Missing dog safe after spending winter in woods north of Whitefish

Baldone, a remarkable Great Pyrenees who was the object of a long search effort north of Whitefish, Mont., decided to trust humans again and is safe and sound. 

After spending nearly three months alone in the woods, Baldone chose to come inside. He found a welcoming barn approximately 10 miles from the site of the car accident near Olney where his owner died. There, the 2-year-old pup had shelter, food and water for the first time in 84 days. 

Saturday, dog trainers Kelly Zavalney and Sam Solum with the Humane Society of Northwest Montana brought him from the barn to the Whitefish Animal Hospital, where he was examined.  

With no other outstanding injuries, Baldone is expected to make a full recovery in his foster home, where he will get the care he needs. 

On Nov. 13, the giant white dog fled from the site of a fatal car accident near mile marker 148 on U.S. 93 North. His owner, Rob Bowen, died at the scene and Baldone loyally stayed near Bowen until he was startled by the arrival of the first responders. The frightened dog bolted into the forest.  

Despite numerous searchers in the field and efforts to lure him in with food, he was only spotted occasionally and would run off if approached. 

Bonnie Hodges and her neighbor, Suzi Law, were instrumental in the hunt for Baldone. Over the course of three months, the two canvased from Stryker to Whitefish, distributing flyers and visiting every side road. 

“We talked to countless people,” Hodges said. “We did a drive a couple times a week. Otherwise, we were on the phone making contacts. I've gotten to know a lot of good people and there wasn't one that wasn't praying hard.” 

Hodges and Law worked with snowmobilers to station a trail camera and leave dog food on a snowmobile trail junction up Seven Mile after a sighting. 

On one of their trips a few weeks ago, Hodges and Law stopped at mile marker 148, the site of the car accident.  

“There were large paw prints ... and that was our last hopeful sign,” Hodges said. “We literally hit an impasse. There was nothing. No one was calling in.”  

But she said people were still actively looking, including Stillwater State Forest and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks employees, loggers in the Upper Whitefish area, guides from Northwest Montana Adventure and Dog Sled Adventures and owners at Dog Creek Lodge and Nordic. 

“The list goes on and on of how many beautiful people were responding to this,” Hodges said. “I cannot put out the kind of gratitude I feel for everyone.” 

Luckily, and deservedly, Baldone found the property of a dog savvy and big-hearted couple who opened their barn to him and provided food four times a day.

After he spent a week at the shelter, Great Pyrenees Rescue Montana took over the care of the sweet pup. The Rescue also found loving homes for Bowen’s other three Great Pyrenees who had been left at home on the day of the accident. 

“Our goal is whatever is best for the dog. It's not about us, it’s about him,” said Mayo. “We’ll find him a good place to land and to be safe and to heal.” 

Baldone roamed an area of approximately 20 miles up and down the Stillwater before deciding to trust people again and come inside. The dog, named Baldone because he had little hair as a puppy, had an amazing adventure, one that most dogs would not have survived. 

“He found his way to where he needed to be,” said an elated Hodges. “It couldn't be more beautiful than this.” 

  Baldone, the Great Pyrenees pup who was missing since Nov. 13, peeks out from a barn.
  

  Baldone is safe after spending the winter in the woods alone.