The body of a Colorado hiker who vanished in August was discovered last month on a rugged peak in the Rocky Mountains.
The man's Jack Russell terrier, however, managed to survive the ordeal and stayed by his deceased owner’s side for months.
Rich Moore, 71, from Pagosa Spring, Colorado, went hiking up the 12,500-foot mountain on August 19, but never came back home, as reported by Fox News.
Search-and-rescue teams traveling by helicopter, made their way through the forests somewhere below the peak, then went toward the trailhead, where they discovered his vehicle, per the publication.
Despite their efforts, which entailed 2,000 hours spent searching for him, they failed to locate the man.
On October 30, however, a hunter happened to come across Moore’s body more than two miles east of the summit. Alongside the remains was Moore's Jack Russell terrier, Finney.
Finney had miraculously managed to survive for over two months in the wilderness, not leaving his deceased owner’s side. People have since taken to social media to share their condolences as well as hail Finney as a “hero.”
“So sad, and yet so beautiful that the litte Jack Russell stayed with him for all these weeks…Sometimes tragedies remind us of the bond between man and his best friend,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“So sorry this man died but I am glad that his dog was there by his side all the time. And I am glad that the dog did survive. Humans do not deserve dogs. This loyal companion stayed with his best friend until they took him and his best friend away,” wrote another.
“There is no love like the unconditional love of dogs. Such faithfulness,” a commenter added.
Chaffee County Search and Rescue North states that Moore was ill-prepared for the hike. When he arrived at the summit of a 13,000-foot peak in the area of Cottonwood Lake, close to Buena Vista on November 8, he was wearing little more than a cotton hooded sweatshirt and had no food or water left.
It hasn't been determined how exactly Moore passed away, but investigators do not believe there was any foul play.
Moore’s body was taken away from the mountain on October 31. The terrain where his remains were found was so steep that the team of rescuers, which included a certified K9, were dropped off by helicopter onto the mountaintop.
Finney was taken to the vet, before reuniting with his family.
Despite the tragedy, Moore’s family were “glad they were able to gain some closure, as well as bring their dog back home,” the Taos Search and Rescue team said on Facebook.
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