Dog missing 19 days in wilderness after fatal wreck gets emotional reunion with mom

Samantha Orr’s mother Jennifer tragically died on a family trip to Colorado.

She had been driving her jeep when a large rock fell on the road in front of her causing her to swerve. The jeep fell 600ft off the side of the road down a mountain.

Jennifer didn’t survive the accident and Samantha was badly hurt. She suffered displaced ribs and a compressing of her vertebrae.

Also in the jeep at the time was Samantha’s Goldendoodle named Bentley.

Samantha says she remembered the dog being thrown from the jeep during the crash. She had no idea what happened to him after, however.

Samantha launched a Facebook page titled “Bring Bentley Home” to help find him.

“My mom and my dog were my best friends,” she told KOAA.

Samantha didn’t give up hope, however. She was motivated to bring Bentley home.

“We know he is still out there and scared,” she said in a Facebook post. “We need to get Bentley back home to Kansas to his grieving family.”

A kind man helps to look for Bentley.
Joseph Stratmann reached out to Samantha through the Bring Bentley Home Facebook page. He had been leaving food out near the crash site in the hopes of attracting Bentley.

Samantha met up with Joseph 19 days after the crash to look for the dog.

After some searching, Joseph and Samantha were able to spot Bentley in the distance but he was, at first, hesitant to come towards them.

“Eventually his fear got the best of him and he made his way to the ridge (top),” she posted. “I slowly but surely followed him, upon reaching the summit, I could see him watching me.”
They put out some food and a new toy for Bentley but he was still hesitant to come to them.

It took some time but Bentley began to put things together and eventually starts to move towards Samantha.

As he gets closer, he speeds up and runs toward his grieving family member.

“It’s momma,” Samantha pleads. “Good boy … come, come.”

Samantha then took to Facebook to thank Joseph for the help he provided in locating Bentley.

“Joe was my living guardian angel Saturday. He safely led me up the mountain, kept me calm and positive, everything I needed in that moment. At times he was a human stepping stool for me when I had no foot placement while climbing the mountain on all fours. This incredible man is the reason I was able to engage with my traumatized Bentley. Had it not been for Joe, this puppy would not have returned home. Thank you so much, Joe.”

It has been a difficult time for Samantha. She lost her mother, she was badly injured, and she was separated from Bentley for almost 3 weeks, not knowing if he was safe.

She took to Facebook to talk about the emotional toll of her experience.

“Nothing could cure the pain in my heart over the loss of my mom,” she said. “But having him back was one less loss to endure and I will be forever grateful to have my mountain man safely at home. Sometimes I watch him sleeping, flopped over on his back without a care in the world and imagine what he must’ve seen and done during those days. I can’t even begin to guess, but I’m so, so proud of him.”

Learn more about Samantha and Bentley’s story in the video below.
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