Lost Dog Makes 150-Mile Journey Home Thanks To Local Shelters

TACOMA, WA — Several Western Washington animal shelters are celebrating an amazing rescue that helped a beloved family dog reunite with his family after he got lost over 150 miles away from home.

The rescue effort started Sept. 25, when a group of hikers in Wenatchee National Forest found Teddy Bear, a 5-year-old German shepherd dog who had been lost out in the woods. The hikers brought Teddy Bear with them back home, leaving him in the care of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County.

The Humane Society said what happened next was a mix of good and bad news. The good news, was that Teddy Bear was microchipped, so they could easily find his rightful home. The bad news: That home was in Yakima, miles and miles and miles away.

However, that didn't deter the Humane Society, which reached out to its contemporaries in Seattle and Yakima, and began hatching a plan to get Teddy Bear home.

“We had the opportunity to get this boy back to his family,” said Nathan Van Ness, pet support coordinator at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. “Knowing there was a regular transport between them, we immediately reached out to Seattle Humane and the Yakima Humane Society.”

Their plan in action, Seattle Humane took Teddy Bear aboard their "Chelsey's Rescue Rider" — a vehicle the shelter keeps on hand for long-haul rescue trips. Normally, the Rescue Rider is used to transport animals in need from Eastern Washington and Los Angeles to the Seattle area. This time, it took Teddy Bear in the opposite direction, eastward toward home.

“Our Lifesaver Assistant transported Teddy Bear, and he was thrilled to do it! We love reuniting pets to their homes,” said Sarah Davidson, lifesaver program supervisor at Seattle Humane. “Huge shout out to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County for getting him here to us so early that morning and to the Yakima Humane Society for coordinating his owner to pick him up.”

Once in Yakima, Teddy Bear was relayed to the Yakima Humane Society, which took the dog on the final leg of his journey to be reunited with his family. The organization says Teddy Bear's family was overjoyed to have him back.

Now Teddy Bear is back with his loved ones, and rescue organizers say they also learned something about working together to help animals in need.

“We’re so grateful to be a part of an animal welfare network that can come together to support an animal in need, and we hope it will continue to build,” said Van Ness.