Welcome to February’s first Nature Friday edition, where we join our pals Rosy, Sunny and Jakey from LLB in Our Backyard. Rosy and gang recently relocated to the Land of enchantment so make you you click on the link to check out their adventures.
Originally I had planned on doing a post about the big storm that hit the Mile High City this week, bringing windchill temps down to sub-zero levels. And then I heard a most remarkable story on the radio this morning about a nature story of sorts from the Western Slope and decided to rewrite it.
It all started the day after Christmas. Returning to their Grand Junction home from Denver, Charles Reigies, girlfriend Hannah Poscente and their dog, Mia hit a spot of black ice near Gypsum, CO late at night and crashed. When Charles came to, Hannah was injured, Mia had disappeared and their Jeep was on its side. Hannah was rushed to the hospital by ambulance with a broken neck. Charles searched for Mia until the tow truck arrived. He wasn’t able to find Mia in the snow but that’s not where this story ends.
When Hannah was released from hospital the next day, she reactivated her Facebook page and joined various lost pet sites hoping for a miracle.
At the time, this was one of the first snowstorms to hit the region and cold temps moved in. Hannah’s post were liked and shared and thus the ‘village’ began the implausible quest of Charles and Hannah finding their beloved pet.
Enter Janet Cross, who lived near the crash site, and heard about it. She set up a trail camera near the accident. When reviewing footage, she realized Mia (like many pets do when separated from their family) returned to the area twice a day. Mia was skinny, temps were freezing, but she was alive. There were other sightings among various people but living 2 hours away from the crash made it difficult for Charles and Hannah to follow up quickly on them. But Janet didn’t giving up. She obtained a trap from animal control and checked it every hour. She refused to give up on finding Mia and continued to help reunite the family.
The deer fence the vehicle crashed into was rebuilt making Mia’s reunion even more challenging. Mia was not seen for 8 days. Then a miracle happened. Janet received a call from someone who lived 10 miles from the crash site indicating that Mia had been spotted so Janet repositioned the trap near that area. Mia was initialled scared off but after receiving a message about being sighted, Hannah and a friend returned to the area to continue the search. Still in a neck brace, Hannah decided to go out and look again while the friend took a meeting on her phone. Snow and sagebrush camouflaged the surrounding landscape but Hannah continued walking along the train tracks. Mia was there! And she didn’t scare off, instead she came walking toward her person. Hannah recorded the reunion with her cell phone.
Mia was so excited to see her mom, she began jumping all over her and the video cut off. The same scene was repeated when Hannah returned to her Grand Junction home with Mia with Charles being knocked down by his happy pup. This improbable rescue ended one month and one day after Mia was lost. “She’s still got a lot of weight to put back on,” said Charles, patting Mia, her ribs showing, “but the vet says she’s doing good, all things considered.” No one will know what Mia endured while lost and her story continues to be shared on Facebook, often with the title “Never Give Up Hope.” And what about Angel Janet, the caring soul who made it her mission to help out? “She fought traffic and predators and snow and wind,” Janet said, “and I mean, she made it.”
{sniffle} I hope you can now see why this week’s nature post needed to be rewritten and how it really does take a village sometimes.
While today’s post was about a shy dog whose adventures in nature we’ll never know the details about, here are a few photos of the Ranch Hands who finally were able to take a brief walkabout yesterday afternoon when temps finally reached 25Fº. The snow was still deep enough to require boots (much to their chagrin) with warm jackets but the Vitamin D outing was much needed by all 3 of us. For those still in the grips of Mother Nature’s cruel hands, we hope you stay safe, warm and cozy.
Have a great weekend.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
This was a great story to read! Thank you for sharing this happy ending.
Thanks, Laci. With all the bad news around, it felt like a happy ending story needed to be shared. Mia really captured the hearts and minds of so many around the state.
HURRAH!!! Wee love a happy endin!! Wee reeleeved Mia was found an Miss Hannah iss not more iinjured….
Sendin POTP to all of them!
Lookin mitey hansum there Sweet Norman! An you look so cute Elsa!
~~head rubss~~BellaDharma an {{{huggiess}}} BellaSita Mum
That’s so sweet of you. Yes, a very happy ending. Norman is hoping he never has to wear those boots again. LOL, big silly wuss.
Butt Sweet Norman you look so debbynare inn yore jackit an bootss!!!!!
What an amazing story, Monika. My goodness! And I love the hands in their booties! 🙂
It was such a miraculous endeavor finding Mia given where that accident occurred.
The dogs are so pleased to be a source of great amusement for peeps (not!). 🤣 Norman especially couldn’t stop giving me the stink eye.
No kidding!
Hahahaha!!!
What a wonderful reunion. That must have been so scary for everyone and we are grateful they are back together. Stay warm!
The area where the accident occurred has some rugged terrain and lots of potential dangers especially at night. Talk about lucky.
Oh my heart….what a precious story and we hear about these reunions sometimes and just know that something SPECIAL has happened and brought these reunions about. It’s love….it’s persistence….it’s believing. Thanks for sharing! Hope your gang enjoyed their outing even if they had to wear boots. Teddy has been going nuts because of snow then rain – conspiring to keep him from enjoying his yard. Spring WILL eventually arrive though!
Hugs, Pam
“Appreciation” in the form of safety measures isn’t exactly an emotion that’s probably not in a dog’s DNA but I knew they were necessary. Frozen ice balls in paws is just too painful to not try to avoid and I knew they were desperate for something other than a quick bathroom break. It’s funny how even a short walk can improve the disposition of anyone, whether they have 2 or 4 legs! Here’s to loads of sunshine for your weekend.
I loved reading that story. It warmed my heart…and with our frigid temps and snow we need to be kept warm! Our snow was at least 12 inches, all in one session…way too much and the whole area was shut down, Thursday was still having horrible roads, but at least the snow machine had stopped. Today the roads were better, though ours is still slippery and snow covered despite two runs with the plow.
Those boots!! We have some latex ones, they last a few sessions, but we hate them!! So they stay in the bag…LOL! I think we inherited a pair like yours for Benji, but he is not a fan at all…so they romp bootless in our snow and run back in ASAP! I do not walk them when we have this kind of conditions, for fear of me falling…I did fall once and since it was in an area with few houses, I thought it best to not go out anymore on my own, even with a phone.
You’re absolutely right-it was a heartwarming story and it was nice to be able to share something that sweet.
I’ve had those boots for YEARS (the first two sheepdogs had them)! None of them every liked them but merely tolerated them…after they stork-walked trying to kick them off. LOL Stay safe and warm this weekend.
Thank you so much for sharing that inspiring story. I’m extremely happy for such a happy ending. Doggie boots..that’s what Chia needs. Even when the temps are in the low 40’s here, she comes in from a potty outie with really cold feet. Stay warm and safe in all that snow!
Thanks; that story really got to me when I heard it early this morning. Plus I live happy endings, especially where doggos are concerned. It got up to the 40’s today so things are slushy in places. It should be warmer tomorrow. Poor Chia, cold toes are less fun than putting them on. Have a super weekend!
What a harrowing experience! Not to mention miraculous, that Mia was found after all that time.
And the kids look warm, if not totally thrilled.
Quite miraculous and very heartwarming. We’re hoping there won’t be much more need for boots. I don’t think Norman will go along with it. LOL
They looked great though.
What a heartwarming story…and we just loved the happy ending!!!
Thanks so much for sharing it!
It was definitely one to be shared. Have a great weekend.
Nice Hallmark story! If Max and I lived in your neck of the woods I would paint a bright orange stripe down his back. That plus one of those whippy ATV flags would assure that I could find him in the snow. Congrats on the booties – the biggest fight in our life was getting Max to wear booties.
The putting on of those boots took longer than the actual walk. I’m hoping we don’t have to do that too much down the road. I can just picture Max with one of those flags on him. Always thought I should put one of those on my MG Midget especially when the top was down so people could see me. I had more near misses than I care to recall.
When Max was a pup we’d take him up to snow country in Utah. He was so tiny he could run on top of snow drifts but on occasion would break through and disappear. As a white pup he was invisible and that’s when we thought of the ATV flag.
Understandable. I cannot imagine that going over with the AJF. 😳
We LOVE that story so much. There’s nothing like a happy ending – especially when a lost pup is involved. Cheers to Janey and the whole village that chipped in to help bring Mia home.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
So many players including Mia’s dogged persistence made this story possible.
that is such a wonderful story (now that I know it ended well!) Sooo happy for everyone!
Despite my crusty exterior it made me a bit teary eyed with the happy ending. I was so emotional! Have a great weekend.
Heartwarming story! Thanks for sharing it. I love the snow booties… I can just imagine they think they are being punished when you put them on, lol! Do they do the stork walk or carry on normally?
Happy to share an uplifting story. Yes, Norman started out with the high stepping stork walk (I thought he channeled Project Runway perfectly) but eventually he found chewing on one boot in particular was more satisfying. 😬There were lots of starts, stops and laughs on yesterday’s walk.
YIPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know!!! Made my early morning routine extra special.
What a remarkable and beautiful story
It truly was!
awe
I know, right?
Thank you for the wonderful story for these grumpy times. Have a great weekend.
Thanks, Amy. Yes, grumpy times indeed. Happy to share something that was uplifting. Have a ‘pawsome’ weekend!
Miracles happen, Mia is a proof of that. That Janet is amazing, we need more people like her. She didn’t know the dog’s owners, or the dog, but she used her time and effort to help, and succeeded. Never give up.
The doggies look so cute in their winter clothes.
It took a whole number of people persevering to reunite Mia with her family. Bless Janet for all her efforts.
The dogs say thanks but are crossing their paws they don’t have to wear the boots again and time soon. Have a great weekend!
I love a happy ending and that was a happy ending. So precious. I’m smiling from ear to ear.
Aw on your sweet pups. Norman are you making the snow yellow? I think you are.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. Scritches to the pups, a smooch to Norman and a big hug to mom. ♥
It was a very smile inducing story! And as far as Norman goes, ‘bulletin boards’ have popped up all over the neighborhood, so he’s very happy again. 😉 Enjoy a wonderful weekend, Sandee!
What a sweet story! Soo glad you shared it and that it had such a happy ending! ❤
Happy weekend to you!! Love Norman and Elsa’s boots. 🙂
Thanks, it really touched me. Noman hopes to never see those boots again! Have a great weekend.
What a happy ending…..thanks to the persistence of a kind hearted person.
Norman does not care for his footwear, that is certain!
You’re so right, he absolutely doesn’t. He kept trying to simultaneously chew or flick them off. I’m a real sucker for stories like this.
Wow! What a great story, such a happy ending given all the things that could have gone wrong for that sweet pup…cars, wild animals, etc. Your two look adorable in their little booties!
It was a truly heartwarming story with a wonderful ending. So many things could have made the outcome much different. Yeah, Norman is definitely not a fan of the boots. It’ll be warmer today so hopefully we won’t have to don them again. Talk about a workout!
Haha, yes you can tell by the expression on his face! Good thing about Colo. snow–here today, gone tomorrow!
What a wonderful story! 🙂
It seemed so unbelievable!
What a heart warming story, Monika. I wish I could get ours to wear boots in the summer when the concrete is so hot. Yours look cute.
Let me tell you, it ain’t easy putting on 5 pairs of boots (mine included). Then the jackets, and harnesses. It almost wasn’t worth the time involved for the short time we were out. But soooo needed. The Ranch Hands have had a serious case of cabin fever this week because of the weather.
Yes we are in because of ice.
It’s been far too cold to venture out beyond bathroom breaks. They were getting beyond antsy so we took a 20 minute walk that helped with their pent up emotions.
The yard has thawed out with the sun so we have happy campers.
Hurrah!
😁
😊
Love the boots and I love happy endings especially when they involve animals.
Thanks. Happy ending stories seem even more intense these days. Mia and her family were very, very fortunate it ended well.
Wonderful story! And Norman does not look at all happy about the boots!!
Just getting them and me all hitched up took longer than our jaunt. LOL Yeah, safe to say Norman is not a fan of boots.
Counting the days until spring here…It takes me awhile to bundle our little foster, Eden, up too. When you weight only 9 lbs it is easy to get cold even on just a potty break.
I can only imagine. Norman isn’t a fan of snow or the cold and at his age, protection is even more important. Enjoy a super weekend with the kitties!
What a beautiful story! I love it!
Isn’t it incredible? 💙 Have a great weekend.
we have tears in our eyes… and we are so glad that Mia is with her family…. what a wonderful story ..thanks for sharing..
Such good news, made more incredible given the weather conditions. Have a great weekend.