Family Reunited with Beloved Pet

Pat Henger couldn’t believe her eyes when she spotted her beloved dog Freckles looking haggard and walking on a set of railroad tracks in South Fayette.

But as she inched closer to the cocker spaniel and tried calling his name, the dog became startled and ran in the other direction. Henger dropped to her knees and continued calling him until Freckles turned around and gingerly walked back to his owner.

“I guess he was so traumatized,” Henger said. “I got down on my knees and he finally must have recognized who I was.”

on the railroad tracks near Millers Run Road after four days of intense searching in the area. Freckles got loose last Wednesday while being groomed at in Bridgeville.

Henger, of Cecil Township, said she was especially concerned early on when no one had seen him after two days.

But he was spotted Friday by one woman who shooed away a “straggly dog” from her porch. A call from another resident on Millers Run Road told the family they saw him on the railroad tracks.

Then they found him Saturday night confused and looking for food.

“It was a miracle,” Henger said. “I don’t think he would have lasted the weekend in that hot weather.”

Henger was spending this morning having him groomed – there were numerous ticks found on his coat – at . She said she appreciated the help of the Bridgeville and South Fayette police departments and local residents in trying to locate her missing dog.

“We’re really, really, really fortunate to have him back,” Henger said.