Amazing survival story of two lost pet dogs

Earlier this month, on the island of Vashon, Washington, two pets, Tillie and Phoebe hounds, were on walk when both of them went missing.

The owners waited for their return, but soon realized something was wrong. They tried to scan the place around their home, but didn’t get any clue of their two pets.

For help, the restless owner contacts Amy Carey, who works with Vashon Island Pet Protectors as volunteer. They spent days scouring the area in a hope to find the missing dogs, but failed to get any clue.

They also posted pictures of pets with a notice on Facebook Page.

Phoebe had fallen into a cistern deep in ravine miles away from home. She was unable to climb back, and worse, there was no one to help. Her buddy, Tillie was free and could have found her way home. The cistern was located on a very isolated place and there was no human habitat nearby.

Tillie didn’t leave her. It was over a week now that Phoebe was stuck in the cistern. All this time Tillie guarded her, and tried to get attention of anyone she could find.

One day, when the owner had almost lost hope of ever seeing his pets, a farmer told Carey about a dog he saw on his property, and it looked like the lost pets posted on Facebook. He told him that the dog was trying to get attention to something.

In Carey’s own words, after he reached the spot, “She had quietly approached him, and when she got his attention, turned around and headed back toward this ravine nearby. I decided to go check it out. When I got there and looked down, Tillie saw me but didn’t come running up. She just stayed near the edge of this cistern, pressed with her head as close as she could get. Had she run up, we might have never realized that Phoebe was down there. She just stayed put, making it so clear that I had to come to her so I would see her friend.”

Finally, Phoebe was rescued.

“They were miles away from the place they had been seen before. It was Tillie going very pointedly up to this person in their pasture, letting herself be seen, and running back to Phoebe — that’s why we found them. It’s really amazing,” said Carey.

Carey couldn’t help tears dropping down her eyes on witnessing this demonstration of extreme loyalty of this animal.

Both pets were healthy. Rainwater saved them from dehydration. Both of them were relieved and happy by their re-union.

“Once they got out, they were happy as clams. Tillie was so relieved. When the owner came to get them, they heard his voice in the distance; you could just see their relief. They just started wiggling. It was very touching, but in a way not surprising given what we know about dogs as loyal friends. We were just so very grateful to find them safe,” added Carey.