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With The Help Of 20 Strangers, This Hitchhiking Hound Trekked 2,000 Miles To Get Back Home

Written by: Adri Sandoval
Adri Sandoval is the Special Projects Manager for iHeartDogs and iHeartCats. Her work has deepened her love for animals, fostering a strong passion for rescue and animal advocacy.Read more
| Published on May 25, 2018

It was just another day walking his dogs in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania when Adam Herbaugh spotted a lonely Coonhound wandering along his route. He took the hound to a veterinarian where his chip was scanned, and an incredible discovery was made. Although he was in good health, this pup was long way from home — 2,000 miles to be exact — and the story of how he returned from Pennsylvania to Arizona is making headlines!

Once Jake’s microchip was scanned and his identity revealed, his family was contacted to pick him up. But his dog mom, having just had a baby, was unable to undertake the journey… a major bump in the road! But Pennsylvania dog rescue A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue managed to get Jake back where he belongs, not the easiest feat, considering the distance! Luckily, with the help of social media and the hard work of the rescue’s travel coordinator, they were able to make it happen.

The cross-country trek was far too long to ask one person to do alone, but many hands make light work! It took three days and 20 volunteers – each averaging about 100 miles – to take Jake through 10 states! Along the way volunteers snapped pictures with the hitchhiking hound and added their names to his shirt – a great souvenir to remember each and every smiling face.

And waiting for Jake in Arizona was Dad – happy to see him and eager to reunite the pup with the rest of his family! They may never know how he ended up clear across the country, but even if he never tells his secret, they’re happy to have him home!

Featured Photo: A Darrah Bull Bully Rescue/Facebook
H/T: Inside Edition

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