Julie Flannery - ABC23 Kern Mountain Reporter
March 20, 2010
TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- It was back in December when Marley, a 14-year-old mutt, went missing from a Bear Valley home. The owners had given up hope of finding their four legged friend, when just last week a friend saw Marley on a “dog found” poster.
If dogs could talk, Marley would have quite a tall tale to tell after he wandered away from home and in to the Bear Valley wilderness three months ago.
Marley was Leslie Walz's childhood dog and she said when Marley went missing the family did everything they could to find the dog.
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"For about a month, we did everything we could to find him. We put up the posters, called the newspaper and the humane society, and the bear valley gate and everything and we had given up hope that he would ever be found,” said Walz.
But on a cold winter day last week, Marley was found taking refuge in an old dog house.
The dog house was on Jenny and Rick Salazar's property and used to be their dog's dog house before he passed away.
“He looked very dirty, scared, and when we were able to touch him although he had a very thick coat, the bones underneath, he was very emaciated,” said Jenny Salazar.
The Salazar's called Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue for help, and flyers were put up in hopes of finding Marley’s owner.
Zach Skow, who owns Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue, said because the dog was so old and was obviously missing for a longperiod of time, they weren't very hopeful that his owners would be found, but a few days after flyers were posted, Skow got a phone call.
"A gentleman at the Bear Valley Market saw the poster and called up Marley’s owners and let them know, ‘hey buddy, I’m looking at a picture of your dog,’ and still he didn’t believe it. He said, ‘nah can’t be,'” said Skow.
But it absolutely was their beloved Marley.
And while Marley is now safe at home, it’s still a mystery just how this little pooch survived not only freezing temperatures but alongside the bobcats, coyotes, cougars and bears that roam this lanscape.
“It’s treacherous up here and the fact that he didn’t get killed is beyond me, I don’t know how that happened,” said Skow.
Rick Salazar said he believes Marley was able to survive thanks to a creek of fresh water at the bottom of the canyon and food set out by local residents meant for deer.
“Quite a few people putting out food for deer and cats and I think he got used to eating that and it was enough for him to survive on,” said Rick Salazar.
And while no one will ever know just how Marley survived, his story has left quite an impression.
Jenny Salazar said Marley has taught her a life lesson. “Marley has made me have a lot more hope and hang in there when things aren’t going so great,” said Jenny Salazar.
Marley has been reunited with his owners for almost a week now. He lost twenty pounds while he was missing, but the vet said he is in good health, and Walz said he is also in good spirits, and actually more outgoing now then before his three month long adventure.
Source: http://www.turnto23.com/mountain/22893494/detail.html
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