Colorado Volunteers Reunite A Military Family With Their Dog After Two Years
Losing something precious leaves a hole in your heart. Maybe it’s a keepsake you can never replace, or maybe it’s the sudden loss of a pet who feels like part of your soul. That kind of pain sticks with you.
For Brandy Ross, that heartbreak came when her beloved dog, Bear, vanished without a trace.
It happened in Colorado Springs. Bear had been left with a pet sitter when he managed to escape.
Brandy searched everywhere, plastered posters, and followed up on every possible lead. But Bear was nowhere to be found. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and still no sign of him.
As if losing Bear wasn’t painful enough, Brandy soon had to relocate to New York for work. She was forced to leave Colorado without the dog she loved so dearly. It was a weight she carried with her every day—always wondering, always missing him, but with little hope left.
Then, something incredible happened. Colorado Springs Animal Law Enforcement reported a sighting of a dog that looked strikingly like Bear. It was a tiny spark in the dark, but for Brandy, it was everything.
A dedicated group of volunteers, well-known for helping locate lost pets, quickly joined the effort. They set up feeding stations and cameras, determined to see if this mystery dog was truly the one Brandy had been missing for two long years.
They reached out to Brandy too, giving her cautious hope and encouraging her to prepare for the possibility of seeing Bear again.
The volunteers worked tirelessly, sometimes with nothing to show for their efforts, until finally, they were able to trap the dog safely. Hearts were racing as they scanned him for a microchip. The moment the scanner beeped, joy exploded—the microchip confirmed it. It was Bear.
After everything, after two years of uncertainty and sadness, Bear had been found alive.
When Brandy received the news, her emotions poured out. She shared in an interview:
“The whole night I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this my dog? It’s him.’ And I was like, ‘No way.’ And I was literally bawling my eyes out.”
It was almost too good to believe, but it was true—her best friend was finally coming home.
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) team and the volunteers who had worked so hard to bring Bear back were equally thrilled.
Their dedication had paid off in the best way possible. Bear’s story became a reminder of how powerful compassion and teamwork can be.
Soon after, Bear made his way to New York to reunite with Brandy and her family. The house was filled with excitement and love. After years apart, hugs, kisses, and tail wags replaced the tears and sadness.
Brandy’s journey with Bear is proof that even when things feel hopeless, miracles can happen. Sometimes it takes faith, persistence, and a village of people willing to help.
Because love like that never fades—and in Bear’s case, it led him right back to where he always belonged: home.
