A 20-lb labradoodle named Penny is being hailed as a miracle dog after surviving 9 days in the Washington State wilderness. What started as a backpacking trip with friends shortly turned into a nightmare, as Penny’s human Kim Spiro lost her canine companion in an instant. After spending hours searching and enlisting help from search and rescue teams, Spiro’s miracle dog turned up in the most unlikely way. (1)
Penny The Miracle Dog’s Backcountry Adventure
For Oregonian Kim Spiro, a planned birthday backpacking trip sounded like the perfect way to celebrate a new year of life. Accompanied by a few friends and her loyal companion, Penny, the group headed out for their campsite in the Mt. Baker wilderness. This area–spanning 117,900 acres–is comprised of high glacier-covered peaks, lush vegetation, and a variety of wildlife. Once the group finally reached their camp, they took a much-needed rest. However, this was when Spiro and Penny’s harrowing experience began. (1, 2)
As soon as Spiro took Penny off her leash, the pup bounded away to enjoy her newfound freedom. “She ran into some thick trees and just disappeared,” Spiro told KGW8. “In 15 seconds she just disappeared.” The group searched for their four-legged friend to no avail. The next day before leaving the campsite, Spiro thought she heard barking in the distance–far over a cliff ledge. While she thought it was Penny, there was no way she could navigate the rugged terrain on her own. (1, 3)
A Search And Rescue Mission
Spiro knew she would need help, wasting no time in getting it. Whatcom County’s Summit To Sound Search and Rescue–an organization that usually helps locate lost and injured people–received a special assignment. Partnering with the Washington State Animal Response Team, a group of 12 set out to try and find Penny. Coordinating their efforts, the team even rappelled 200-400 feet down the cliff where the pup was last seen. While they completed almost 10 rappels, there was no sign of the lost labradoodle. (4)
Spiro enlisted drone operators and even a Kentucky psychic for answers on whether Penny was still alive. Eventually, when no signs turned up, the hiker headed back to Portland, Oregon. Sadly, she concluded that her beloved Penny had probably not survived. After all, the Washington wilderness was full of rough terrain and plenty of animals that might have tried to make a meal out of the wandering pup. It seemed that all hope was lost. (1)
The Miracle Dog Returns
9 days after Penny’s disappearance, Spiro received a phone call from a woman from Seattle. Helaina Hurwitz had met up with a group to hike at Fisher Chimneys near Mt. Shuksan when they found a dog at the trailhead’s parking lot. Looking cold and tired, the pup jumped into Horowitz’s car. Sensing that this dog needed help, the woman drove the three hours back to Seattle and contacted the park rangers. They happily confirmed that this was Penny.
The labradoodle had survived 9 days in the wilderness, receiving a warm welcome from Spiro’s neighborhood when she returned. Homemade signs and posters heralded the miracle dog’s rescue, and Spiro was overjoyed to be reunited with Penny. “Penny is a 20-lb, blonde labradoodle,” Spiro added to KGW8. “She’s scrappy, but I didn’t know she could handle the backcountry.” Thankfully, the labradoodle is now safe and sound back at home with her family. While Spiro has no idea the types of adventures Penny encountered, she’s sure she would have plenty of stories if dogs could talk. (1, 3)
