There was something about a group of people hiking the Sawbill Trail that Zane Brunette didn’t like.
Then, as he set up a campsite between two lakes deep in the Pequot Lakes, Minnesota wilderness, Zane noticed his dog was missing.
Convinced the loyal 6-year-old lab mix called Luigi would never run off, Zane thinks the group lured his dog away from his campsite.
“I think they wanted him,” Zane said. “I think they were going to keep him.”
The desperate owner climbed to the highest point he could find and called for Luigi over and over. Finally, he realized the dog wasn’t going to respond. He camped for a few more days in hopes the dog would return, but eventually he resorted to putting up missing flyers and hoping someone spotted him.
On June 29, the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (BWCA) Facebook page shared Luigi’s information to spread awareness further. Luigi’s co-owner, Amanda Kay, also shared her plea for help on Facebook.
“This is Luigi, one of the goodest boys I’ve ever known,” Amanda wrote. “He went missing on Saturday, June 25th around 2pm in the Boundary Waters Canoe area … His owners are concerned that someone may have lured him away.”
“Luigi is well loved and there are a LOT of us who want to get this sweet boy home,” she continued. “Please share this and let me know if you see or hear anything. Luigi deserves to be at home with his dads and his kitty.”
Twenty-nine days after Luigi went missing, Zane received a phone call from a resort owner. The man had spotted a dog who looked like Luigi!
Zane jumped in the car and drove five hours to retrieve his dog, who jumped right into his arms as soon as he saw his owner. Zane isn’t sure if Luigi escaped his captors or if they saw all of the lost dog posters and set him free. Either way, he’s just grateful to have his boy home. Amanda shared the great news on the BWCA Facebook post.
“We are SO thankful for everyone who shared his information and helped to identify him,” she wrote in a comment. “Thank you to everyone for sharing this post and keeping an eye out for this precious pup. We just can’t say it enough – THANK YOU!!!”
Luigi was found about 36 miles from where he was lost. Although he lost 15 pounds, he was otherwise unharmed. Pretty amazing considering he was likely out there in the woods for almost a month!
Share this story to welcome this “goodest boy” home.
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