Tails From Rainbow Bridge: Chloe the Miracle Mountain Dog

This is the story of a 14-year-old-lab-pittie mix named Chloe who, on a hot August day decided to hike up a 14 er Mount Bross, ran into a speck of trouble, and came down six weeks later

Chloe was a mountain dog, and she was experienced in finding her way home.  But she also had gotten older, and her body did not respond the way it used to.  

On this beautiful summer day, Chloe kept going up and up.  She felt young again.  She knew she should turn around but the sun was warm, the scents were heavenly, and time slipped away.  She saw a large rock and knew if she could get on it she could see everywhere.  It took a mighty leap, but Chloe made it.

Here is something about dogs that humans have trouble understanding.  We have tremendous confidence going up, but not so much going done.  Chloe was stranded on a rock in the middle of Nowhere Colorado.

Chloe nervously padded to the side of the rock but her instinct told her if she jumped she would land on the steep slope, her paws would not gain traction, and she would fall into the trees and rocks.  An impulsive dog may get hurt by running in the street or at a wild animal but a pensive dog studies the situation and understands that sometimes it is better to wait even if it is over night.  Or night after night after night.

Her Dad, Larry Osborne expected Chloe to come back from her hike, but one night turned to two, and then a week.  Chloe was an older dog,  there were many wild animals on the mountain, and her dad slowly began to lose hope.

Chloe, through hot days, cold nights, and the rain stayed alive on top of that rock.  She won’t tell me how.  She just believed someone would find her, and day after day she never lost hope as she survived on rainwater and miracles.

Larry owned a Saloon, and he made sure that every one of the town’s 300 people was on the lookout for Chloe but no one saw her.  In late September Larry told his son that Chloe would not be coming home, and the family had a memorial service for her.

Meanwhile, Chloe stayed on the rocks using all she had left.  Her bark.  

Mountain hikers had reported while they were on Mount Bross they heard a dog barking but no one could find the source of the barking.  Trinity Smith and her boyfriend Sean Nichols, who were visiting the area after moving two years earlier, decided to conduct a search.

They searched the mountain all day with no findings but before nightfall, Trinity heard a slight whimpering.  She posted her discovery on Facebook and a Breckenridge resident Mark Whiteside joined her on the mountain.  Unfortunately they did not hear anything the rest of the evening.

A desperate Chloe knew there were humans near, but she was so tired, and thirsty.  Working up a single whimper used all of her energy.  She decided to keep quiet and hope the came nearer.  

Smith and Nichols returned the next day searched for four hours with no success.   The weather turned cold, and clouds covered the sun.  They kept going, calling out for a response.  It started to snow.   They knew if the sound were from a dog he would not survive the storm.  Nichols, exhausted and losing faith, sat down and cried.  

Chloe knew she would not survive the night.  She worked up all the energy she had, and she let out one loud bark.  Nichols heard it and shimmied up the scree field towards the noise.  Chloe found the residual spark to produce more barks.  Nichols kept heading towards the sounds.  Chloe poked her head up, and Nichols saw her stuck on the rock.

Nichols reached the rock and grabbed Chloe.  He held her to his chest, and he slid down the steep chute.  While they were siding Chloe’s collar was ripped off.  

They got Chloe off the mountain and drove to the Al-Mart where Nichols worked.  They were planning to rush Chloe to the vet when one of Nichols’ coworkers said she knew who Chloe belonged to.

The woman found Larry Osborne who was stunned to see Chloe standing next to Nichols.  He broke down when he saw his wonderful friend he was sure had perished six weeks before.   

Chloe was thrilled to see her Dad.  He took her to the vet.  Chloe was very dehydrated and malnourished, her nose had turned white, her coat pale and she suffered a minor injury down the mountain, but otherwise she was fine.  She had lost two-thirds of her body weight but had gained ten pounds back the first weekend living every dog’s dream of being able to eat however much she wanted.

The entire town turned out to celebrate Chloe’s return.  Her Dad said he did not know how she managed to survive.

The truth is that Chloe refused to go to the Bridge and never gave up the belief that she would be found.

That is an essential lesson for dogs and humans.  A lot can be accomplished if you never give up hope.