SUMMIT COUNTY – A Colorado grad student was reunited with his dog after she escaped from her New Mexico home.
Rainey, a 6-year-old malamute mix, was being cared for by Erick Williamson’s mother while he attended graduate school in Colorado. But, Rainey, had her own agenda as she escaped and went on an adventure for two months, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
The community made up of family members, neighbors, and friends searched high and low for the lost pop, but no one could find her. Rainey somehow made her way to a shelter in Aztec, New Mexico, where she was scanned for a microchip with nothing found.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said she also tested positive for heartworm. This is when the Summit County Animal Shelter stepped in and reached out to the New Mexico shelter in hopes to bring the Rainey here to Colorado.
The possibility of having Rainey transported to Summit County was discussed due to having an older, heartworm positive dog needing enough financial resources to treat her. The local shelter’s concern was that there was a high likelihood she could be euthanized if not brought to Colorado.
Thankfully, some generous donors helped make it possible for the Summit County Animal Shelter to gather the necessary funding to transfer the lost pup to its shelter. She was administered heartworm treatment shortly after arrival and checked one more time for a microchip.
Much to the shelter’s surprise, a phone number popped up. Williamson was later contacted, who responded in disbelief, said the shelter. Williamson was confused how Rainey ended up in Summit County but was thrilled to hear they found his beloved pup.
Williamson explained to the shelter that he and his family were packing up and moving out of their Colorado home to Louisiana, that same day. The next day, Rainey began heartworm treatment protocol and was happily reunited with her family.
The tail-wagging, cheerful reunion was caught on cam and shared on YouTube. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind all pet owners of the importance of microchipping your pets.
