Hiker Missing for 3 Months Found Dead... Companion Dog Found Alive Nearby

Pet dog guarding owner who died during hiking
Lost weight but no major issues detected

A hiker in his 70s was found dead about three months after going missing in Colorado, USA. It was reported that his companion dog stayed by his side, adding to the sorrow.

[Image source=Colorado Missing Persons Group Facebook]

According to the American daily The Washington Post (WP) and others on the 14th (local time), 71-year-old Richie Moore went missing while hiking in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado on August 19. Moore was originally scheduled to climb Blackhead Peak, which is 3,810 meters above sea level in the San Juan Mountains. The search and rescue team spent about 2,000 hours trying to find Moore.

Then, on the 30th of last month, a local hunter accidentally found Moore's body along with a white dog that had been guarding his side. Moore was found about 4 km east from the mountain summit. Brad Hunt, the Archuleta County coroner, speculated that Moore died of hypothermia. The on-site investigation found no signs of homicide.

[Image source=Colorado Missing Persons Group Facebook]

The rescue volunteer group Taos Search and Rescue (TSAR), which initially conducted the search, reported that even after 10 weeks of disappearance, the companion dog Finney was still guarding Moore's side.

Finney was immediately transported to a nearby animal hospital for examination and treatment after being found. After the check-up, Finney was handed over to the family. The 14-year-old senior dog Finney was about half of his usual weight at the time of discovery, but it was reported that there were no other special health issues. Finney is a white Jack Russell Terrier, a breed known to be skilled at hunting small animals such as rodents.

In fact, the rescue team estimated that Finney survived by drinking water from a nearby stream and hunting small rodents and other animals in the wild.

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