Chunky the dog’s adventure happened well off Capitol Hill but the CHS Classifieds played a small role and we know many area dog owners visit the Arboretum. Also, it’s pretty hard to resist a lost-and-found beagle story. Here are the details on Chunky’s incredible journey. More on the happy reunion and the people — and Bermese Mountain Dog — who helped along the way here.

FROM YOUR HELP SPREADING THE WORD AND SHARING CHUNKY’S BLOG, word spread to Heather and Joe (from one of your 125 shares on facebook or the signs in the area) and couldn’t resist his cute lil’ pictures. They wanted to help and lived near Interlaken Park near the Arboretum. Heather had told me many dogs that get lost in the arboretum end up drinking out of their fountain in the backyard near Interlaken Park. Heather encouraged me to put Chunky’s bed out to lure him in on their back porch. She was already leaving out food, treats, and another bed out in hopes he would come up and stay. Well, DRUMMER, their Bermese Mountain dog had been enjoying those treats, and smelling Chunky’s scent on his bed for the past four days.

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Heather and Joe had looked for Chunky near MOHAI. After hashing out the best places to go with Heather and Joe, we decided to focus on the Arboretum, Madison Park and the Golf Course since I hadn’t looked there yet. I was out with Joe and Drummer around 7:15pm to return to the last point Chunky had seen me at the Arboretum. We walked over to the blanket I set out for Chunky near the parking lot hid under a bush. We walked up towards the visitor center.

At the visitor center Drummer picked up a scent. He was on to something so we just walked along following where Drummer went. Wer walked past the visitor center, greenhouses and along a footpath near the golf course. I started calling out Chunky’s name and doing eyeshines.

All of a sudden Joe said to turn around. I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES: My Beagle!!!!! Drummer had jumped a little as Chunky came trotting up behind us. I whipped out some food and scooped him in  my arms. It was a happy moment as Joe, Drummer, Chunky and I embraced by our good fortune. With Joe’s intuition wanting to check the area out, and with Drummer, the little miracle tracking dog, smelled his buddy’s scent and wanted to check it out.