POTTSVILLE, Pa. — A hiker in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, made a heartwarming discovery this week when he found a missing golden retriever, Freddy, during a hike. The 6-month-old pup’s disappearance had ignited a weeklong search throughout the community, located in the historic coal regions of eastern Pennsylvania.
Collin Leiby, an avid hiker, was traversing Sharp Mountain when he noticed a tail moving near a pile of rocks by a coal pit. Immediately recognizing the dog, he rushed to Freddy, who was too exhausted to climb out of the pit after days of wandering. “A tear came to my eye,” Leiby expressed, recounting the emotional moment. “I started calling his name, and he slowly got up and walked toward us.”
Leiby helped Freddy, who was struggling to climb the icy slope, by giving him water and securing a leash before leading him off the mountain alongside his own dog, a pit bull mix named Bass. “He was crying and jumping on me,” Leiby recalled. “He just wanted to go home.”
Freddy’s owners, Pam and Joe Palko, had gone to great lengths to find their beloved pet after he went missing on February 17. The family pulled together community efforts, utilizing social media and organizing volunteers to distribute flyers throughout the area. As temperatures dropped in snow-covered Schuylkill County, they also enlisted search dogs and aerial thermal drones to aid in the search.
Amid growing concerns for Freddy’s safety, the Palkos received a break just as they were investigating a false tip at a local animal shelter. Their home security camera alerted them to a stranger at their door, and a friendly neighbor had Freddy in tow. “He looked a little frantic, hungry, and confused,” the neighbor observed. “When they showed up, he started wiggling with excitement.”
The Palkos were still reeling from the loss of their previous dog to cancer, and Freddy was meant to bring joy to their family alongside their other golden retriever, Harper. Reunited with his family, Freddy had lost a few pounds during the ordeal but was otherwise healthy, bringing immense relief to his owners and the entire community that came together to search for him.
“There’s a big collective sigh of relief,” a local veterinarian noted. “It’s a reminder not to give up, no matter the odds.”
