The dog spent 10 days in snow captivity (4 photos)

Pepper, a 6-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog/black Labrador mix, went missing from her home in Colorado on February 22. The family called Summit Lost Pet Rescue a few hours after their pet disappeared and, along with volunteers, set out to search.





Standard search procedures include placing a scent station on the owner's porch (the dog's bed or the owner's clothing), setting up cameras, posting on social media, and recruiting people to help in the search.



The snowdrifts in the Blue River area were very high. After a long and fruitless search, the team assumed that the dog was stuck in the snow somewhere nearby.

Rescuers noticed dog paw prints in the snow, circling around the area. After several days of searching, volunteer Kevin and his dog Finn found Pepper near a creek that was heavily snowed in. She got stuck in a small area surrounded by steep snowdrifts and took refuge under a fallen tree.





Summit Lost Pet Rescue often takes four-legged helpers on searches. Lost pets are usually afraid of people, but will make contact with other dogs.



Having discovered the dog, the man immediately contacted its owners. It took three people to pull the animal out. Pepper is stuck just 200 meters from her home. The dog was examined by a veterinarian and is doing well.