On a chilly day in mid-May, Zachary Hackett was hiking alone in the mountains of Summit County, Colorado. The trails were rough, and daylight was quickly fading, so he decided to head back. But just as he turned to descend, a faint sound stopped him in his tracks.
“I was off-trail, trying to retrace my steps quickly before dark,” Hackett told The Dodo. “That’s when I heard a soft ‘yip’ behind a cluster of fallen trees.”
Curious and concerned, Hackett made his way toward the sound — and there, barely visible through the brush, was a shivering dog. Frail, silent, and clearly starving, the pup was curled up and too weak to even stand.
“The closer I got, the more I realized how close he was to giving up,” Hackett said. “He could barely lift his head. That little bark I heard was likely the last bit of energy he had. He was asking for help — and I could feel it.”
Without hesitation, Hackett wrapped the dog in his windbreaker and began the slow journey back down the mountain, not yet realizing he had just found Riley — an 8-year-old Sheltie who had been missing for over five weeks.
Riley had disappeared after a late-season snowstorm damaged the fence in his yard, giving him a path to wander off. His devastated owner, Mike Krugman, immediately launched a massive search with the help of Summit Lost Pet Rescue (SLPR).
“Our team and Mike searched his 36-acre property by foot and even used personal drones,” said SLPR cofounders Melissa Davis and Brandon Ciullo. “But the deep snow made it incredibly difficult.”
SLPR also launched a social media campaign and posted flyers across Summit County.
Volunteers worked tirelessly, using tracking techniques like “scent stations” — blankets, beds, and worn clothing to help Riley find his way back.
But nothing worked. Riley had vanished.
Unbeknownst to anyone, he had wandered high up a nearby mountain, where survival was nearly impossible. When Hackett discovered him, Riley was dangerously dehydrated, with a cracked nose and only skin covering his bones.
“It took us nearly two hours to get down and cross the river,” Hackett said. “Riley could barely keep his eyes open.”
Once home, Hackett gently bathed Riley, gave him water — which he sipped slowly — and let him rest. Hours later, the dog finally managed to stand on his own, though his legs trembled with weakness.
The next morning, still concerned for Riley’s condition, Hackett brought him to the Summit County Animal Shelter. There, he met Animal Control Officer Catherine Adair, who instantly recognized the pup.
“When Zach walked in with Riley wrapped in a blanket, I couldn’t believe it,” Adair said. “We’d been searching for this dog for over a month.”
Adair immediately called Krugman: “I told him, ‘Someone just brought Riley in — can you come now?’ He said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m on my way.’”
When Krugman arrived at the shelter, Riley was too weak to move, but the moment he saw his dad, he summoned every ounce of energy he had — just enough to wag his tail and lick his face.
“Mike knelt down, scooped Riley into his arms, and held him tight,” Adair recalled. “It was incredibly emotional.”
Krugman rushed Riley to Breckenridge Animal Clinic, where the team immediately began treating him. Riley was dangerously underweight — down to just 12 pounds from his normal 24 — and had severely elevated potassium levels.
“He just kept licking my face the whole way to the vet,” Krugman said. “He was too weak to do anything else.”
Thanks to Hackett’s heroic rescue and the tireless work of SLPR and local vets, Riley is now back home with his dad — safe, loved, and slowly recovering.
“It’s a miracle Zach found him when he did,” Krugman said. “He saved Riley’s life.”
Want to help more animals like Riley? Consider donating to Summit Lost Pet Rescue or your local rescue group.
