In June 2017, a large black dog, believed to have been living in the wild since running away nearly seven years earlier, was found and rescued in California. The dog, named “Harley”, was discovered by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in an area between the Mount Diablo State Park and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. He was extremely emaciated and dehydrated, and was wearing a collar with a name tag and telephone contact information from 2010.
The contact information led rescuers to his original family, who explained that they’d adopted him from a shelter in 2010. After running away, Harley had been missing for seven years and his family had long since lost hope of ever seeing him again.
Luckily, a team of firefighters and local Animal Control Officers were able to rescue Harley, and the family eventually reunited with him. With the help of the Animal Charities of America organization, they were able to organize a medical team to care for him before they took him home.
Though Harley is still adjusting to his new home, the situation could have been much worse had the rescue workers not been able to find him and give him the help he needed. His story is a true testament to the power of resilience, and a reminder that, despite the odds, happy endings are still possible—even after a long period of time.
Dog that survived in the wild after going missing nearly 7 years ago is rescued
