Just like a hero wearing a cape, 5-year-old chocolate Labrador Elsie found her owner, 80-year-old woman suffering from dementia who had wandered off from a faraway cabin in mid-Utah. Last month, during dinner preparations at home, she disappeared from her family’s sight. Then all of a sudden, everyone got panicked since nobody knew where she was and they reported to the police immediately causing the establishment of large search operation which was assisted by Emery County Sheriff’s Office and other teams engaged in rescue work.
Ralph Mitchell, a longtime local resident who has been a first responder for years, described how the search was carried out. Helicopters hovered overhead while motorcycles buzzed around, and volunteers combed through the area for two days straight without rest. K9 officer James Thomas searched for the woman using Kip who was trained to track human scent with the help of members of Utah Department of Natural Resources. In spite of the hot weather conditions, Thomas and Mitchell followed faint barks from the dog as they got nearer to where she was.
Security footage of a neighbour’s camera confirmed the presence of the woman and offered time frames for search operations on the third day. Guided by hunches and barks, Mitchell walked into un-manicured terrain. Thereafter spotting thin tracks while going through rough conditions, Mitchell finally heard Elsie bark again leading the man to her, he found her asleep, scratched up but alert and happy about it.
Mitchell cried out to inform family members and neighbours who brought water and first aid supplies. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation before being taken home where she is now recovering. A vet examined Elsie and found her doing okay. In praising the dog’s loyalty, Mitchell attributed the successful rescue to her stating that if it wasn’t for such dedication as that of Elsie then bringing back her owner might have been impossible due to fear factors involved in wild places like this one.