In a heartwarming twist of fate, a lovable Saint Bernard named Bear, who had been missing for two years, has finally been reunited with his owner, thanks to the dedication of volunteer animal lovers.
The Disappearance
In April 2022, Bear escaped from his pet sitter in Colorado Springs. His family searched tirelessly, posting in various Facebook groups, but despite their best efforts, Bear remained missing. Unfortunately, the family had to leave Colorado Springs when the military relocated them to New York, forcing them to say goodbye to their beloved Bear without closure.
The Breakthrough
Fast forward to July 2024, when an animal law enforcement officer received a tip about a Saint Bernard wandering near a construction site in Colorado Springs. The officer contacted Linda Gooden, a Florida-based volunteer known for her dedication to reuniting lost pets with their families. Without knowing the dog’s identity, Gooden and her Colorado Springs team—Tami Thilman and Amber—sprang into action.
The team had spotted the Saint Bernard lingering in the area since March, so they decided to set up a humane trap. Around the same time, Gooden recalled seeing a Facebook post about a missing Saint Bernard from two years ago. A quick search revealed that Bear had disappeared in the same area. It seemed too much of a coincidence.
The Capture
Thilman set up cameras at the construction site and tracked the dog’s movements for a week. Her observations soon confirmed that the Saint Bernard was indeed Bear. Using food as bait, the team worked carefully, and a week later, Amber set up a large, humane trap. It was a long shot, but luck was on their side. After just 45 minutes, Bear walked into the trap and waited calmly—something the volunteers had never seen before.
"He just laid there quietly, unlike other dogs who panic and try to escape," Gooden said, amazed at how serene Bear seemed.
Bear’s Condition
Though Bear was thinner than usual, with visible hip bones and matted fur, he appeared surprisingly healthy for a dog who had been missing for so long. Gooden speculated that someone had been feeding him during his time away.
Once safely secured, Bear was taken to a groomer and later scanned for a microchip. The results were clear: Bear had finally been found.
The Reunion
Bear’s owner, Brandy Ross, was in complete shock when she received the news. Overwhelmed with emotion, she eagerly made arrangements to bring Bear home to New York.
In the meantime, the volunteers took Bear to a local dog boarder, Danielle Neiner, who offered to care for him for two weeks. Bear was groomed and given a thorough vet check-up. Despite having lost around 30 pounds, Bear was otherwise in excellent health.
On September 1st, a pet transport service run by Traci Kathleen Monger brought Bear from Colorado Springs to New York for the long-awaited reunion.
When Ross finally saw Bear again, she was filled with disbelief and joy. As she gently petted him, his tail started wagging, and it soon became clear that Bear remembered his old home.
Bear, now 5 years old, has settled back into his family’s life, proving that love and dedication can bring even the most improbable reunions to life. As Gooden put it, “Everything fell right into place.”
