NeverLost U

While duck hunting with his dad, Gunnar jumped out of the boat and vanished into the marsh. Instinctively feeling vulnerable, he remained silent, unwilling to reveal his location even to his owners while they searched for him. Two days later, when he thought he was alone, Gunnar started howling as we were setting up a Missy trap nearby. We waded through the marsh toward his estimated position—but again, with people nearby he didn't make a peep. Fortunately, we got close enough that his dad could spot him through the cattails. Gunnar allowed dad to carefully approach until he was safely in hand.

Dasher and his owner were hiking by the Minnesota River near Bloomington, Minn. when he got spooked and bolted. The Retrievers responded by placing poster-sized signs around the area and providing flyers for the owner to distribute. Thanks to the high awareness, a sighting call came in just in time, as Dasher was trapped between a fence and a freeway, perilously close to traffic. With help from the local police department and the calming presence of another family dog, he eventually allowed his owner to catch him.

Bleu's family was devastated when he disappeared from their property in rural Minnesota. Deaf and nearly blind, the 13-year-old pug rarely wandered, and they feared the worst. Apparently for no good reason, the disabled senior had crossed the road and slipped into tall marsh grasses on his way toward a pond a short distance from home. And then he couldn't hear sounds from the farm or cars on the road to orient his way back. Happily, his dad found him the next day alive and well, curled up in the shoulder-high weeds and appearing quite miffed about the whole thing.