When Bear, a towering St. Bernard mix from Colorado, managed to slip away from his pet sitter, his family’s lives were instantly thrown into turmoil.
For Brandy Ross, his devoted owner, placing her beloved dog in someone else’s care had already been a challenge. Discovering that he was gone was nothing short of devastating.
The family searched tirelessly, first for days, then for weeks, plastering his photo everywhere and pleading with neighbors for any sign of him.
Yet Bear remained missing. As months stretched into years, the hope they once clung to slowly faded, becoming little more than a memory.
And then, without warning, everything shifted.
The Day Bear Went Missing
Ross and her family never stopped thinking about Bear, even after they had to move away. Life took them across the country, but a part of their hearts stayed behind in Colorado.
“Bear got loose from a pet sitter in April 2022. His family reported him missing and posted in Facebook groups, but they never found him. The saddest part is that they had to leave Colorado Springs without their beloved Bear as the military moved them to New York,” HSPPR wrote in a Facebook post.
For a long time, there were no sightings or updates. Then, one day, the phone rang with the news they thought they would never hear.
Animal control officers working with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region had spotted a large dog near a construction site. What followed would turn out to be nothing short of a miracle.
Could It Really Be Bear?
The dog they saw looked just like the missing St. Bernard, though thinner and worn from years outdoors. At first, no one could be certain, but there was a strong feeling this might truly be Bear.
Catching him, however, would be far from easy.
Bear had learned to survive by constantly roaming, never staying long enough for anyone to catch him. Volunteers from HSPPR placed food stations and cameras to track his movements, slowly piecing together his routine.
After weeks of patience and dedication, their efforts finally worked.
Bear wandered into a live trap that rescuers described as “messy but successful.” As the doors closed behind him, volunteer Danielle Neiner quickly confirmed what everyone had hoped for: the lost St. Bernard was finally safe.
Overjoyed, the team contacted Ross to share the incredible news. Before being reunited with his family, Bear was treated to medical care, a bath, and lots of affection.
“He’s going home, and these volunteers are taking care of everything! They already took him to get a much-needed groom,” the Humane Society shared.
The Reunion Everyone Hoped For
When Ross answered the phone, she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“I was literally bawling my eyes out and even now I’m in shock that this is him. It’s like so crazy that he survived for so long in the Colorado weather,” Ross told WKBT News.
Despite spending so much time on his own, Bear was surprisingly healthy. He was a bit thin, but had no serious medical issues. His resilience amazed everyone who had followed his story.
When he finally made the journey to his family’s new home in New York, the reunion was everything they had dreamed of. His homecoming video spread across social media, showing him wagging his tail as if no time had passed at all.
“I’m home mom! I’m so excited,” read the caption on Instagram, alongside the touching footage.
At first, Bear seemed confused by the familiar faces. But within moments, he recognized them and couldn’t stop wagging his tail. The once-lost dog was finally home, surrounded by love and safety once again.
Thanks to Danielle and the compassionate volunteers who never gave up, Bear’s story had a joyful ending. His journey is a beautiful reminder that even after years apart, hope should never be lost.
Sometimes, miracles really do happen.