Just when you thought 2020 was a tough year, along comes a story so heartwarming it makes everything else fade away.
Almost one year ago, Kate Olson of Peterborough, New Hampshire was visiting family in Arnold, Missouri when her dog Walter slipped out of his collar and bolted into some nearby woods.
Walter, a golden retriever mix, is a nervous dog who frightens easily. His frantic owner searched everywhere for him, even staying in St. Louis for weeks to look for him. She put up flyers, started a “Where’s Walter” Facebook page, and enlisted the help of several lost dog search organizations in the area.
Eventually, the heartbroken owner had to return to her home state, but she never stopped searching for Walter.
“I just want to know if he’s okay. I want him to know that I’m not giving up on him. I’ll never give up on him,”she told local news. Whenever there was a credible sighting, Kate hopped on a plane and flew back to St. Louis. She spent at least $1,000 on plane tickets and other expenses, but after 10 months she feared she’d never see her sweet friend again.
Then, on November 13th the following year, she got the call she’d been dreaming of. A volunteer group called Lost Paws Trapping of Belleville, Illinois had captured a dog that met Walter’s description in an industrial park. Kate immediately got on a plane and flew back to Missouri.
As soon as Kate laid eyes on the terrified dog in the cage she knew it was Walter!
“I was able to be the second person on the scene and I was told to slowly approach the trap and to start talking to him,” Kate wrote on Facebook. “He was barking like mad when I got there but as soon as he saw me, he stopped.”
“It took a few minutes for him to calm down and realize who I really was, but he sat right next to me,” she continued. “And through the trap I was able to give him loves and then… he gave me his paw, like he has so many times before. Like he knew I liked that and he liked holding my hand. It was incredible.”
Walter was given two baths and was checked out by a vet before going to a quiet place to unwind after his adventure. Kate says as he started to feel more comfortable she saw his true personality come rushing back.
“He has been such a little love. He is the same sweet boy he was before and maybe even sweeter because he has missed getting loved on!” said Kate.
Just look at the smile on his face! This is the happy ending we all deserve this year. Like Kate, we’re grateful to the volunteers at Lost Paws Trapping who never gave up on Walter!
Share this story to remind others that good things happen when we’re patient and never lose hope.
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