Dog Walked 74 Miles To Find Her Way Back To Beloved Owner
Seneca Krueger, a dog foster mom specializing in helping rescued dogs learn to trust humans, developed a strong bond with Zelda, a rescue dog she fostered. As a psychologist, she implemented tether training to assist Zelda with her anxiety, helping the once-shy dog come out of her shell. After two months of training, Zelda began showing signs of happiness and confidence, wagging her tail and playing. Although Krueger had formed a strong bond with Zelda, she recognized that it was time for Zelda to find a permanent home and made the difficult decision to let her go.
Following their tearful farewell, Krueger drove Zelda 65km to her new home. The parting was more painful than Krueger had anticipated, and she felt a profound sense of loss. Ten days later, she received a call informing her that Zelda had gone missing. Krueger, desperate to find Zelda, joined the Search, Track, and Retrieval Team (START), an all-volunteer dog search group, in their search efforts, undeterred by the freezing weather conditions.
After two months of relentless searching, Krueger received the news that Zelda was seen in Minneapolis, halfway between her new home and Krueger’s house. This made Krueger suspect that Zelda was trying to make her way back to her. As the sightings continued near her home, Krueger laid out feeding stations and her dirty laundry in the hopes that Zelda would recognize the familiar scent and return.
Soon, a couple informed Krueger they had been feeding a scared dog resembling Zelda. Although hopeful, Krueger remained cautious, willing to help even if the frightened dog wasn’t Zelda. Eventually, the couple managed to trap the scared dog, and upon a quick scan of its microchip by the START team, it was confirmed to be Zelda. Over three months after disappearing, Zelda had managed to find her way back to Krueger.
Overwhelmed by relief and joy, Krueger apologized to Zelda for not recognizing her and reassured her she was finally home. Now, Zelda is comfortably settled in her old home, overjoyed to be reunited with her foster mom, proving that even when faced with great distances and hardships, the bond between a dog and its caretaker can remain unbroken.
