Missing German Shepherd reunited with owner after nearly two months in the Superior National Forest

After nearly two months lost in the Superior National Forest, Lessie, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, has been reunited with her family.

Lessie went missing on Friday, June 28, when first responders were extricating her and her owner from an overturned vehicle following an accident on the Gunflint Trail. Lessie bolted from the vehicle during the process. For the past seven weeks, volunteers and The Retrievers organization have worked hard to scour the woods and Gunflint Trail area for signs of Lessie. Besides a few sightings throughout the past month, Lessie’s fate was largely unknown.  

Until now.

“All sightings had dried up on this girl,” Lisa Cadigan said in an Aug. 21 Facebook post. “It took a while, but one day, the ranger station called and said they had seen her run past the easternmost campsite on Ham Lake.”

Volunteers then focused their efforts in the surrounding vicinity. The following week, Cadigan said a camper called to say Lessie had been spotted again near Ham Lake.

Cadigan said Joel Allen, a volunteer and experienced camper, offered help. He offered to spend five days in the woods, with his dog Rainey, near the spot where Lessie was last seen.

“Joel has helped on a few Retrievers cases, so I trusted him,” Cadigan said. “I told him where she had settled.” She said in the Facebook post that Allen saw Lessie on his first night camping. However, Lessie kept her distance.

Allen left food out for Lessie and spent the next three days trying to build her trust to come near him.

Then, it all came together on the fourth day. He was able to leash and pet her.

The volunteers contacted the owner, and the long walk out of the woods began.  

“When she saw her owner, she was cautious but soon realized who it was and exploded with glee!” Cadigan said.

Cadigan said, “Joel, I will always be thankful for you. You are a hero! You saved this girl! I don’t even have words to express what this means to me, to Lessie and to her family. Again, I will simply say thank you for being a helper.” 

“Welcome home, Lessie! We love you,” said Cadigan.

Kalli Hawkins August 22, 2024