During a quiet hike along a secluded Oregon trail, a hiker noticed a small shape just off the path. At first, it appeared frozen, silently observing him with wide, pleading eyes.
Many might have ignored it, but he slowed his steps, curiosity and concern taking over. The tiny figure remained still, its gaze almost asking for help, as though it had nowhere else to turn.
He moved carefully, each step deliberate, boots crunching lightly against the gravel. The air felt tense, heavy with the creature’s fear. Up close, he realized this wasn’t just a casual encounter. The animal was relying entirely on him.
An Unexpected Turn
For Jason Hawkins, the hike had begun as an ordinary outing. That changed when a group of people asked, “Are you missing a dog?”
Though he said no, their question stayed with him, nudging him to investigate.
He pressed further along the trail, hoping to spot the dog they mentioned. Soon enough, he did.
The pup was clearly frightened, looking for someone to guide it to safety, and with no one else around, Hawkins stepped in.
Hawkins shared with The Dodo, “That’s when I saw, just off in the distance, a little figure. It kind of clicked that that might be the dog they were asking about.”
Every attempt to approach was met with the dog running away. Hawkins followed cautiously, venturing deeper into the woods, worry mounting with each step.
“It ran off deeper into the woods for a while when I was trying to follow him, and that kind of just freaked me out a little bit. The deeper he got, the more worried I became,” Hawkins said.
Eventually, he found the dog lying quietly.
Moving slowly, he noticed a collar on its neck. The realization hit: this was not a stray but a lost pet, and it was up to him to help reunite it with its owner.
A Resourceful Rescue
Without food or treats to coax the dog, Hawkins had to improvise. After a moment of thought, he used his camera tripod to fashion a temporary leash.
The dog, familiar with being leashed, allowed him to guide it gently back toward the trail.
“As soon as I stood up and he could kind of feel the pull on his collar, he was like … ‘I know what’s happening, we’re good now,’” Hawkins explained.
Once they reached the trailhead, Hawkins tried calling the number on the collar but found there was no cell service. He managed to send a text, and before long, the owner arrived.
The woman was overcome with relief and emotion, tears streaming as she hugged her long-lost dog.
She explained that the pup had escaped from her car hours earlier, and she had spent the day scouring the Oregon woods, desperate to bring him home.
Hawkins reflected, “Being able to ease the mind and see the joy that was on her face afterward felt really good.”