Man sees missing dog poster after fatal 600‑foot cliff crash — drives for hours before making heartbreaking discovery that leaves owner in tears
A kind stranger helped turn the life around of a grieving dog owner who had survived a devastating car crash in the wild. The man, Joseph Stratman, saw a missing dog poster for a pet lost for weeks after the fatal 600-foot cliff plunge and contacted the owner. Soon, Stratman found himself driving for hours to assist a miraculous reunion until he made a heartbreaking discovery about the owner. The video with 6.2 million views became a ray of hope for many fellow pet owners and people coping with personal losses.
Samantha Orr, a then 21-year-old college student, was involved in a fatal accident while off-roading with her mother, Jennifer, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. They were traveling up a mountain on a “treacherous” path when the jeep fell 600 feet down a cliff, as reported by Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) on YouTube. Their Goldendoodle, Bentley, sitting in the backseat, was ejected from the vehicle while the crash claimed Jennifer’s life. Samantha sustained severe back and rib injuries and was rushed to the hospital by rescuers. While Samantha recovered, she left no stone unturned to find her poor dog, lost in the wild for weeks since the incident. He wandered around for 19 days trying to survive in the wilderness until help arrived.
The owner's family put up flyers around town urging anyone with information to contact them about the dog “missing from a fatal accident.” This is when Joseph Stratman came across the poster and drove for “hours” to meet up with the owner and accompany her in the search for Bentley. He had seen the pup wandering on top of a mountain and wasted no time informing his worried owner. Soon, Samantha spotted her beloved dog in a frail state, but was nevertheless happy to be reunited with him. The viral clip shared shows the owner crying out for Bentley, who hesitantly steps towards her while she tries to regain his trust. He was dehydrated, and his fur was matted.
Fortunately, Bentley recognized Samantha and walked into her arms. She was relieved that her poor pup was safe despite the harsh situation he’d been trapped in for three weeks. “I am so happy. He just warms my heart, and we do everything together,” she said in the interview. According to Fox Creek Farm, Goldendoodles are known for their sociable nature and make perfect house dogs. The chances of their survival outside are fairly low compared to hunting dog breeds because of their need for a safe and loving environment.
People were moved by the heartwarming reunion and shared their thoughts in the comments. @sofialagunas1297 said, “The college girl lived probably the most sad three weeks of her life, lost her mom and her dog.” Meanwhile, @jim_8621 marveled at how the dog survived the wild. “I can't believe that the dog survived after being ejected out of the car in a fall of a 600-foot cliff and hitting those big rocks, then being without water and food for 19 days.” A third person, @RachelAmberEverleigh, said: "Wow I can’t imagine what she’s going through. I’m literally trying to hold back my tears"
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