Smarts and Support Help Dog and Family Reunite

Humphrey was missing for two days after his family got into a car accident on Route 81 near Beaver Meadow. He was frightened by the sirens and ran off.

On May 27, Humphrey’s owner, Judith Cooke, reached out to Patch with an update.

“We looked for him for hours yesterday evening and most of today (we started at 6:30 a.m.),” she wrote in an email. “I have to admit, we are getting rather desperate to get him back, but thanks to the publicity you gave his disappearance, a lot of people are helping us look.”

The searching paid off, combined with a smart move on the part of the Cooke family. They left Cooke’s pillowcase where Humphrey was last seen, stuffed with dirty clothes worn by their son.

“He came to it last night,” she said. “He was spotted sleeping there this morning, and we went and searched and got him!”

Cooke said Humphrey visited the vet this morning and is OK.

“His paw pads are rubbed raw and his eyes are irritated from being in all the underbrush,” she said. “He is absolutely exhausted and has been sleeping all day.”

Humphrey spent most of today sleeping in Cooke’s office while she’s at work. See the photo in the above gallery. The second photo is of son Jamie saying ‘good-bye’ to Humphrey before leaving for camp.

The Cooke family thanks all who assisted in Humphrey’s safe return.

From the Archives

• Dog Escapes After Route 81 Car Accident