Chocolate Labrador Hailed a Hero After Locating and Alerting to Missing Fugitive in Backyard
Ron and Cindy Ecklund were in their Warren, Pennsylvania backyard when their Chocolate Labrador mix, Tucker, began barking. The well-behaved dog usually comes right back to the house when his parents call him, but this time, something was off. So the couple got in their golf cart to check out the property.
ABC News explained that they expected to find a hiker or fisherman who'd accidentally wandered onto their land, but instead, they found the most wanted fugitive in their county.
OMG! We would be petrified to realize that a dangerous person was hiding in our backyard, and naturally, the Ecklunds were too. They called 911 as soon as they got home and retreated quickly from fugitive Michael Burham, who claimed hw was camping.
On July 6, Burham escaped from Warren County Jail using a makeshift rope made of bed sheets. Many, like the Ecklunds, thought he would've left town, but he stayed right in Warren for all eight days of his escape.
However, thanks to one Labrador Retriever mix, Burham is back in police custody. After the couple's call to emergency services, U.S. Marshalls, Customs and Border Protection, and New York State Police found the fugitive on a nearby road.
Tucker, the unsung hero of this story, is generally a friendly dog. This time, though, he apparently knew something was wrong. What a smart boy! And before you get too worried, he was rewarded for his efforts in the search for Burham.
ABC explains that the 6-year-old dog was gifted with a new collar, several new dog toys, a ribeye steak, and a bucket of 48 tennis balls. He deserves it!
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