After being missing for more than two weeks, a Golden Retriever has been found safe and sound swimming along the shoreline.
New Jersey State Police Troopers Ryan Koehler and Vincent Ferdinandi received an unexpected phone call while preparing for their 7 a.m. shift on Tuesday. The caller reported a golden retriever swimming in the Barnegat Bay on the Jersey Shore and in need of rescue. Ferdinandi employed a Zodiac boat to travel 75 yards from shore and retrieve the dog, using a rope line to guide him to land. Upon hoisting the pup onto a nearby pier, it was clear that he was exhausted, malnourished, and hungry. The dog, named Chunk and aged three, had been playing fetch with his owners Marie and James Zangara on June 6th when he allegedly became scared and ran off into the woods.
As per the trooper, an extensive search operation was initiated to find Chunk using various methods such as social media, local police departments, traps, dog hunters, and trail cameras. The search had been on since Sunday when Chunk went missing from home. On Tuesday, two joggers spotted Chunk on Mantoloking Bridge, but as they tried to catch him, he jumped into the water and swam for over 2 kilometers before being rescued. When the soldiers brought Chunk back to land, he seemed frightened and hesitant to approach them. Nevertheless, they kept him safe until his family arrived.
Ferdinandi was amazed to witness the overwhelming relief of the family as they were reunited with their pet, and the dog seemed just as happy to be back with his loved ones. As a trooper for 16 years, Koehler understands the anguish of losing a dog for an extended period of time and empathizes with the family’s feelings. Ferdinandi expressed gratitude that Chunk and his owners were able to be reunited. The New Jersey State Police shared the heartwarming news on their Facebook page, which has been widely circulated with over 6,000 shares. According to the State Police’s Facebook post, Troopers Koehler and Ferdinandi used a motorboat to locate Chunk swimming near the Mantoloking Bridge and safely brought him to shore.
The message states that Chunk, a toddler of three years, had been missing for over two weeks. The owners were relieved to see him again and it is evident that Chunk was happy to be reunited with them.
