In the stark, unforgiving wilderness of Colorado, a tale of survival and unyielding hope has emerged from the snow-capped silence. Jacob Dalbey’s dog, Ullr, a stout-hearted Border Collie-Rottweiler mix, has been found after an agonizing 11-month separation caused by a deadly avalanche. The long-lost canine was captured on a trail camera, affirming what Dalbey had believed against all odds: Ullr was out there, and he was alive.
The story of Ullr’s incredible survival began on March 17, when Dalbey was swept up in an avalanche near Chair Mountain while backcountry skiing with friends. Tragically, one friend perished, and Dalbey himself sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization. Amidst the tumult, Ullr vanished, leaving only tracks exiting the debris as evidence of his escape.
“After 341 days, 11 months to the day of setting up trail cameras/food and moving them around in hopes of luring Ullr into one to finally get confirmation of what I have known all along, it has happened,” Dalbey conveyed through an update on his GoFundMe page, a campaign set up to aid in the search for his companion. The harrowing wait ended when, on February 17 and 18, the cameras caught images of a dog that Dalbey would confirm to be Ullr.
Dalbey’s ordeal underscores the formidable bond shared between a man and his dog. Despite his physical injuries and the emotional toll of losing a friend, Dalbey’s resolve never wavered. “I was carried 2,500 feet and fully buried with my right arm sticking out of the snow,” he recounted, detailing the daunting rescue that took over three hours with a broken hand and frostbitten fingers.
The search for Ullr was a collaborative effort marked by both technological ingenuity and communal generosity. A GoFundMe page was created by Deborah Wieker to cover the costs of a professional tracker. “Please help Jake find Ullr and get him home! All donations will go directly to Jacob to help him pay for all the miscellaneous expense related to searching for Ullr, including Ullr’s probable vet expenses,” Wieker implored.
As the months dragged on, sightings and blurry photos provided by sympathetic hikers led to nought until the trail cameras, akin to microchip scan stations, picked up the definitive images. “To all of you, friends and supporters of Ullr (and me), I want to thank you so much. Knowing you believe in us really means a lot, even when I don’t say it. It has been extremely difficult to say the least. Your support has made it possible to keep searching for Ullr over the last 11+ months,” Dalbey added.
As plans materialize to bring Ullr home safely, Dalbey calls for continued vigilance and asks the public to report any sightings or signs of his resilient dog. A mixture of elation and caution lingers in the air as the reunion draws closer, and the community watches with bated breath.
Relevant articles:
– Missing dog captured on trail camera 11 months after avalanche separated him from owner
– After Missing for 11 Months After an Avalanche, Ullr the Dog is Finally Captured on Wildlife Camera, SnowBrains, Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:31:07 GMT
– Lost Dog Spotted on Trail Camera Nearly a Year After Avalanche, PetaPixel, Fri, 23 Feb 2024 20:09:56 GMT
– A Miraculous Reunion in Colorado: Man Finds Beloved Dog 11 Months After Avalanche Separation, BNN Breaking, Thu, 22 Feb 2024 20:54:49 GMT