Dooley’s Story
Happier times: Barbara Bagley poses with her Shetland sheepdogs Delaney, left, and Dooley. Delaney was killed in the car crash that also killed Ms Bagley's husband.
On December 27, 2011, disaster struck as Dooley found himself lost alone in the Nevada wilderness after a car crash killed both his sister Delaney and his human owner, Brad von Bauer. Von Bauer’s wife, Barbara Bagley, also survived the crash, but in the aftermath of the terrible scene was understandably unable to track down Dooley—who had fled, terrified.
As Bagley recovered and was faced with the unimaginable tragedy that had struck her and her family, she knew that her last hope was to find and reunite with Dooley.
Barbara Bagley says she never gave up hope that her dog would be found alive in the Nevada desert after the animal bolted from the scene of a crash that critically injured her and killed her husband.
But the Salt Lake City woman endured plenty of frustration until her beloved 4-year-old Shetland sheepdog, Dooley, was tracked down February 18 after surviving 53 days in the wild on roadkill and scattered ranch water sources. ‘I would think about Dooley constantly,’ she said. ‘There were TV commercials with dogs that made me think about him and cry. He’s just the sweetest dog.’
The December 27 single-vehicle accident on Interstate 80 near Battle Mountain, about 225 miles east of Reno, sent Bagley and her 55-year-old husband, Brad von Bauer, to the hospital in critical condition. Ms Bagley, 48, suffered a concussion, broken ribs, a shattered wrist and two punctured lungs. As soon as she mustered up enough strength, she turned her attention to a search for her dog in the sprawling sage-covered plains and hills of northeastern Nevada.
Realizing what Dooley could mean for her recovery, dozens of Nevada volunteers responded to a Facebook plea for help in looking for him. One local Lamoille resident, Shannon Sustacha, also knew what had to be done. After catching wind of the story on Facebook, she was able to organize a 70-person-strong search party despite never having met Bagley or Dooley.
‘They needed help and it was the right thing to do, and I also knew I felt so strongly because I knew if it was my dog out there I would want someone to help me,’ Sustacha said. ‘The dogs love us even if we don’t love ourselves.’
By the time the search party was organized, a week and a half had already passed since the accident. If Dooley was still out there, he’d have to be surviving on his own.
Almost immediately after the search party began, though, Sustacha received terrible news: remains had been found just 500 feet from the crash site. Assuming the remains to be Dooley, the search party was called off. Bagley’s husband died the same day.
‘It was a horrible day for me,’ Ms Bagley recalled. ‘But something inside me told me Dooley was still alive out there. I wasn’t 100 per cent sure, but I didn’t grieve for Dooley like I did for my husband and our other dog.’
Then, 25 days later, a call came in. A woman claimed she saw a ‘Lassie-type’ dog on Interstate 80, at mile marker 233—right near the site of the accident. Sustacha knew in her gut that the dog had to be Dooley. At first she was overcome with guilt for abandoning the original search, but that guilt was soon replaced with resolve. The very next day, Dooley’s family—including Bagley herself, in spite of the fact that she was still recovering from her injuries—resumed the search.
More days passed. Cold nights only seemed to get colder and colder as Bagley and family hailed desperately for their lost pet into the chilly Nevada wilderness, to no avail. Then, finally, a sign of life. A railroad worker, Jake Vieera, reported spotting a Sheltie hiding in the sagebrush just outside of nearby Battle Mountain. Further searches netted a positive identification of Dooley but frustration as well because the skittish dog kept fleeing from Ms Bagley and other searchers.
Reunion: Ms Bagley says she never gave up hope that her beloved dog Dooley would be found safe.
Finally, Shannon Sustacha of Lamoille, who was on horseback, and a Bagley friend driving a Jeep cornered Dooley only five miles from the crash scene. The friend managed to nab the Sheltie and put him in the Jeep. An ecstatic, tearful Ms Bagley arrived at the scene a short time later. ’Barbara got next to us and said three times, ‘You think he’ll remember me?’ Ms Sustacha said.
After 53 harrowing days, Dooley was reunited with Bagley. Though famished and exhausted, the resourceful Sheltie had somehow found a way to survive in the middle of winter, alone, for nearly two months, in a harsh Nevada landscape. ‘When Barbara opened the door and looked at him, she said, ‘My beautiful boy, my beautiful boy, you’re home.’ Oh, boy, all of us cried. I knew his adventure in Nevada was over. I also knew he and Barbara could start healing together.’
A short time later, an exhausted Dooley sat on his owner’s lap in the Jeep and fell asleep. He later began following Ms Bagley around. ‘I was overjoyed that I was going to have him back in my life. I think he felt the same about me,’ Bagley said.
‘I can’t explain how it felt,” Sustacha said. “Dooley was all [Bagley] had left and the only thing she wanted was this dog and the only thing he wanted was her and now they’re back together.’
During his ordeal, Dooley’s weight dropped from 44 pounds to 20 pounds. He was once spotted devouring a dead coyote along the roadway. A long bird bone was pulled from his throat by a veterinarian. Since then, the dog has gradually put on weight and resumed regular walks with his owner.
Realizing what Dooley could mean for Ms Bagley's recovery, dozens of Nevada volunteers responded to a Facebook plea for help in looking for him.
While Ms Bagley is still going through the grieving process over her husband’s death and recovering from her injuries, Dooley’s presence has picked up her spirits immensely. ’He’s the physical and mental affection that I need to recover,’ she said.
‘I owe him so much for the hope I have now and the renewed faith I have in prayer. Dogs are so great because of their unconditional love.’
Ms Bagley, a phlebotomy supervisor at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, also thinks her husband had something to do with Dooley’s safe return home. ‘It’s a message from my husband who was looking out for him,’ Bagley said. ‘It was a miracle that we got Dooley. He couldn’t have survived much longer out there.’
It’s certainly a testament to an animal’s will to survive, and to the value of hope even in the face of unthinkable tragedy.
—The UK Daily Mail
—The Elko Daily
Mikey, the Miracle Dog
In the shelter, 30 September 2011. What is this?
Every once in a while a remarkable dog shows up with an incredible will to live—against enormous odds. “Mikey, the Miracle Dog” is one of those dogs.
Mikey also has had the luck of the Irish on his side as well as the loving hands of his Aunt Judith Hughes, the happy thoughts and prayers from his RMCSR family, and the attention of a skilled veterinarian.
From the day we were notified by a municipal shelter that his only chance would be with us (on September 30th), Mikey has been guided by a lucky star. Judith rushed to the shelter and took Mikey immediately to Arvada West Veterinary Hospital to have Dr. Scott Carpenter do an intake exam and decide what needed to be tackled first.
7 October 2011. One week later. It's a Sheltie!
Dr. Carpenter outlined a plan that began with blood work to see if Mikey could withstand any of the surgical procedures he needed to give him a chance at rehabilitation.
The doctor found a testicular mass, rectal mass, a mouth filled with pus from abscessed teeth, a skeletal body with a 0 body condition . . . Mikey was one very sick dog. But the absolute worst thing about his condition was the disgusting “sucking lice” crawling all over his poor malnourished body.
Fast forward a couple of months and see what the most loving care in the world can do. It really is a Sheltie!
19 November 2011. Ready for Prime time!
Mikey remained in our “Not Ready for Prime Time” group on our website until November 19, 2011 when it was agreed that he was indeed ready for a new home.
The transformation in little more than two months was truly astonishing, and on December 3, 2011, Mikey met his forever family and was formally adopted shortly thereafter. He will need treatments to completely eradicate the sucking lice, but that seems a small price to pay for this happy, loved little dog.
Mikey’s story is a testament to the courage and will of a small dog and the competent and loving care he received from RMCSR volunteers, veterinarians, and of course Judith Hughes. We are putting Aunt Judith up for Sainthood!
Mikey’s vet bills are through the roof! Please help if you are able.
You can donate online or by mailing your tax-deductible donation to:
Rocky Mountain Collie and Sheltie Rescue
234 S. Hacienda del Sol Drive
Pueblo West, CO 81007
This is Prince Charming in his new home.
