After being lost in coal pit for days, this missing dog finally made it home—all thanks to a stranger
Every day, countless dogs go missing across the globe, vanishing from backyards, slipping out of leashes, or even being stolen for breeding purposes. While for many heartbroken owners, their search becomes a never-ending journey, only a few lucky ones experience a joyful reunion. Pam and Joe Palko were among those fortunate ones who finally reunited with their lost pup—just because of a hiker, Collin Leiby, and his dog, Bass, as per Sunny Skyz.
The Palkos had a rough start to 2025 as their beloved dog, Freddy, went missing on February 17. However, with sheer determination to find their puppy, the couple immediately alerted his community, distributed flyers, and even shared about the incident online. Then, Pam and Joe hired some professional pet trackers, who also launched a search mission using advanced technology like thermal drones. Unfortunately, with time, their relentless search continues without any fruitful results. And, just as the couple was losing all their hope, Collin Leiby and his dog turned messiah for them. The duo were trekking through the mountains in Pottsville when something caught his dog's attention.
Curiosity kicked in, and Leiby decided to investigate, especially as he noticed a faint movement near the coal pit. When he looked closely, he saw the 6-month-old Golden Retriever, whose missing report had been all over the news. "A tear came to my eye. I started calling his name. He slowly got up and started walking toward us," he shared with the outlet. When Leiby heard his name being called out, he tried scaling up the icy wall and was successfully rescued. Meanwhile, Pam and Joe, who had been extremely worried about their missing dog, finally received the call they had been desperately waiting for so long.
"He was just a little frantic, hungry, and confused. But when they showed up, he started wiggling," Canizaro-Orlowsky, the couple's neighbor who found Freddy and his rescuers standing outside his residence, shared with ABC News. Moreover, the incredible story of Freddy's rescue was featured on WBNS 10TV's official YouTube channel, where Leiby shared his whole experience of the heartwarming incident. "I grew up pretty much at the base of this mountain, so it was bearable in the woods, so I was like, maybe I will go up and take a look. And maybe find this dog because I saw the poster the night after he disappeared," he revealed. During his trek, he shared that his dog kept continuously pulling him until they reached a small cave-like structure. When Leiby found Freddy, he wasn't in an excellent condition.
"The poor dog was so weak that he hardly had any strength. "He lost it when I finally got him up the bank; the cries he let out were heartbreaking but amazing," he revealed to the outlet. Notably, when Canizaro-Orlowsky called Pam and Joe Palko, Leiby could hear their happy screams over the phone, asking him to stay until they reached. "I was like, I'll stay as long as you need me. I just stayed there, and the dad got out of the car, and the dog just started jumping in the air," he shared, describing the precious reunion.