Chunk, a Golden Retriever who had been missing for 16 days, was found by New Jersey State Police swimming “about 75 yards from shore” in Barnegat Bay on the Jersey Shore (via People). Chunk got spooked during a game of weekend fetch with his humans and darted off in the woods.
Over he next two days, a frantic search for the beloved pet began that included “social media, local police departments, baited traps, hound hunters, and trail cameras” all to no avail.
However, by the following Tuesday morning, someone finally reported a Chunk sighting!
New Jersey State Police Troopers Ryan Koehler and Vincent Ferdinandi received a call after a pair of joggers spotted Chunk and attempted to grab him, leading him to jump in the water and swim nearly two miles across the bay. The troopers then boarded a boat and gently guided Chunk back to land.
Chunk Gets Back On Dry Land With His Family
The exhausted Golden Retriever was scared at first, but he was quickly reunited with his family. “To see the sigh of relief that a part of their family was back was unbelievable, and the dog was happy to see his family as well,” Trooper Ferdinandi said.
Trooper Koehler was “totally sympathetic” to Chunk and his family’s ordeal. He’s happy “that both the dog and the owners can be reunited.” We at DogTime are happy as well!
The New Jersey State Police shared a photo of Chunk and his rescuers, announcing the pup’s safe return to shore. “Troopers Koehler and Ferdinandi responded in a vessel and located Chunk, who was swimming in the area of the Mantoloking Bridge, and were able to bring him safely to shore,” their Facebook post read.
“Chunk, who is three years old, was missing for more than two weeks,” the post concluded. “Needless to say he was ecstatic to be reunited with his grateful owners.”
Thankfully, we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the Golden Retriever reunited with his family safe and sound. We’re so happy that he’s now back home with his loved ones.
Chunk’s ordeal gives us a good reminder that we must take steps to prevent our pets from getting lost. Here are a few tips.
Tips To Make Sure You Won’t Lose Your Dog
(Picture Credit: Xesai/Getty Images)Even the best pet parents can have slipups or accidents. But these guidelines can help you keep your dog safe:
- Microchip your dog and keep the info updated
- Put a collar on your dog with current ID tags
- Teach them the commands “come” and “stay”
- Keep them on a leash in public
- Keep your home and yard secure with a fence or enclosure
- Have your dog spayed or neutered to prevent wandering
- Pay attention and always supervise outdoor playtime
- Get a dog seat belt for car rides
- Keep your dog’s documentation available, including a recent picture
- Keep your dog indoors when you’re not home
Has your dog ever wandered off from a play area? Did they turn up anywhere unusual, like Chunk did? Then let us know in the comments below!
