“Christmas miracle”: 10-year-old dog reunited with family after surviving week in desert, rescued by strangers

It’s always heartbreaking when a pet goes missing, especially during this time of year. It’s hard to enjoy the holidays knowing your beloved pet is out there somewhere.

But recently, one family got a “Christmas miracle” after their lost dog was found in the desert and was rescued by strangers.

On November 25, a 10-year-old Shih Tzu named Carly went missing during her family’s annual camping trip to the desert in Ridgecrest, California. The dog was reportedly spooked by sudden fireworks.

“We were sitting there around the campfire one night, early evening, and this was like the third day we were there and all of a sudden when this loud bomb hit,” owner Peggy Brannan told KMPH.

Facebook/Bridgette Brannan

The family searched for days with no luck. Peggy’s granddaughter Bridgette posted a photo of the lost dog to a local Facebook group, hoping Carly would turn up somewhere.

Then, the family got a miracle: a stranger reached out and said they had found Carly in the desert.

A family had been dirt bike riding in Ridgecrest about a week after Carly disappeared from the campsite. The strangers picked the dog up, about ten miles from where she first disappeared.

The family was amazed that their little senior dog had survived in the desert on her own for a full week. Other than losing some weight, Carly was unharmed.

“I just can’t believe she’s 10 years old, she has cataracts really bad, and you know she’s like shaven down so for her to be out there in 28-degree weather at night with the winds and stuff out there,” Bridgette told KMPH. “I can’t believe she actually survived. I’m still in disbelief!”

The family called it a “Christmas miracle,” and drove hours to pick up Carly and bring her home safe and sound.

Please share this amazing news! ❤️

It’s incredible that Carly survived being alone in the desert for that whole week, and was picked up by these kind strangers. It really is a “Christmas miracle”!

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