After a frantic few days spent searching Vernon, an Edmonton woman and her fur baby have been reunited.
The story of Willis the missing dog was widely shared on social media after the 10-month-old pup took off on Boxing Day. Robynn Ferroux was in Vernon visiting her parents with her pup at their home by Bean to Cup.
But thanks to all the efforts of the community to share, post updates and search for Willis, he was returned to the loving arms of his owner Thursday.
“I’m so happy,” said Ferroux, snuggling the dark brown brindle pup, whose white chest and white face stripe helped many identify him, along with his red chest strap.
Ferroux got the call from a Vernon radio station Thursday morning to say that a lady in Coldstream had found Willis and had him.
She instantly rushed to the woman’s house.
“There was my baby, looking back at me,” said an emotional Ferroux, choking back tears of joy to have him back.
The timid dog is also happy to be back with his ‘mom,’ following a frightening few days alone where he ran all across town.
“People spotted him at Hillview Golf Course, Middleton Mountain, someone saw him running across the highway towards Kelowna.”
Despite three cold days and nights alone in a strange city, Willis is fine aside from a few cuts and scrapes on his paws. But he is at the vet, getting a necessary procedure to hopefully keep him from taking off again.
“He needs to get fixed, that’s why he took off,” said Ferroux, who will be heading back home to Edmonton Jan. 2 with Willis.
But if it weren’t for the efforts of the community to help find Willis, Ferroux would not be heading home so soon.
“I wouldn’t have left, I would have stayed until I found him.”