Denali - the alpha female canine

If you know my son, you know his dog, Nali.  She has been his constant companion for 14 years. They have traveled and relocated several times across the country.  She has accompanied him hiking, cross-country skiing, and biking.  But age has caught up with her and just as with humans she has begun to lose her bearings (as to where she is); is deaf; and her other senses are beginning to fade.  Sunday afternoon she was gone in an instant and with dark approaching and snow falling, my son could not see or find this white dog.  Nor could she hear him because of her deafness  This dog has not gone further than the end of the driveway in 4 months!

In the "wild" west there are dangers for domesticated animals:  eagles and hawks (though she is too large for that), bears (still a little early and we aren't really in the area), and coyotes - now that was one of our fears.  Eight hours of foot search through the acres of land surrounding the house turned up no sign.  We were all prepared for the worst, but not knowing was so painful.

It pays to notify everyone!  After 26 hours she walked up to some DOT workers.  One guy knew a dog was missing, called her name so she dropped at his feet.  When her Papa got there she jumped up and started "talking" and continued to do so until they got home where she has been waking only to eat for two days.

The temperatures were in the  20s that night and it appeared as though she never slept, but walked all night trying to find her way back home.  To make matters worse, she had just gotten her springtime shaving and didn't have her normal winter coat.