WATCH: Simsbury Canine Rescued By Avon Responders

AVON/CANTON/SIMSBURY, CT — A potentially heart-breaking, 10-day drama involving a missing dog from Simsbury ended in the best way possible — with its rescue in nearby Avon.

On Tuesday in Avon, rescuers from the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, Avon Police Department and volunteer pet recovery advocate Karen J. Moulton of the Avon-based Farmington Valley Lost Pet Recovery (FVLPR) group rescued a frightened dog from a cliff in Avon near Secret Lake, which also borders Canton.

The Tuesday evening rescue ended a stressful ordeal for the dog, the dog's owner and volunteers, an ordeal that started in Simsbury, continued in Canton and ended in Avon.

"We found her!!!" wrote Moulton via the FVLPR's Facebook page.

This modern-day miracle started on Aug. 5 when "Gaby" of Simsbury (last name withheld by request) lost her 2-year-old chocolate Lab named "Stella" while she was attending a wedding in Jamaica and left her with family in Avon.

With Stella described as "skittish," alerts went out about the situation right away via the CT Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network, an online group aimed at helping dog owners reunite with their missing canine pals.

For days, there were sightings and people heard howling in the woods in that part of the area. But no one could get to "Stella."

Moulton said one sighting placed Stella in Canton on Secret Lake Road.

Other sightings were fleeting and reports continued.

Moulton, the dog's owner and others made it their mission to find and rescue Stella and that's just what happened Tuesday.

As Moulton puts it, she heard howling across the lake and "followed it up," reporting that neighbors also confirmed the sound of a dog near a cliff area by the lake.

A drone operator volunteered to search and spent 90 minutes looking for the dog, to no avail.

"Without a precise area, we couldn't get anyone to climb up the cliff and rocks," wrote Moulton.

Later Tuesday evening, Moulton said she heard the dog howling again and she met up with the dog's owner at the location in Avon near a cliff by the lake.

"We could not safely access the area. Owner began calling the dog who immediately began howling. Owner climbed high enough to see dog, but couldn’t access her," wrote Moulton.

With a more precise location, Moulton said the Avon police and fire departments were called and they made the treachorous climb of the cliff, rescued "Stella" and, as Moulton put it, "carried the dog out." Footage of what rescuers had to navigate can be seen at this link.

For Moulton, it was all in a day's work and the culmination of, yet, another task in her quest of reuniting lost dogs with their owners.

"Recovering lost pets is a passion of mine. I formed Farmington Valley Lost Pet Recovery about 10 years ago. I’m the whole volunteer group," wrote Moulton to Patch.

All appears fine, despite the fact the canine had to survive in the wild for 10 days outside.

Moulton described a situation for the dog that could have turned out worse than what happened.

"Several days exposed to sun and rain alone up there. She lost 12 pounds. Was dehydrated, sunburned and some scrapes. Stella is home to her grateful owner. I drove them to the vet ER and got home at 1 a.m.," she told Patch.

As can be expected, the dog's owner was giddy with the outcome, especially since she was overseas for much of Stella's ordeal and couldn't help.

"Thank you to EVERYONE that helped ensure my baby made it home safely!" wrote the owner on the CT Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network's Facebook page.

"All efforts are truly appreciated. Couldn’t be more thankful for Karen!!"

The CT Dog Gone Recovery Volunteer Network echoed those sentiments. "CTDGRV wants to thank Karen for continuing to look for Stella and finding her! Plus the Avon fire department for rescuing sweet Stella!" it wrote via social media.

For more information on Farmington Valley Lost Pet Recovery, click on this link.

To see the rescue of Stella, click on this link.