Dog lost in Arizona to be reunited with owner in Arkansas

Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Email: dstocks@abc15.com
Reported by: Eric English
Last Update: 4/23 7:35 pm

Jake is ready to return home to Arkansas (Dawn Gonzalez)

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Jake is ready to return home to Arkansas (Dawn Gonzalez)

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An Arkansas man will soon be reunited with his 'best friend' after they were separated on a trip through northern Arizona recently.

The 70-year-old man, Cleve Bolgrein, was thrilled to know that "Jake", a pit bull, is safe and on his way home.

"I was elated to the point of tears to learn I was getting "Jake" back," he told ABC15 by phone Thursday.

He recalled the painful search.

"I searched for him for about two hours," Bolgrein said. "Little did I know he ran into a K-Mart."

Unable to find the dog, he reluctantly resumed his trip east.

"Jake" was about to be euthanized when no one would adopt him. He was scanned for a microchip, and one was found with his owner's information.

"I thought I would never see "Jake" again, which was just awful because he is a great dog and a good traveler."

The Yavapai Humane Society in Prescott is now getting "Jake" ready for his trip home.

They are planning to fly him out of Phoenix very soon as the window of opportunity to fly pets out of Sky Harbor Airport closes as temperatures rise.

Duane Adams of the Yavapai Humane Society says this story reinforces that pit bulls can be wonderful companions who are cherished by their families. He says it's also so nice to hear about a pet "going home" at a time when, because of the economy, so many pets are being abandoned or relinquished to shelters.

"For us to be part of reuniting him with his owner would be just huge," Adams said.

But they could use help. If you can help with either the transport or a donation toward "Jake's" flight, click on the Yavapai Humane Society website or by calling 928-445-2666.