Missing Dog Returns Home Safe

When his mom's car pulled up, Thor did not hesitate to jump in. The spirited white German Shepherd ran off last Thursday night and got lost in the wilderness between Franklin Lakes and Wayne. Monday night, after a long weekend of worry, Brigitte Peterson found Thor with the help of some very kind people in Wayne. 

"He is home safe. He's week and tired, and his paws are pretty raw from running, but he doesn't have any broken bones and he's safe," Peterson told Patch, who sent out alerts and updates over the weekend. "I am so thankful for everyone who helped find him."

Thor's lost weekend began on Thursday night. The heatwave was just breaking, thunderstorms were on the horizon and Brigitte took Thor out for a quick walk. As she was adjusting his collar on Cheyenne Drive in Franklin Lakes, he took off and didn't come back. 

There were a few Thor spottings in Wayne during his long weekend away from home. Near Pines Lake, on Cheyenne Way, before being found near Indian Road and Comanche Drive. 

Peterson was given a tip that he'd been spotted near Comanche Drive. As she wondered through the unfamiliar streets, she came upon two young men who told her they just saw him around the corner, but he ran from them. 

"It was really dark, with no street lights, and I have night vision [problems] so I was driving with my highbeams on. I pulled up near some trees and there he was staring right at me," she said. "I opened his door and called his name, and he ran right into the car and my arms." 

She is so thankful to have him back and especially thankful for all the strangers who helped to ensure a happy reunion. 

"The Wayne police department were so helpful," she said, praising the animal control officers, Debra De Lucca and Terry Barchuck, who tried to lure Thor with roastbeef at one point during his escape.

She wasn't able to get the names of the young men who helped her find him, but she is very thankful for their help. "I asked them, why are you helping me? and they said they didn't want him to get hit by a car," she said. "I was overwhelmed that people care for others."

And so grateful to have Thor home safe: "He's resting and recooperating from his adventure. It's a happy ending."