It’s always distressing when a dog goes missing, particularly when it involves a pet that has been a part of the family for many years and is cherished by everyone.
Nonetheless, such an occurrence need not conclude in tragedy. Today’s narrative will illustrate how genuine courage and faith can result in some of the most joyous conclusions.
Their Cherished Dog Was Nowhere to Be Found
One morning, Jeff Bohnert arose early to take a walk with his two dogs, Summer and Abby. However, only Summer was awaiting him at the entrance, prompting him to realize something was amiss. Abby was nowhere to be found.
He quickly recalled that they had gone outside to frolic in the previous late afternoon. However, Jeff could not ascertain what might have happened to her in that vicinity.
Considering she was a thirteen-year-old dog, the only explanation he could think of was that she might have succumbed to the heat, as it was extremely warm.
Nevertheless, he and his spouse, Kathy, exhausted all possible options, from knocking on their neighbors’ doors to sharing images of a lost dog on Facebook. Unfortunately, none of it was successful.
And, they gradually began to lose optimism.
Unexpected Discovery During the Subterranean Expedition
Approximately two months later, on August 6, 2022, cavers were en route to the Missouri Moore Cave System, engaged in a project weekend with the Cave Research Foundation.
A group of 30 individuals, which included 5 children accompanied by their fathers, had gathered to survey some caves in anticipation of a larger event scheduled in a few weeks.
This was intended to be a routine task that they would complete swiftly and effortlessly under the leadership of seasoned caver, Frank Keene.
It proceeded thus until a boy exclaimed: “Daddy, there’s a puppy!” Initially, dads and other cavers waved their hands dismissively, but the little one persisted. Ultimately, the cavers decided to investigate and were left astounded.
At the bottom of a 12-foot pit, a dog lay still.
Despite the astonishment, Frank and another team member, named Rick Haley, quickly collected themselves and opted to take quick action to rescue this unfortunate dog, as it was apparent that it was extremely weak and fatigued.
A Rescue They Will Always Remember
Frank quickly captured a photograph of the dog, exited the cave, and began seeking assistance for the entirely vertical rescue.
He reached out to his close friend, Assistant Fire Chief Rob Calhoun, requesting him to attempt locating the dog’s owner. Rob went to neighbors’ doors, displaying the dog’s photograph, when a man claimed he recognized her and knew the owner.
Meanwhile, in the cave, Haley and Keene were preparing for a major rescue effort.
They figured out that the only feasible way to bring her out was to hoist her through the narrow opening she originally fell through.
The challenge was that she was too drained to walk. However, Haley devised a clever plan. He took an empty duffle bag and lined it with a soft blanket.
He positioned the bag beside her, and she gradually climbed into it herself, nearly dozing off. It was clear that after an extended period of resting on the cold stone, she appreciated the cozy blanket.
At last, she was prepared to see daylight after so long. Haley and Keene zipped the duffle bag with the dog’s head protruding, then gently initiated the process of lifting her vertically out of the cave.
“I’d hand her up, he’d set her down, he’d move up, then I’d move up, then we’d pass her up again,” Haley recounted.
The process was indeed strenuous, but after nearly 90 minutes of ascending, they finally arrived at the top of the pit with the duffle bag.
Assistant Fire Chief Calhoun reached in and retrieved the duffle bag from the rescuers, holding the dog in his arms as he carried her into the sunlight.
The Most Heartwarming Reunion
“She must have fallen into a sinkhole or a concealed entrance,” Jeff Bohnert stated with tears of joy in his eyes, while cradling his beloved dog.
Indeed, that was their Abby, a dog that had been missing for nearly three months, for whom the Bohnert family had almost given up hope.
Their daughter, Rachel Bohnert, who was away at college at the time, was ecstatic when she learned that her cherished childhood companion had been found.
“You can’t begin to fathom the happiness Rachel experienced upon hearing the news,” her mother shared enthusiastically.
Exactly one week after that wonderful reunion moment, Haley encountered Abby and her owners again. Although Kathy stated that they had been gradually increasing Abby’s caloric intake to restore her health, she was still quite thin and frail.
However, Haley observed that she at least had regained the strength to bark, as it was the first time he had heard her since they emerged from the cave together.
“She’ll be just fine!,” Haley remarked with a broad, joyful, and proud grin on his face.
Miracles do occur if one has faith, and this tale serves as a testament to that truth.