After Missing For Months In The Mountains, Loyal Dog Found Alive Staying By His Dead Owner’s Side

A 71-year-old hiker’s dead body was found along with his loyal Jack Russel Terrier, who was alive and by his side the whole time since they went missing on August 19.

The Denver Gazette reports that the hiker from Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Rich Moore, and his pooch, Finney, planned to summit Blackhead Peak, which was located east of Pagosa Springs.

According to a press release related to the case, a local hunter in the Lower Blanco drainage basin discovered Moore’s body and found Finney staying with him, the Denver Gazette reveals.

On October 31, the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office and Taos Search and Rescue (TSAR) started searching for the body.

Moore’s body was identified and recovered, along with Finney, who was brought to a local veterinary hospital to get checked and treated.

Since being rescued, Finney has thankfully been reunited with her family.

The Denver Gazette said that Moore’s cause of death hasn’t been released. However, officials noted that no foul play is not suspected.

According to TSAR, their member, Delinda Vanne-Brightyn along with her certified K9 AkioYodasan responded to the initial search. Delinda writes, “We searched from just under the peak-top and directly West, searching down the mountain toward where his car was located.”

“Winds were directly from the West/Soutwest. It was so steep, we were inserted in by a helicopter. He was found 2.5 miles East of the mountain-top beneath where we were inserted,” she continued.

Speaking to Business Insider, Delinda also said Finney’s “loyalty and the testament to the fact that this dog stayed with this person that long is just a beautiful story that is on the other side of a very sad tragedy.”