Dog lost for four months discovered alive under 1.5 metres of snow
A dog that was missing for four months was recently rescued from 1.5-metre-deep snow near South Lake Tahoe, Calif. Russ, a pit bull mix, has since been reunited with his owner.
Not everything that is lost stays that way forever. This was the case recently for Russ, a pit bull mix.
Believed to have perished in the summer, he was found four months later -- buried under 1.5. metres of snow. He was originally isolated from his owner in August 2021 during the Caldor Fire, which had prompted evacuations in the mountains of Northern California.
According to local media, the dog's owner had to give up searching for him amid the hurry to flee the area, but reported him missing to animal control.
(Tahoe Paws/CNN).
In December, a skier spotted the animal in the deep snow near Twin Peaks, west of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., eliciting a frantic rescue effort. Russ was found in the snow, reportedly unable to move and was growling at the individuals who observed it, according to a Facebook post from the non-profit organization, Tahoe PAWS and TLC 4 Furry Friends.
An officer with the El Dorado County Animal Services was notified, but he was unable to access the area due to the snow depth and steep terrain. So that's when volunteers with Tahoe PAWS and TLC 4 Furry Friends came to the rescue, donning snowshoes and taking equipment with them by sled.
The dog was tracked up the mountain and then located under a tree. They placed him on the sled and then took him to a veterinarian upon his arrival from the mountain to ensure he was healthy, according to Tahoe PAWS and TLC 4 Furry Friends.
"When contacted, the owner was ecstatic to find out that his dog was alive! Russ (the dog) had gotten scared and [ran] off from his owner’s vehicle while he was in Tahoe for a job...in August," the non-profit group wrote in the Facebook post.
Russ was discovered to be in good health and was reconciled with his family days later.
"With the assistance of EDC Animal Services, volunteers with TLC 4 Furry Friends and Tahoe PAWS visited Russ every day to remind him that he was loved until he could make the journey home. We’re happy to report that Russ and his human have since been reunited."
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