SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. (WFLA) — A family dog went missing for six weeks in Safety Harbor after Hurricane Helene and Milton damaged fencing in the family’s backyard.
Riley, a 10-year-old Border Collie mix accidentally got out of his backyard on Oct. 16 after the owner’s rotten fence panel, along with the neighbors’, fell during the hurricane.
Riley was adopted by Lindsay Rasmussen nine years ago and is scared of people, so getting him back home was a challenge.
For six weeks, Riley traveled across multiple towns before finally making his way back to Safety Harbor, where residents spotted him. That’s when they stepped up and helped Lindsay by posting him on social media.
With the help of two dog trappers, Heather Viviano and Lori Briggs, Lindsay was able to receive training on how to successfully trap Riley.
“This dog is my child and I never gave up on him,” Lindsay said.
She said she began moving trail cameras and food until Riley found the food and the trap.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Riley was trapped at 2 p.m. on Nov. 25.
Riley was taken to the vet after he was trapped and is now on the road to recovery after losing 14 pounds.