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SCIPIO, Millard County — A Utah Highway Patrol trooper recently rescued a golden retriever on the freeway after the dog spent more than three days away from its owner.
Riverton resident Marianne Miller, a dog breeder, said she was taking two dogs to a friend Thursday, and when they met at a Flying J gas station, 5-month-old Tennille ran away.
As Tennille ran south toward I-15, Miller and her friend chased her and searched for her in their vehicles, but they could not catch up.
The two stayed the night in the area and put up fliers at local businesses, talked to locals and contacted every vet within a 50-mile radius in an effort to find the puppy. Miller's husband called the sheriff's office, but it wasn't until Sunday morning that they heard anything.
Trooper Jeff Jones was dispatched to the area of the Scipio Interchange on I-15 Sunday, where he found Tennille, lying on the fogline, wearing a green leash, Jones said.
The dog wasn't moving at all; and when Jones called her name, she could only wag her tail.
Jones wondered if she'd been hit because she couldn't even stand up. He scooped her up and took her to the Flying J, where he filled up a hot dog boat with water.
Rather than just taking her to a shelter, Jones took her to the veterinarian in Delta, who said Tennille likely wouldn't have survived without his help. Jones stayed with Tennille for an hour as she was treated for a 105-degree fever and severe dehydration.
"It just seemed like she was probably someone's kid," Jones said. "… I knew she was bad enough that if I just dropped her off at a shelter, and she didn't get medical attention, she probably wasn't going to make it."
Jones even offered to pay for the treatment if Miller wasn't willing.
Miller said she hadn't slept since Tennille ran away, and she knows it was divinely inspired that Jones was able to find her.
… I knew she was bad enough that if I just dropped her off at a shelter, and she didn't get medical attention, she probably wasn't going to make it.
–Trooper Jeff Jones
"It's clearly, clearly … out of man's hands," Miller said. "It was clearly something supernatural."
The vet kept Tennille overnight, and when Miller went to pick her up, Jones was there checking on her.
"What a man, what a hero," Miller said. "...he could have easily just left her there, or taken her to the shelter, but he didn't."
Jones said when he went to check on the puppy, she jumped up, licked him and sat in his lap.
"I'm just glad it worked out," Jones said. "I'm glad that we actually knew who to call and get her reunited."
Miller said it is against all odds that Tennille would survive the elements. The vet told Miller he was surprised she wasn't chewed up by coyotes.
Tennille survived over 90-degree weather and 80-mile-an-hour traffic zooming past her.
Miller said she was doing well Monday. She does not have any cellular damage and her blood work came back normal.
Contributing: Dave Cawley
