Filed under: Animal nutrition, Australian Cattle Dog, Dog Behavior, Dogs, Nebraska dog trainer, Nebraska dog training, Omaha Dog Trainer, Omaha Dog Whisperer, Sandi Hansen, Sandi's K9 Management, animal behavior, dog news, k9 mgmt
Imagine sailing through choppy waters with the family and the family dog when suddenly the dog is washed overboard. How devastating would it be to not be able to find the dog, assuming it had drowned? I can’t even imagine, but believe it or not this story has a happy ending.
This was the case of the Griffith family from Australia who was sailing off the coast of Queensland in November with the family dog. Choppy waters caused the dog to fall overboard. After an exhausting search, the family returned home without their beloved Australian Cattle Dog, Sophie. The family was, of course, devastated.
Five nautical miles away, and four months later rangers spotted a dog on St. Bee’s Island. Thought to be a wild dog, rangers patroling the island finally captured the dog to take back to the mainland. Hearing reports of a possible Australian Cattle Dog having been found, the Griffiths went to see if it could possibly be their beloved Sophie.
The dog was indeed Sophie. She had apparently swam five nautical miles through choppy, shark infested waters and survived by eating wild baby goats. The dog had turned to feral ways and wouldn’t approach any of the rangers without a fight. As soon as she saw the Griffiths, she was whining and wagging in excitement.
In our wildest imaginations I don’t think we could dream up this story. Congratulations, Sophie on returning to your family!
