There’s nothing worse than when your pet goes missing. It is heartbreaking to think your best friend is out there all alone, leaving you wondering if you’ll ever see them again.
But sometimes, miracles happen when you least expect them. Like one woman who had given up hope of finding her dog after long months of searching, but now has finally gotten the happy ending of her dreams.
Last Thanksgiving, Kate Olson, from New Hampshire, visited relatives in St. Louis with her dog Walter.
But the family holiday turned into a nightmare after Walter got scared, slipped out of his collar ran off. Kate looked everywhere, but he was nowhere to be found.
Losing a dog is always hard, but losing one miles away from home makes things even more complicated.
Kate had to stay in the St. Louis area for weeks, putting up signs and knocking on doors. Search parties scoured the woods, but still no sign of Walter.
“I just want to know if he’s okay,” Kate told KSDK. “I want him to know that I’m not giving up on him, I’ll never give up on him.”
Months passed, with still no leads. A Facebook group called “Where’s Walter” was formed to help in the search.
Kate continued to visit St. Louis to search for her dog, spending over a thousand dollars in plane tickets.
It had been almost a year since Walter disappeared, and you would think all hope would be lost. But this week Kate got great news.
On November 13, a volunteer rescue called Lost Paws Trapping was able to catch Walter, who had been apparently living on his own in the woods for the past year. “Friday the 13th” may be considered bad luck, but it was a very lucky day for Walter, who was one step closer to going home.
“It’s been a super long, tiresome, frustrating road, but the infamous Walter from New Hampshire will finally be going home!” Lost Paws wrote on Facebook. “It’s times like this that make it all seem worthwhile!”
After getting the remarkable good news, Kate got right on a plane and headed to reunite with her long-lost dog.
“I had to keep my composure just because … I was in shock,” she told Good Morning America.
Even after a hard year apart, Walter was still the same loving dog.
“He has been such a little love,” Kate told KSDK. “He is the same sweet boy he was before and maybe even sweeter because he has missed getting loved on!”
Walter is finally going home, bringing a very happy ending to a long, difficult search.
Kate says it’s a reminder for pet owners “just keep trying,” even when things seem hopeless.
“Not everybody does have this ending,” she told GMA. “I never in a million years thought that I would be one of them.”
We’re so happy Walter is back home safe and sound! Share this great news!
