Dog Reunited With Owner Weeks After Colorado Fatal Mountain Crash

CHAFFEE COUNTY, CO – A Kansas family that lost their mother in a Chaffee County mountain car accident earlier this month were overjoyed when the family dog, Bentley, was found 19 days later on top of a desolate mountain ridge.

Jennifer Lynn Orr, 43, of Wichita and her daughter Samantha or "Sam" were in a Jeep that fell more than 600 feet from Iron Chest Road on Aug. 8 when the pair were four-wheeling with a caravan of four other Jeeps. Orr tried to maneuver around a large rock in the road, the car lost traction and slid down the mountainside. Jennifer Orr was killed and Sam was air-lifted by REACH Air Medical Services helicopter to a hospital in Pueblo, according to the Mountain Mail.

Bentley, the family's 1-year-old Labradoodle, was thrown from the car and disappeared, running away in the confusion.

When Sam Orr got out of the hospital, Saturday, she returned to the ridge near Buena Vista about three miles above St. Elmo where the accident happened.

According to her Facebook post, Bentley had been spotted "laying amongst the rocks along the ridge of the mountain. Peering down at the Jeep wreckage, patiently waiting for his family to return."

Climbing up to the ridge, Sam offered the pup treats and a new toy. At first he seemed interested, but then skittered away.

"I slowly but surely followed him, upon reaching the summit, I could see him watching me. I got close to him, laid down, unpacked some items to eat and a new toy I’d purchased from him. He never moved an inch for over 15 minutes. Eventually I decided to give him some space, back off for a few minutes, and that got his attention," Orr wrote.

Bentley finally overcame his fear and came to Orr, who captured the tearful reunion her cell phone.

"Bentley is okay, he’s a little malnourished and dehydrated. But otherwise no noticeable injuries," Sam Orr said.

Image: Bentley the Labradoodle via Samantha Orr

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