Good news for a Las Vegas family, as their dog – lost in Yellowstone – was found and safely returned after surviving two weeks in the wilderness of the park.
Over the past few weeks, members of the Facebook group “yellowstone National Park” have been following the search for Delta, a 70-pound black Goldendoodle that went missing in Yellowstone.
On June 24, owner Mike Matsis publicly announced his dog went missing as the Artist’s Paint Pots two days earlier. Matsis describes his dog as “skittish and scaredy-cat” which would make her recovery difficult.
Park rangers and a team of dog rescuers assisted in the effort to recover Delta the dog. Many visitors reached out to Matsis saying they’d caught a glimpse of the dog but were unable to capture her.
Meanwhile, Matsis published regular updates on the ongoing recovery effort. His last post was on July 4 and didn’t seem particularly optimistic, as several days had gone by without a sighting.
And then, success.
While specifics are unavailable, it has been confirmed that Delta was recovered alive in the early morning of Thursday, July 8. The dog has since been returned to the Matsis Family.
Yellowstone National Park has several strict regulations when it comes to the conduct and handling of pets within the park:
- Pets may only accompany people in developed areas and must remain within 100 feet of roads, parking areas, and campgrounds.
- Pets must be physically controlled at all times: they must be in a car, in a crate, or on a leash no more than six feet long.
- Pets are not allowed on boardwalks, hiking trails, in the backcountry, or thermal areas.
- Pets may not be left unattended or tied to an object.
- Pets may not be left in a situation where food, water, shade, ventilation, and other basic needs are inadequate. Pets may remain in vehicles for short periods of time, but park officials recommend that someone stay behind to ensure their wellbeing.
- Owners must bag and dispose of pet waste.
