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Copper was rescued in Litchfield County by Amy La Russo, manager of Unleashed, a local New Milford kennel, after 13 days in the wild.
Copper’s adventure began when walking with his owner Jean Mariano in Saga Meadow Park and he became spooked by a pick-up, said LaRusso.
After hearing the loud vehicle, Cooper backed out of his harness and hightailed it into the woods.
Mariano sprang into action, distributing posters, searching, and worrying.
La Russo, who knew Cooper from his boarding at Unleashed, was also worried when she found out he was missing she started looking for him immediately.
Searching in the woods that night, following dog tracks in the snow at the park, again the next morning and on her next two days off, leaving bowls of food all the way to Gaylordsville, a nearby town.
Says La Russo, “When I found out Copper was missing my heart ripped in two.”
After 13 days of searching, Amy heard a whimpering on the porch of her Washington Depot home. She opened the door and Copper leaped into her arms.
It was a complete surprise since Copper had never been to her house before which was 10 miles from where he got lost in New Milford.
“I laughed, I cried murmuring ‘Oh my god, Oh my God. I clutched him afraid he would disappear in a puff of smoke,” she said.
Skinny and starving, Copper walked into Amy’s living room and made himself at home.
LaRusso immediately called Jean Mariano who left her house in her PJ’s to pick him up.
In retrospect, La Russo added: “I hope if I were lost, somebody wouldn’t give up on me. I was thrilled to be chosen but this isn’t my story this is Copper’s story, his journey.”
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