Dog Digs Out of Avalanche, Walks 4 Miles Back to Ski Lodge

01/09/2012

The Little Corgi That Could

Feared dead after being swept away in an avalanche last week in Montana, an incredibly tenacious little Welsh Corgi named Ole surprised everyone when he showed up four days later at the Montana motel where he and his owners had stayed the night before going backcountry skiing. The tragic avalanche sadly killed his owner, Dave Gaillard.

Search and rescue team members were convinced that Ole had also been buried in avalanche and had been looking for him, but never saw any signs of Ole.  However, much to the bewilderment of everyone, Ole miraculously showed up exhausted and hungry back at the Cook City Alpine Motel, four miles from where the slide occurred.

[Learn about the Welsh Corgi and other interesting dog breeds with Animal Planet's Breed Selector]

"When I first saw the dog, it was sitting in front of their room staring at the door," Cooke City Alpine Motel owner Robert Weinstein related to The Associated Press last week. Dave Gaillard of Bozeman was skiing with his wife, Kerry Corcoran Gaillard, when the avalanche struck near Cooke City, an old mining town just outside Yellowstone National Park. 

Ole Provides A Bright Spot 

Ironically, in making preparations for Mr. Gaillard's funeral last week, the Gaillard's daughter was creating a photo memorial board of Ole last Wednesday afternoon when they learned the good news that Ole was still alive. Search and rescue team member Bill Whittle drove Ole back to the family in Bozeman.  

How bittersweet that this courageous little Corgi could provide a spot of happiness to an otherwise very tragic event.

Photo: Silver Brelsford, sits with her mom's dog Ole at their Bozeman home on Thursday afternoon. [PHOTO SOURCE: Bozeman Daily Chronicle]

Comments

[Gary M]

Such a bittersweet story. I hope that the dog comforts the grieving family.

[mai a]

omg!i cant believe how he survived in there..what a brave dog!

[Joy]

Amazing dog!

[Linda]

I have owned two Welsh Corgi, presently a Pembroke that looks like Ole. Mine is a female named Shelby. These are tenacious little dogs. My prayers go out to the owner that did not survive.I am sorry for the loss of its owner.

[pet furniture]

What a brave little dog--yes, a bittersweet story