Colorado hiker missing for months found dead with his dog still alive by his side

[BlueCheeseAgain]

CNN — The body of a 71-year-old hiker who went missing in August was found in the southern Colorado mountains and his loyal terrier, which had survived in the wilderness, was still at his side, a rescue group said.

Rich Moore embarked with his Jack Russell Terrier, Finney, on August 19 with plans to summit Blackhead Peak – a 12,500-foot elevation peak in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains – and never returned, according to a Facebook post from Taos Search and Rescue.

Moore, who was from nearby Pagosa Springs, was missing for about ten weeks until a hunter stumbled across his remains on October 30, about two and a half miles east of the mountain top, and Finney was there alongside him, according to the volunteer rescue group.

Finney had lost about half of his body weight when he was discovered but appeared to be in relatively good shape, according to Taos member Delinda Vanne-Brightyn, who responded to the initial search for Moore.

“It just brings us all to tears the loyalty of that dog,” she told CNN on Monday.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/14/us/colorado-hiker-missing-dog-alive/index.html

I wonder what a cat would think of the dog. "Dude, he's gone. There's a line between loyalty and just being silly."

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Wow. Such loyalty and love. My dogs too, are almost always by my side, and I relish it so much, w/ me

being so hard-of-hearing, they are like my 24-hour security detail. And I would do anything for them.

Such an inspiring story, I hope that the dog finds a good home after the death of his human companion.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. The loyalty of this dog is amazing

[Paladin]

3. Good pup. (nt)

[Emile]

4. How did the little dog survive?

[hlthe2b]

5. Jack Russells are natural rodent hunters. Between eating the "whole rodent" and vegetation

as well as any normal condensation or precipitation, I can imagine him surviving-- albeit quite fortunate to do so, given local predators.

[doublethink]

6. Wow I got three Jacks ...

So loyal each one of them. I know they could 'hunt' their way out of something like that little doggie must of done but man. Other preditors out there in the wilderness would of been against the odds of that little guy or mine surviving. Who's a good boy? Big hugs to the little guy and hope he gets a good home.