Missing Dog, Miley, Home Safe On LI: 'My Dream Came True'

MONTAUK, NY —It was the happiest of endings for a Montauk woman whose missing dog Miley, who she described as her "whole world," came home safely Tuesday night.

Miley went missing while Kate Usher was away on a rare family vacation. And as she rushed to get back home, a caring community sprang into action to help search for Miley, a 10-year-old pit bull mix who went missing when someone working at Usher's house let her out Monday.

When her flight landed early Wednesday, Usher was greeted by texts telling her that Miley had returned home.

"I don't think I've ever experienced happiness like that — it was just pure joy," Usher said.

During the whole flight home, Usher said she was crying. "I was just miserable. I couldn't breathe. I hadn't slept since she went missing, 36 hours earlier."

Usher was living on coffee and panic, unable to eat, she said.

Her friends and the Montauk community searched for Miley and grilled food all day to try to entice her back home.

"I have never felt more love from the community," Usher said. "It was just insane. The whole town came together."

Driving home Wednesday morning, Usher said she saw her sweet Miley on "missing" posters plastered on every available surface. "Her face was everywhere," she said.

Usher said she spoke to dog tracker Teddy Henn as well as psychics, who all said Miley was not far from home.

She asked her friend Doug Davidson to stay by the grill and "not to give up," and he held true to his word — cooking one steak, one burger, one piece of bacon at a time, long into the night.

"At 12:45 in the morning he was down to his last piece of bacon," Usher said. "That was the one that lured her home."

When she arrived back in Montauk, Usher said her reunion with Miley was a moment she'll never forget. "She was elated," she said.

Miley, limping, scratched, and starving — she ate two burgers, bacon, and a steak — spent the day cuddled up with Usher.

"I have this theory — she did this to get me home," Usher said.

Usher described the bond she shares with her four-footed friend. "She's my whole world," she said.

Usher found Miley abandoned in the Bronx when she was 18. "She's literally taught me about love and companionship," Usher said. "She's been my constant, my whole life."

Usher said she normally finds it hard to travel and leave Miley behind but this was a family trip with her mother and brother. She was wracked with worry about her lost dog.

Miley, she said, sleeps with her every night "like a human. She's my sidekick."

Usher had a heart full of gratitude for her neighbors, friends, and even strangers who gathered together to help search.

Originally from Manhasset, Usher said Montauk is her chosen place. "To feel so connected with the community, to have all of that love from people that I know and from people that don't know me at all, with everyone searching — I'm only 27 and I have a lot of things to figure out for myself. But one thing I know for sure: Montauk is my forever home."

Home at last, Usher said she is forever thankful that Miley can sleep in her bed beside her once again, safe, the way she always has. "I am so happy," she said.

To the community, she added: "Thank you, Montauk. Without your help, this wouldn't have been possible. My dream came true."