Dog survives winter in Montana wild, comes home
BONNEY LAKE, Wash. -- After six long, heartbreaking months, Kim Halter is grateful for the simple things in life.
"I am totally blessed. I am blessed beyond words," she said.
Six months ago, Halter lost someone very close to her when she made a quick stop while driving through Chester, Montana. A train whistle startled her golden retriever, and 7-year-old Buck bolted.
"It was like he was abducted," she said.
Halter and her family waited at the truck stop for two days. When Buck didn't come back, they searched all over. When he didn't turn up, they slept in their car for two days, hoping he'd find his way back.
Buck didn't show, and family members pinned their hopes on flyers alongside roads stretching some 40 miles in each direction, hoping someone would know something.
Six months later, someone finally came forward.
Everyone had told Halter there was no way Buck would survive a Montana winter in the wilderness. But it turns out Buck was tougher than they'd given him credit for.
The family had nearly given up hope when the phone rang. A man had found Buck near his yard and called the number on Halters' flyer.
"The dog was so cold, starving cold. There are coyotes, I can't tell you (all) the animals out there," said Halter.
The found dog weighed some 40 pounds less than Buck. But the family veterinarian confirmed him to be Buck, the family dog of seven years.
"Its miraculous, beyond miraculous. They've had the worst winter since the 70's," said Halter.
Halter said after Buck disappeared, she clung to the memory of her sister-in-law who recently passed away.
"She's the one that picked him out originally. It was her dog, and I think she really was watching over him," she said.
"I am totally blessed. I am blessed beyond words," she said.
Six months ago, Halter lost someone very close to her when she made a quick stop while driving through Chester, Montana. A train whistle startled her golden retriever, and 7-year-old Buck bolted.
"It was like he was abducted," she said.
Halter and her family waited at the truck stop for two days. When Buck didn't come back, they searched all over. When he didn't turn up, they slept in their car for two days, hoping he'd find his way back.
Buck didn't show, and family members pinned their hopes on flyers alongside roads stretching some 40 miles in each direction, hoping someone would know something.
Six months later, someone finally came forward.
Everyone had told Halter there was no way Buck would survive a Montana winter in the wilderness. But it turns out Buck was tougher than they'd given him credit for.
The family had nearly given up hope when the phone rang. A man had found Buck near his yard and called the number on Halters' flyer.
"The dog was so cold, starving cold. There are coyotes, I can't tell you (all) the animals out there," said Halter.
The found dog weighed some 40 pounds less than Buck. But the family veterinarian confirmed him to be Buck, the family dog of seven years.
"Its miraculous, beyond miraculous. They've had the worst winter since the 70's," said Halter.
Halter said after Buck disappeared, she clung to the memory of her sister-in-law who recently passed away.
"She's the one that picked him out originally. It was her dog, and I think she really was watching over him," she said.