Missing dog reunited with NH owner after 23 days

AUBURN, N.H. — A rescue dog was reunited with its owner after being lost for 23 days.

Popeye, an 8-year-old English setter, had a rough journey back to his owner – getting hit by a car and traveling nearly 10 miles with a broken leg.

According to a Facebook post, Jill Morrison says her dog crawled out of the car window while she ran into Dunkin Donuts on Granite St. in Manchester, New Hampshire. Popeye was sound asleep when she left him in the car, but he woke up and panicked before bolting out the window and disappearing.

Over the course of a few days, Morrison said on Facebook that Popeye was sighted running up and down the Piscataquog Trail.

Based off the three sightings reported to Morrison, she realized Popeye was not behaving like typical lost dogs do.

“He is not settling into a place or a routine or hitting any of the local restaurant dumpsters or going to people for food – he is innately a hunting dog and he has overcome his fear and is surviving…but not in one area,” Morrison said in her Facebook post.

Morrison, who lives in Auburn, New Hampshire adopted Popeye five years ago from Georgia, where he used to be a bird hunting dog. She wrote on Facebook that he’s a life-loving dog who mistrusts people that are not his own.

Morrison chronicled her search on Facebook, drawing in good Samaritans of the internet who ultimately helped Popeye find his way home.

Morrison put up another Facebook post, updating everyone on the condition of Popeye after he was found, which led to a GoFundMe page to help her with treatment costs.

Cox Media Group