Dogs are renowned for their extraordinary sense of smell, a trait that often lands them roles in search and rescue operations.
However, sometimes, their olfactory prowess proves useful in the most unexpected circumstances.
This was the case with Banjo, a 9-month-old German wirehaired pointer, who was out cross-country skiing with his owner near their home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
“Banjo has a distinct tail whip and body movement when he’s around fresh animal scent, so when I saw him run for the trees I knew something was there,” said Kerry, Banjo’s owner, who preferred to keep his last name private.
He told The Dodo, “I assumed it was going to be a porcupine, bird or rabbit.”
But what Banjo had discovered was far from ordinary.
As Kerry neared the trees, he noticed something stirring beneath a bush.
To his surprise, a furry, golden head emerged from the snow.
It was a Golden Retriever puppy!
The little dog had dug a burrow in the snow, where he had been taking refuge from the cold for the past few days.
It was clear that the poor puppy was lost and, fortunately, Banjo had found him just in time.
“He was terrified and chilly,” Kerry recounted.
“He allowed Banjo near him, but I couldn’t get very close.”
Despite Kerry’s attempts, the frightened dog was too nervous to be coaxed out of his hiding spot.
Left with no other option, Kerry called animal control, who were able to contact the dog’s worried owners.
“Only when I put his owner on speakerphone did he show signs of moving,” Kerry explained.
“I was able to coax him out of the bush with some treats, but he still wouldn’t let me get that close.”
The dog, named Louie, had disappeared from a nearby dog park a few days prior.
A subsequent snowstorm had covered the area in a thick blanket of snow, making it even harder for Louie’s owners to locate him.
Upon hearing that Louie had been found, his mother, who was out with a search party, ran half an hour through the snow to reach him.
The incident resonated deeply with Kerry, who had experienced a similar situation. “Banjo was stolen in August, so I held back some tears as I kinda know the feeling!” he shared.
“There were lots of friends of Louie and some laughs and happy tears from his owner Julia — a waggy butt and a very excited and hungry Louie! It was very sweet.”
The moment Louie was reunited with his family, all his fears seemed to vanish.
Thanks to Banjo’s exceptional sense of smell, Louie was saved from a potentially tragic fate.
The famished dog was fed, and Julia and Kerry celebrated the happy ending with a beer, toasting to Banjo, the hero of the day.
The story of Banjo’s heroic act ended on a heartwarming note, with Louie safe at home with his family for the holidays.
Our doggie friends have the incredible ability to smell things we humans can’t and it was thanks to Banjo’s incredible nose that Louie was reunited with his family.
Everyone got their happy ending and Banjo was rewarded with some treats.
We are so happy the missing pup was found and that Banjo was at the right place at the right time.
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