There’s really nothing like those special evenings where a dog and its human companion venture out for an evening stroll, visiting all their favorite spots.
For Stella, an 8-year-old German Shorthair Pointer, and her owner, Gary Overman, these walks are routine, almost daily adventures along the familiar paths beside the Colorado River in Arizona—absolute bliss for both.
A typical walk seemed to be on the agenda one day as they headed towards their cherished field by the river. Little did they know, today’s journey wouldn’t go as planned.
A Growing Sense of Worry
Stella had a knack for slipping into the brush beside the river, as she had done countless times before, usually vanishing momentarily before bounding back with an eager wag of her tail.
“She’s wandered off before but always found her way back,” Gary shared with The Dodo. “Her homing instinct is remarkable.”
Yet, on this day, after a full 15 minutes with no sign of Stella, Gary’s confidence began to waver. Repeated calls for Stella yielded silence, prompting him to use the alarm on her collar in hopes of snapping back her attention.
Even the collar alarm failed to work. Before he knew it, an hour and a half had slipped away while he stood, overwhelmed by uncertainty and not knowing the best course of action.
“I was unsure of what to do,” said Gary. “Should I look for her or stay put? I decided to wait.”
Some more time passed before he realized he couldn’t just wait any longer—fearing Stella may have wandered dangerously close to the border, Gary set off in that direction, hoping against hope that she’d not ventured too far to ever return.
Heroic Rescue
Meanwhile, about a mile away in Yuma, Arizona, a border patrol unit was keeping an eye on the Colorado River area. One officer caught sight of something unusual in the water. Closer inspection revealed it was a struggling animal—turns out, it was a drowning dog making its way towards their boat.
Without wasting a moment, they managed to rescue the animal by bringing it aboard. The collar revealed its name: Stella.
Although they had performed a heroic rescue, the full impact of saving this life wasn’t realized until they reached out to the number on Stella’s collar. On the other end of the line, a relieved and overjoyed Gary couldn’t find words enough to thank the selfless rescuers who saved his beloved companion.
“Such a blessing,” Gary said, as quoted by the US Border Patrol, Yuma Sector, in their Facebook post.
Joyful Reunion
Following the miraculous call, Gary dashed towards the location where Stella was being brought ashore by boat.
As the boat approached, he spotted his cherished pet on board, and his emotions overflowed.
“Seeing Stella safe made me so relieved. Must have been dust in the air because my eyes were definitely watering,” said Gary.
The moment Stella reached dry land, she and Gary were entwined, locked in an emotional embrace that touched even the seasoned patrol officers watching on. It was a heartwarming reunion, and those who witnessed it felt happier for having been part of it.
“We’re grateful to have played a part in this happy ending!” the officers shared in their post, filled with joy.
