Dog Home After Surviving 60 Days in Snowy Wales Mountains
On Sunday, Bea, a seven-year-old Welsh Springer Spaniel, was reunited with her owners after she went missing on December 8.
The miraculous aspect of this story is that Bea went missing while on a hike with her owners in the Conwy Valley and ended up spending close to 60 days all alone in the mountains in the freezing winter.
The BBC reports that Adam and Rachel, from Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, would spend the next 58 days searching, but they were not alone in looking for their pet.Facebook group Lost Dogs North Wales Area was called in to help and used thermal imaging cameras, searched around lakes and rivers, sent a drone up, made posters and shared sightings in a bid to track down Bea.
Related: Firefighters Rescue Drowning Pup from Frigid Lake Superior
Then a miracle occurred when in early February, a farmer spotted Bea caught in a barbed wire fence above Llanfairfechan, more than 10 miles (from where she first vanished. The missing pup was soon reunited with her family who wondered if how she survived in the mountains was by hunting rabbits or eating feed cakes put out for sheep.
Her owners smartly said they have already ordered a GPS tracker for Bea in case she decides to run off again! Thank goodness she is home safe.
Keep Your Pup Safe While Hiking
At National Parks, there are general pet rules, but each park may have its own additional rules as well. Make sure that the park you are visiting allows dogs.
Even though the owners of Bea had her in sight and were getting ready to leash her we all know accidents can and do happen, so before taking your dog hiking in any steep areas make sure their leash and collar fit properly and maybe even outfit them with a dog harness before you begin your hike. It's also important that your dog knows basic obedience recalls, like how to come and stay. That way if your dog does escape their leash or harness you can get them back.
Make sure your own cell phone is charged and you not only pack a snack and water for yourself, but for your pup too.
Follow the National Parks B.A.R.K rule, which stands for (B) bag your pets waste, (A) always leash your pet, (R) respect wildlife and (K) know where you can go.
Make sure your dog also knows to "leave it" in case they come across anything that could harm them, like trash on the trail or poison ivy.
Make sure you check your pup for ticks and burrs when you return home.
Hiking is a great exercise for your pup and a great way for you to bond with your fur baby, and if you follow a few simple safety rules a good time can be had by both you and your canine companion.
Just make sure your own pup doesn't go running off after sheep!
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