”There is no love like a dog’s love,” they say. A golden retriever escaped his new home and traveled 40 miles back to his prior residence after his owners were forced to give him up.
According to the Metro, Cooper the dog jumped out of the car shortly after arriving at his new home in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It then vanished for nearly a month, traveling an estimated 40 miles (64 kilometers) back to its original owners in Tobermore, County Londonderry.
Lost Paws NI, a missing dogs organization, said they received a tip on April 22 that the canine had been seen in a number of fields and hanging around outside properties. Another caller reported spotting Cooper heading toward his former house five days later. They claimed the dog traveled alone through the forests and along main highways, often at night, with no assistance from humans.
”Cooper is a clever boy.” said a spokesman for Lost Paws NI. Instinct led him back to a familiar location. I’ll never know how he did it, but he did. There was no food, no shelter, no support; just tenacity and that extraordinary nose.
“We had searched in place, day and night and we had tracked him back to a spot where we lost him again but now we know he was almost back in the area where he’d started before he was given to the dog pound. Cooper crossed main A-roads, forests, fields, and country roads all over 27 days to make his way back home from an area he had never been in before. We are absolutely delighted to have been part of his rescue and a story that.”
Heartwarming update on the condition of Cooper and his new home life
New owner Nigel Fleming said Cooper is ”safe now” and ”eating small meals to build up his strength and put some weight back on slowly.”
Mr. Fleming added, ”Even when he was missing, my faith in humanity was restored thanks to the incredible help I was offered, and today with him here by my side and with Molly, I don’t really have the words to explain the gratitude I feel.”
A spokesman for Lost Paws NI said, ”Cooper is settling in well to his new home life with his sister and is enjoying some home comforts. We visited him several days ago when he was caught and he was cuddled up by the fire, comfortable and loved. I’d like to comment that his new owner Nigel is one of the most dedicated owners we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. Nigel never stopped fighting, never stopped asking for advice, and never stopped filling the food bowls every time we were on the move. This story is one about positivity, perseverance, loyalty, battling for what you want in life, and never giving up.”