Hiker's Body Recovered After Months in Colorado Wilderness, His Dog Survives
The body of a 71-year-old hiker missing since August was tragically discovered in Colorado's mountains Remarkably, his faithful terrier stayed by his side throughout, showcasing the unwavering loyalty dogs possess
The remains of a 71-year-old hiker who disappeared in August were discovered in the mountains of southern Colorado, alongside his faithful terrier who had managed to survive in the wilderness, according to a rescue group. Rich Moore set out on August 19th with his Jack Russell Terrier, Finney, with the intention of reaching the summit of Blackhead Peak, which stands at an elevation of 12,500 feet in Colorado's San Juan Mountains. However, he never returned, as stated in a Facebook post by Taos Search and Rescue.
Moore, a resident of the nearby town of Pagosa Springs, went missing for approximately ten weeks. His remains were finally found on October 30, about two and a half miles east of the mountain top, by a hunter. The volunteer rescue group reported that Finney, who was with Moore at the time of discovery, had lost about half of his body weight but appeared to be in relatively good condition, according to Delinda Vanne-Brightyn, a member of the Taos team who participated in the initial search for Moore.
"She told CNN on Monday that the loyalty of that dog brought tears to our eyes. Vanne-Brightyn, accompanied by her certified K9 shepherd, AkioYodasan, joined the search for Moore. The search and rescue teams scoured the area multiple times, starting from the mountain peak and gradually moving towards the parking lot where Moore had abandoned his car."
The mountain had such steep parts that the crews had to be transported by helicopter, she remembered. She observed that hiking to the summit is a very demanding endeavor.
According to Vanne-Brightyn, the weather was lovely and sunny on the day Moore disappeared. She pointed out that an enthusiastic hiker should have been able to spot his parked car from the top.
Vanne-Brightyn mentioned that the individual went beyond the mountain, displaying behavior typical of a lost person. CNN has contacted the Archuleta County Sheriffs Office to obtain details regarding Moore's demise.
Vanne-Brightyn believes that Finney possibly managed to sustain himself by drinking water from the underground streams in the vicinity and hunting small creatures like field mice or chipmunks.
According to a spokesperson from the sheriffs office's animal control division, the dog was apprehended and subsequently returned to its original owners.
Dogs can be loyal to death, expert says
Certified dog behaviorist and trainer Russell Hartstein says its "not unheard of" for a dog to develop such an intense loyalty to its owner.
"They become loyal to the death a lot of times," Hartstein told CNN Monday.
Jack Russell terriers, in particular, are bred to survive by hunting rodents or other small animals, he noted.
A missing hiker has been found deceased with their loyal four-legged companion on multiple occasions. In a press release from 2022, local authorities reported the case of Donald Hayes, a 74-year-old hiker who went missing while trekking a mountain near Prescott, Arizona, accompanied by his dog named Ranger.
When Hayes' remains were discovered nearly a week later in the challenging landscape, officials confirmed that Ranger was alive and believed to have stayed by his owner's side throughout the entire period. The dog was subsequently taken to a nearby animal hospital for medical attention, according to the statement.
