Bruce is back and his humans are beside themselves with joy.

Bruce is a much-loved, somewhat famous, three-year-old Mastiff mix breed.

His life in the South ShuswapB次元官网网址檚 Blind Bay has been good and fairly routine until about three weeks ago.

On Saturday, Nov. 19, BruceB次元官网网址檚 owner Jodi Townend and a friend took their dogs for a walk. Her friend walks his own as well as other peopleB次元官网网址檚 dogs and they regularly hike with them up Mt. Baldy near Sorrento.

Along the way, Bruce and two other dogs took off and didnB次元官网网址檛 return.

Townend and her friend waited and waited, with no sign of the missing trio.

They decided to go home, pick up dog beds, food and water, and leave them at the base of the mountain, in hopes the dogs would come back and stay nearby.

Townend kept going back that night with no success. When she returned Sunday morning, it looked like all three beds had been slept in.

Then Askum, an older mastiff and one of the missing three, appeared out of the bush at the base of the mountain. He was alone.

Excited, Townend and her friend waited and then hiked, searching for the remaining two. Later that day a friend called to say there was blood by the dish and some of the food was gone.

When Townend arrived Monday morning, the second dog, Saba, must have heard her truck, because she was right there. But still no Bruce.

B次元官网网址淚 was praying, third day, third dog, but it never was,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e tried and tried.B次元官网网址�

One day with the help of friends they went up and hiked the bush for six-and-a-half hours. She had already put her story on Facebook, so many people had been watching for Bruce. But there were no sightings; everyone was losing hope.

On Dec. 7, after nearly three weeks, Townend suddenly decided she had to go up to the mountain and make peace.

B次元官网网址淚 had to B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址業 have to just give it to God,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she thought. B次元官网网址淚 have to get over this B次元官网网址� it was tearing me apart. I let it go, I was going to move on.B次元官网网址�

She went home and later went upstairs. There she discovered a message from a man who said he had been hiking Mt. Baldy and had seen her dog. As it turned out, he had recently lost his dog for three weeks and found her in Pritchard.

B次元官网网址淗e kept saying, B次元官网网址榙onB次元官网网址檛 give up, donB次元官网网址檛 give up hope.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

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The next day, Dec. 8, she had an excited call from a friend who lives near the bottom of the hill saying, B次元官网网址楬eB次元官网网址檚 here, heB次元官网网址檚 here.B次元官网网址� Her friendB次元官网网址檚 daughter even took photos of Bruce, proof he was alive. But they werenB次元官网网址檛 able to catch him.

Then Townend received a call that a dog was running across the bottom of Elson Road onto Highway 1. Traffic was stopped and drivers were honking. By the time she could get there, he was gone.

In the middle of the night someone messaged her. They had seen Bruce running behind the chiropractorB次元官网网址檚 office in Sorrento. She was thinking he could then head onto Blind Bay Road and find his way home.

At this point she was talking to him, telling him to go to somebodyB次元官网网址檚 house he could trust.

In the morning B次元官网网址� now Dec. 9 B次元官网网址� she received a call from a friend of her oldest daughter, where Bruce had visited from time to time but not a lot.

B次元官网网址楬eB次元官网网址檚 here, heB次元官网网址檚 in the house,B次元官网网址� she told Townend.

Townend and her family jumped into the car and were there just before 8 a.m.

B次元官网网址淭he reunion, IB次元官网网址檝e never had anything like that happen, it was so beautiful.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗e knew us right away, he was so excited.B次元官网网址�

They immediately took him to the veterinarian who, aside from BruceB次元官网网址檚 extreme weight loss, gave him a clean bill of health.

He had no frost bite, despite being a short-haired dog who was outside in near -20 C temperatures.

B次元官网网址淗ow he survived, we have no ideaB次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檙e thinking we should call him Bruce Almighty,B次元官网网址� she smiled.

She emphasized how much she appreciates all the help from so many people.

Townend owns Divine Nail Design in Blind Bay and explained that her customers love him. Sometimes he looks in their purses for a treat.

Now he wonB次元官网网址檛 get off the couch, she says.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got his spot on the couch and thatB次元官网网址檚 where heB次元官网网址檚 staying. Today heB次元官网网址檚 had so many visitors, coming by and bringing him treats. ItB次元官网网址檚 like weB次元官网网址檝e had a new baby,B次元官网网址� she laughed.

Townend said sheB次元官网网址檚 sure her kids are sick of hearing her say that all they wanted for Christmas was to get Bruce back.

The whole experience has not been without benefit, however. She said sheB次元官网网址檚 learned from it.

B次元官网网址淢y moral is, never give up. And ask for help when you need it.B次元官网网址�

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