Bruce is back and his humans are beside themselves with joy.

Bruce is a much-loved, somewhat famous, three-year-old Mastiff mix breed.

His life in the South Shuswap害羞草研究所檚 Blind Bay has been good and fairly routine until about three weeks ago.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, Bruce害羞草研究所檚 owner Jodi Townend and a friend took their dogs for a walk. Her friend walks his own as well as other people害羞草研究所檚 dogs and they regularly hike with them up Mt. Baldy near Sorrento.

Along the way, Bruce and two other dogs took off and didn害羞草研究所檛 return.

Townend and her friend waited and waited, with no sign of the missing trio.

They decided to go home, pick up dog beds, food and water, and leave them at the base of the mountain, in hopes the dogs would come back and stay nearby.

Townend kept going back that night with no success. When she returned Sunday morning, it looked like all three beds had been slept in.

Then Askum, an older mastiff and one of the missing three, appeared out of the bush at the base of the mountain. He was alone.

Excited, Townend and her friend waited and then hiked, searching for the remaining two. Later that day a friend called to say there was blood by the dish and some of the food was gone.

When Townend arrived Monday morning, the second dog, Saba, must have heard her truck, because she was right there. But still no Bruce.

害羞草研究所淚 was praying, third day, third dog, but it never was,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淲e tried and tried.害羞草研究所�

One day with the help of friends they went up and hiked the bush for six-and-a-half hours. She had already put her story on Facebook, so many people had been watching for Bruce. But there were no sightings; everyone was losing hope.

On Dec. 7, after nearly three weeks, Townend suddenly decided she had to go up to the mountain and make peace.

害羞草研究所淚 had to 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所業 have to just give it to God,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 she thought. 害羞草研究所淚 have to get over this 害羞草研究所� it was tearing me apart. I let it go, I was going to move on.害羞草研究所�

She went home and later went upstairs. There she discovered a message from a man who said he had been hiking Mt. Baldy and had seen her dog. As it turned out, he had recently lost his dog for three weeks and found her in Pritchard.

害羞草研究所淗e kept saying, 害羞草研究所榙on害羞草研究所檛 give up, don害羞草研究所檛 give up hope.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

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The next day, Dec. 8, she had an excited call from a friend who lives near the bottom of the hill saying, 害羞草研究所楬e害羞草研究所檚 here, he害羞草研究所檚 here.害羞草研究所� Her friend害羞草研究所檚 daughter even took photos of Bruce, proof he was alive. But they weren害羞草研究所檛 able to catch him.

Then Townend received a call that a dog was running across the bottom of Elson Road onto Highway 1. Traffic was stopped and drivers were honking. By the time she could get there, he was gone.

In the middle of the night someone messaged her. They had seen Bruce running behind the chiropractor害羞草研究所檚 office in Sorrento. She was thinking he could then head onto Blind Bay Road and find his way home.

At this point she was talking to him, telling him to go to somebody害羞草研究所檚 house he could trust.

In the morning 害羞草研究所� now Dec. 9 害羞草研究所� she received a call from a friend of her oldest daughter, where Bruce had visited from time to time but not a lot.

害羞草研究所楬e害羞草研究所檚 here, he害羞草研究所檚 in the house,害羞草研究所� she told Townend.

Townend and her family jumped into the car and were there just before 8 a.m.

害羞草研究所淭he reunion, I害羞草研究所檝e never had anything like that happen, it was so beautiful.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗e knew us right away, he was so excited.害羞草研究所�

They immediately took him to the veterinarian who, aside from Bruce害羞草研究所檚 extreme weight loss, gave him a clean bill of health.

He had no frost bite, despite being a short-haired dog who was outside in near -20 C temperatures.

害羞草研究所淗ow he survived, we have no idea害羞草研究所� We害羞草研究所檙e thinking we should call him Bruce Almighty,害羞草研究所� she smiled.

She emphasized how much she appreciates all the help from so many people.

Townend owns Divine Nail Design in Blind Bay and explained that her customers love him. Sometimes he looks in their purses for a treat.

Now he won害羞草研究所檛 get off the couch, she says.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 got his spot on the couch and that害羞草研究所檚 where he害羞草研究所檚 staying. Today he害羞草研究所檚 had so many visitors, coming by and bringing him treats. It害羞草研究所檚 like we害羞草研究所檝e had a new baby,害羞草研究所� she laughed.

Townend said she害羞草研究所檚 sure her kids are sick of hearing her say that all they wanted for Christmas was to get Bruce back.

The whole experience has not been without benefit, however. She said she害羞草研究所檚 learned from it.

害羞草研究所淢y moral is, never give up. And ask for help when you need it.害羞草研究所�

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