD, CT — A missing New Milford dog has found his way home after 13 days in the wild.

Copper, a two-year-old rescue dog, was spooked by a pick-up truck while walking with his owner Jean Mariano in Saga Meadow Park. The dog slipped his harness and vanished into the woods. Mariano began distributing posters, searching and worrying.

Also worried was Amy La Russo, Manager of Unleashed, a local New Milford kennel where the lab-mix had occasionally boarded when Mariano went out of town.

"Copper quickly became a part of our boarding family, always needing extra attention… shy and vulnerable," La Russo said. "When I found out Copper was missing my heart ripped in two."

On the 13th day of the search, La Russo said she heard a whimpering on the porch of her Washington Depot home. She opened the door and Copper leaped into her arms. It was a complete surprise since Copper had never been to her house before, which was ten miles from where he got lost in New Milford.

"I clutched him afraid he would disappear in a puff of smoke," La Russo said. Skinny and starving, Copper walked into the living room and made himself at home. LaRusso immediately called Mariano, who left her house in her pajama’s to pick him up.

"I hope if I were lost, somebody wouldn't give up on me," La Russo said. "I was thrilled to be chosen, but this isn't my story this is Copper’s story, his journey."