The Search for Tessa: ‘If you have to lose a dog, lose her in Shelter Cove’

Photo posted to social media by the Lee household as they searched for his or her beloved Tessa.

Day 1 (Saturday December 30th2023) – The day the saga started.

After a complete day of raining on Friday, December 29thwe had been excited to go on a hike the following day. Tessa likes to hike and has been to many trails close to and much. We determined to go on the Chemise Mountain Vista Point hike and set the vacation spot to the Hidden Valley Trail Head on Google Maps. Somehow, the GPS was misaligned with the map on Google Maps. We missed the doorway and needed to make a U-turn to return again to the path head. Was it an indication for the fateful occasion to return? Our automotive was the one one within the parking space. Oh good, I believed to myself. We can have the entire mountain to ourselves right now.

We began the hike within the mid-morning and made our method up steadily. The path was a bit moist, however it didn’t discourage Tessa or gradual her down. She was so comfortable and excited to discover the mountain. Just after we had been about to achieve the Lookout Point on the ridge, Tessa noticed a deer on prime of a hill and went for it. I wasn’t frightened as a result of she has achieved this quite a few instances. There isn’t any method she will catch as much as a deer.  She at all times chases the deer for a brief distance and comes again.

Only this time she didn’t.

We began looking for Tessa within the space instantly after her disappearance. Our household cut up up and went in numerous instructions. We climbed up the hill into the forest and noticed the steep downward incline into the forest. We had been later advised the drop-off extends all the way in which all the way down to the Pacific. We yelled out her identify repeatedly in all instructions as we walked up and down the path and off the path for the remainder of the day.

Tessa has been on so many hikes earlier than. This has by no means occurred. I believed to myself, oh no, one thing unhealthy will need to have occurred to her. I’ll admit I’m in all probability the primary one within the household to imagine the worst.

The solar was taking place, we needed to depart.

We walked slowly and reluctantly down the mountain whereas yelling out her identify.

All we heard was our personal strained and determined voices. All we felt was hopelessness and despair. Our hearts sank deeper and deeper as we descended.

My two youngsters drove all the way down to the final retailer first to ask for assist. I believe that’s once they advised me there’s a area people Facebook web page that I ought to go to get assist. I instantly posted the story.  Moments later, the very form person from the final retailer additionally posted it on the Facebook group web page.  They additionally made a misplaced canine signal and posted it on their entrance door. We are grateful to the final retailer for his or her kindness and good deeds.

It was a really quiet night. We prayed. We all agreed to start out the search once more tomorrow on the break of daybreak.

Day 2 (Sunday December 31st2023) – Acceptance of Fate.

We went up the mountain additional into the Lost Coast Trail and Chinquapin Trail. We went into the woods additional down the slope. I walked down the path to Wailaki Campground. We scouted each Nadelos and Wailaki Campgrounds. We searched the Hidden Valley Trail Head base and the encompassing space. From daybreak to nightfall, we regarded and yelled out “Tessa” alongside the way in which.

It was getting late, and we had been all drained. I made a decision to name off the seek for the day. I advised my household it’s time to say farewell to Tessa. We all climbed as much as the hill within the woods the place she disappeared. I mentioned my prayer and farewell. Jennifer had been praying continuous since her disappearance. She refused to say goodbye.

We noticed a pleasant girl on Chemise Mountain Rd. and requested if she had seen Tessa. She advised us that we have to be ready as a result of there are every kind of predators on the market within the mountains. “She’s a goner” she mentioned.

Facebook posts from the local people began trickling in. Many individuals provided assist to search out her.

We had a glimpse of probably the most magnificent and exquisite sundown over the Pacific from the deck of our AirBnB on Machi Rd. that evening. Jennifer began crying. I wished to consolation her. But I couldn’t get any phrases out of my mouth. I turned my face away and began to sob.

Tessa is gone.

Day 3 (Monday, January 1st2024) – Happy Birthday and Farewell.

We checked out of the AirBnB that morning. We went to the Surf Point café to ask for printer papers to make a number of extra misplaced canine indicators. We drove over to the Hidden Valley Trail Head in our final try to search out her. The misplaced canine poster was nonetheless there together with certainly one of Jennifer’s socks we left alongside the path. We went to the 2 camp websites once more to put up the indicators we made.

Happy Birthday, Tessa!

Tessa turned two that day.

With a lot disappointment and sorrow, we left this stunning jewel, nestled within the majestic mountains by the huge and infinite Pacific, with damaged hearts.

Day 4 (Tuesday January 2nd2024) – Turning level.

We arrived home in New Jersey late that evening.

The subsequent cellphone name modified EVERYTHING.

Heidi Munnecke noticed Tessa on the nook of Kings Peak Rd. and Shelter Cove Rd. intersection. She tried to get her into her automotive, however Tessa ran away.

Facebook posts began pouring in after the primary sighting.

Autumn Murphy Hargrave contacted me, and he or she turned our predominant level of contact. Hope is a lovely factor.

We felt relieved that Tessa was alive. At the identical time, we felt so responsible for leaving her behind. Would we ever be capable to forgive ourselves if it turned out to be a foul final result?

We broke the information to all our family and friends and requested them to wish for Tessa. It was a sleepless evening.

Day 5 (Wednesday January 3rd2024) – One extra evening.

I managed to get into the workplace. All I may take into consideration was anyone please save Tessa. More sightings had been reported on Facebook.

Shortly after lunch, Automn hooked me up with Dale Alexander. His grandson Nic Alexander noticed Tessa on the nook of Chemise Mountain Rd. and Shelter Cove Rd. intersection. She was soaking moist and ran throughout the creek. As per Cheryl Albritton’s suggestion, Jennifer and I made an audio recording. I despatched it to Dale for him to play it to Tessa, hoping she would acknowledge our voices and are available to him. Dale reported that Tessa did come nearer when she heard our voices. But she ran away once more as soon as she realized we weren’t there. Dale left some pet food there for Tessa. It was gone later when he went again to test. I consider the meals gave Tessa extra vitality to battle on. Dale reiterated that Tessa was soaking moist and shivering and was involved that she won’t be capable to final one other chilly and wet evening.

We realized we had been operating out of time. We wanted to go there to carry her home. We had been on the flight to San Francisco that evening.

I went over the totally different eventualities repeatedly in my head. There had been lots of unknowns and dangers. But I knew, deep in my coronary heart, I’d remorse it for the remainder of my life if I didn’t go.

We arrived at a lodge in Santa Rosa after 1 AM.

Heavenly father, please give Tessa energy and braveness to hold in there for another evening.

Day 6 (Thursday January 4th2024) – Love conquers all.

We began driving earlier than 6 AM.

We referred to as Autumn and Dale to allow them to know our ETA and to search out out the place we must always begin looking for Tessa. Autumn knowledgeable us that somebody noticed Tessa once more that morning. That was the most effective information we may hope for.

Tessa child, we’re coming for you. Hang tight!

We arrived on the intersection of Chemise Mountain Rd. and Shelter Cove Rd. shortly earlier than 10 AM. Dale was there to satisfy us. He confirmed us precisely the place he noticed Tessa, which course she ran away and the place he left the pet food for her. Jennifer and I cut up up. I walked down into the woods in direction of the creek.  Jennifer walked down Chemise Mountain Rd. in direction of the Hidden Valley Trail Head. I noticed a lure somebody set on the opposite aspect of the creek with an enormous black hen in it. I assume that lure was meant for Tessa. No hint of Tessa.

We determined to drive to the path head to go looking extra completely.

As we approached the automotive, I noticed a pair, Shawn and Gena Ritter, standing exterior of their parked automotive possibly 100 ft away on the alternative aspect of Shelter Cove Rd. Both had been pointing their fingers towards the woods on their aspect of the highway. Immediately, I knew what they had been making an attempt to sign us. I ran throughout the highway in direction of them. I didn’t see something, however I squatted down on the aspect of the highway and referred to as out “Tessa come!”. What occurred subsequent is historical past. It was one of the vital joyful moments in my life. I held her up, kissed her after which handed her to Jennifer. She held her tightly towards her chest and began crying uncontrollably. Our prayers had been answered!

Day 7 and on – Giving again.

It was a miracle that after 5 chilly and wet nights alone within the wilderness surrounded by predators, Tessa emerged unscathed. She managed to search out her method down from the highest of the mountain to the path head.  She settled in that space for the following 3 days, ready patiently to be reunited together with her household.

My household is eternally grateful to all those that helped and supported us throughout this tough interval and to those that prayed fervently for Tessa close to and much.

This was a unprecedented expertise that we are going to always remember.

Special thanks go to the Shelter Cove neighborhood. You will at all times be in our prayers and in our hearts.

We are so impressed by the individuals on this neighborhood that we hope to provide again the kindness and love we obtained to these we are going to encounter within the days forward!

Love,

The Lee Family

Tessa, reunited with her family, safe and exhausted. Calvin shared the following caption to the Shelter Cove Community Unity page: Tessa says hi to the folks in Shelter Cove…. She is finally able to relax in a comfortable bed after 5 days in the wild. She lost some weight. But she is doing remarkably well. I am not sure if she learned her lesson, but I certainly did. If you have to lose a dog, lose her in Shelter Cove. We sure will come back to visit and to say hi and have a beer with all the people who extended their helping hands during one of the most difficult times in our lives. I’d be comfortable to share the entire story from the begin to the happiest ending ever. Just let me know. Finally, subsequent time after we come to go to, we are going to let Tessa present us round as a result of I’m certain she is aware of much more in regards to the space than we do. Love from the Lee household