Friends, relatives, strangers go above and beyond to reunite hunting dog, owner

Friday, November 24, 2017
“Haley Rayne” has been reunited with her owner, Mike Mullen of Denver, after Mullen’s cousin, John Harmon of McCook, belly-crawled toward her for about two hours in a canyon northeast of McCook to avoid spooking the young dog.
Courtesy photos

McCOOK, Neb. — It’s a Disney movie come true and a wonderful Thanksgiving story rolled into one for a Denver man who lost his dog near McCook a week ago.

Rescuers’ last-ditch attempt to nab the young dog — an effort that included her owner’s shirt and a two-hour belly crawl — will bring tears to the eyes of any dog-lover.

John Harmon, the McCook man who finally caught up to “Haley Rayne,” described her ultimate capture after five days on the run as “kind of like a Disney movie.”

John Harmon finally has Haley Rayne in protective custody.
Courtesy photo

Mike Mullen of Denver, the owner of the black and tan Australian shepherd/golden retriever called Haley, said this morning that Haley’s adventure started Saturday, Nov. 18, when he and relatives, the Harmons of McCook, were hunting pheasants and quail northwest of McCook, north of the area of Heritage Hills golf course. “We were walking a field, and she just disappeared,” Mike said. He said Haley, just 21⁄2 years old, had hunted before, but this was the first time that she was the only dog in the hunting party. “We don’t know why she disappeared … we just don’t know,” he said. “But she was gone.”

Mike and his uncle and cousins searched the remainder of Saturday and all day Sunday, with no luck. Brokenhearted, Mike had to return to Denver Sunday without his furry hunting buddy.

Mike contacted the police and the McCook Humane Society animal shelter. He kept in touch daily with Lorie Prestes at the shelter.

Mike’s mom and sister drove from Denver to McCook and searched Monday and Tuesday. Mike said he had run across Derek Sailors of McCook during their weekend search, and Derek posted about the missing pooch on Facebook. From there, it went to “For Sale” sites, and the news of Haley spread throughout the community. John said it seems the whole community was looking for Haley. “Word got out quickly,” Mike said.

John said, “Every time we were out looking, we’d come across someone looking for Haley. It was amazing the number of people who were trying to help.”

There were sightings of Haley throughout the week, but she was scared, and wouldn’t let anyone close enough to grab her. Mike posted to would-be rescuers that Haley’s collar might slip off, but grab her please by her orange hunting vest, if they got close enough. But Haley couldn’t be enticed even by offerings of food.

John said some of the latest sightings were near Community Hospital, the McCook airport and north toward the dairies — seven miles northeast of McCook.

John said, “After five days, we tied one of Mike’s shirts to a tree in a canyon south of the dairies.” On Wednesday, they made one more circle in the area, and there was Haley, curled up on Mike’s shirt.

To avoid spooking Haley and scaring her off again, John crawled toward her through the canyon for about two hours. Close enough to grab her, John said, she seemed “happy to be caught. After we caught her, it seemed she wanted to get caught.”

Mike and Haley have been reunited in Omaha, where the family gathered for Thanksgiving. “I don’t know who was more excited, her or me,” Mike said this morning.

Mike can’t express his gratitude enough for the people who tried to help him catch up with Haley. He texted this morning: “With the help of John Harmon, Ben Harmon, Kurt Harmon and Patricia Harmon and the whole community of McCook Nebraska, including Jean Kelley, Makayla Steinbeck and Lorie Prestes, and many many more, also with my Mom and sister who drove to McCook out of the blue, I can say Haley was found and is now safe. I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to all the people that helped me bring her home. I am truly thankful to everyone. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for all the love and support.”

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