A boxer dog named Jade managed to survive nearly two months in the Wyoming wilderness all by herself. According to a June 4th Facebook post from one of Jade’s owners, some loud road noises spooked the dog, and she ran away into Little Buffalo Basin. Jade’s humans (and her entire community) then leaped into action to try to find the missing pet, but it would be weeks before they brought her home.

The owners, Tim Paul, and Laura Wilderman, with the help of new friends who saw the couple’s lost-dog posters around town, tried searching for Jade using many methods. Paul spent the night in his truck at the spot where Jade initially ran off; with the help of a Good Samaritan drone owner, they looked for Jade with a drone; and they even hired search dogs to try to track Jade’s scent from her.

In fact, according to the Washington Post, the couple searched for Jade in the woods every day she was gone, which was around seven weeks. Wilderman even took a leave from her job to do this. However, the couple’s search efforts, radio ads, social media posts, and a $1,500 reward still didn’t bring Jade home, and the chances that the dog had survived so long in the wild were starting to dwindle.

“This area in Wyoming is just deep, deep woods. There isn’t anything around,” Wilderman told the Washington Post. The area is also home to large predators like mountain lions, grizzly bears, and coyotes that Jade would need to fend off.

Wilderman stated, “We didn’t think we would get her back.”

The Power of Community

The search for Jade wasn’t just a family effort—it became a community mission. When the news of Jade’s disappearance spread, the town rallied around the heartbroken couple. Neighbors and even strangers took time out of their lives to search the dense forests of the Little Buffalo Basin. Volunteers joined Paul and Wilderman on foot, some bringing along their dogs to help track Jade’s scent. Others offered equipment, like ATVs and drones, to cover more ground. The support from their community gave Paul and Wilderman the strength to continue the search, even when hope seemed lost.

Social media played a significant role in the search efforts. People shared posts about Jade going missing thousands of times, reaching folks beyond the nearby area. Folks from towns close by and even other states joined in the search, either in person or by giving advice and support. The flood of help was huge, showing how much people care about pets’ well-being even ones they’ve never seen.

Jade’s vanishing act put the spotlight on how tech is changing the way we look for pets that go missing. People sent camera-equipped drones flying over big chunks of wild land to search for any hints of Jade. While not new, search dogs played a key role because they could smell things people couldn’t. These new gadgets paired with the deep love and drive pet owners have always had, created a strong team to find Jade.

Surviving Against the Odds

Jade’s survival in the Wyoming wilderness is nothing short of extraordinary. Boxers are not typically known for their wilderness survival skills, which makes her story all the more incredible. The rugged terrain, lack of food, and presence of predators made her survival seem almost impossible. Yet, Jade defied the odds.

For seven weeks, Jade made her way through the rough wilderness. She hunted to eat consuming whatever she could get, including small creatures and plants. The trail camera that caught her eating a dead animal gave her owners a key hint about how she was doing and where she was. Jade’s ability to survive in such a tough place shows how strong her instincts are and how tough she is. She found enough food to stay alive, which is pretty amazing.

The Wyoming wilderness has a reputation for its breathtaking yet harsh environment. The Little Buffalo Basin where Jade got lost, contains dense woods sharp peaks, and changeable weather. The region also hosts abundant wildlife, including risky predators such as mountain lions, bears, and coyotes. Jade would have needed to stay vigilant non-stop, steering clear of these predators while also trying to find food and water. Astonishingly, she didn’t get hurt or face something worse during her time in the wild.

Jade’s owners expected the worst as time passed without any clues about their cherished dog. Each day, they went into the wild wishing for a miracle, but getting ready for the chance that Jade might not have made it. Wilderman called the emotional impact “devastating,” pointing out that the goodwill and help from their neighborhood lifted the couple’s mood.

A Twist of Fate

Finally, last week, Wilderman and Paul got some good news. Someone spotted Jade on a trail camera eating an animal carcass. The trail cam owner then saw Jade in person a few days later and recognized her from the posters in town. He called the owners with good news: Jade was alive.

The news sent waves of relief and joy through the community. After weeks of uncertainty and fear, Jade’s owners were finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. However, the work was not yet done. The couple immediately sprang into action, setting up a humane trap in the area where Jade was spotted. They filled it with food, hoping to lure her in without causing her any harm.

For hours, they waited anxiously by the trap, hoping that Jade would appear. And finally, she did. Looking disheveled and slightly friar, Jade was caught in the trap and safely brought back to her owners. Despite her rough appearance, she was remarkably healthy. 

A trip to the vet confirmed that Jade had picked up worms during her adventure, but otherwise, she was in good condition. Her survival was nothing short of miraculous.

Wilderman called her dog’s return “a miracle.” The reunion of Jade with her owners brought tears and happiness, a moment they thought might never happen. For seven weeks, they didn’t stop looking, couldn’t sleep well, and always worried they’d never see their cherished pet again. But now, Jade was back home where she belonged.

The Lessons Learned

Jade’s story reminds us of the unbreakable connection between people and their pets. It also shows how tough and resilient animals can be even when they face huge challenges. Jade’s owners learned to never lose hope, no matter how bad things look.

Jade’s survival story inspires pet owners everywhere. It shows how important community is how technology can help in modern searches, and how tough animals are.

But most importantly, it shows that even in the darkest of times, hope can prevail.

As Wilderman and Paul reflect on their experience, they are filled with gratitude for their community, whose support was instrumental in bringing Jade home. They also feel a deep sense of awe at their dog’s strength and determination. Jade’s story is one that they will cherish forever, a reminder of the miracle that brought their family back together.

We agree. Way to go, Jade