A brave dog named Poncho managed to escape after leading rescuers to his missing owner, an 85-year-old woman, on Sunday. He was found a couple of miles away, as reported by Tuolumne County Animal Control on Tuesday.
Local officials indicated that the small Chihuahua guided the search and rescue team to Barbara Dee Crosby’s location around 36 hours after she went missing during an evening walk from her assisted care facility.
Poncho was located approximately two miles from where he had last been seen, according to a Facebook post by Tuolumne County Animal Control. Although the dog was dehydrated, he quickly recovered after a check-up by a veterinarian.
“Our hero is back home with his family and doing well!” the agency posted on its Facebook page, complete with cheerful emojis. “Thank you to everyone who shared and helped search. The story of Poncho has a very happy ending!”
The historic town of Sonora, founded during the Gold Rush, is situated about 120 miles east of San Francisco.
Crosby was reported missing last Friday, and search efforts resumed the following Sunday evening after a resident informed authorities that Poncho was seen in an area near East Bold Mountain Road, where he had fled into the woods.
Rescue teams hiked down a steep embankment and discovered Poncho hidden beneath some brush. They later found Crosby resting a short distance away on the ground.
Due to difficult terrain, rescuers needed rope systems for a safe extraction. Both Poncho and Crosby were taken to a local hospital afterward.
The dog had originally evaded capture when residents spotted him, but he eventually was found later in the week throughout the county.
The county sheriff’s office expressed their gratitude for Poncho in a Facebook post.
