4-Month-Old Puppy “Wilson” Was Lost In Woods of New York, Now Rescued

There is a saying that has been part of your life since the day you were born, "dog is man's best friend". Considering their loyalty, companionship and unconditional love, I would extend that phrase to include the word "family".

What would you do if your puppy took off on you while hiking? Gone! Into the wilds of New York State! I'm certain you'd be scared, upset and hellbent on finding your fur baby. This is the story of "Wilson" and, like all of our favorite stories, this has a happy ending.

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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) officers receive a variety of calls through the course of the days, weeks and months of the year. Sometimes they are asked to help put out a fire, sometimes they need to investigate a burglary and once and a while they are asked to search for our pets.

On Father's Day, DEC Ranger O'Conner received an email regarding a missing dog on McKenzie Mountain in North Elba, NY. According to the press release, the dog's owner was hiking and on the return down the mountain unclipped "Wilson" to help him make it down easier. That is when Wilson took off running.

Wilson's owner indicated that the 4-month-old pup does have a tracking device but wasn't working and feared they wouldn't be able to find him. Wilson spent the night in the woods.

Monday June 20th, at approximately 11am, DEC Officers were told that Wilson approached a group of hikers with a dog. The hikers leashed the puppy and called the owner. Ten minutes later, Rangers O'Connor and Ordway were there to help Wilson down the trail and reunited him with his owner.