By Brittney Matejka

Missing dog found 1,200 km away from home and returns to his family in Brooks, AB.

Nov 13, 2017 | 12:07 PM

BROOKS, AB. – A family in the City of Brooks is welcoming back their four legged family member after he was missing for five and a half weeks.

Vader, is a 2.5 year old “mutt,” who was found 1,200 km away in Steinbach, MB. said owner Jim Third. September 28th is a day Third won’t forget, as Vader uncharacteristically wandered away from his job site and could not be found.

“We started using Facebook and the kids were really good and put out posters and door to door with some flyers and went to the local businesses where we were working and nothing, not even a peep,” he explained.

Third didn’t give up hope. It was the kindness of strangers on social media who helped share his story and keep an eye out for the black and brown pup. Sheryl Renton, with Paws and Claws Animal Rescue in Yorkton, SK, saw Third’s plea for help and reached out.

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“When Jim posted his dog as lost, we connected right away. I said ‘Jim, don’t worry, I’ll help you find your boy and I’ll bring him home,’” she explained.

Renton posted and shared Vader’s story across multiple lost, missing and stolen pet Facebook groups. She kept an eye open for the Third’s missing four legged family member.

“I was sitting on the computer and all of a sudden, I saw Vader pop up, laying by a tree,” she said.

A photo of a dog was sitting under a tree in a park in Manitoba was posted online. She reached out to the local pound in Steinbach, MB.and connected them with Third. After sending photos back and forth, Third was confident they had found his dog Vader.

Renton helped Third then connect with a group who offers free transportation to lost or missing pets in order to return them to their owners.

“There is a group out there called Furry Hobo’s and Highway Hero’s, a bunch of highway truckers coordinate getting dogs back to their owners,” he said.

On Thursday November 9th, a truck hauling cattle to Brooks, AB. was able to deliver some special cargo back to his home.

“It was really cool when he came out of the truck, it was pretty cool reunion. One that I never expected to happen,” he said.

Third and his family are overjoyed to have Vader back home. He said he is grateful to all the kind strangers who helped him bring his boy back home.