Photo: Harris County Pct 5
A dogis beinghailed a heroafter helping rescuers find his owner, who went missing on May 3 from Katy, a suburb of Houston, Texas, while on a walk with the pet.
Sherry Noppe was found early Friday morning after her black Labrador retriever alerted rescuers to her location in the woods, according toa tweetfrom the Harris County Constable Precinct 5 office.
“It’s a small miracle that she’s alive after being missing for so long,” Heap shared in afollow-up tweet. “Our concern now is getting her out of the woods and to a hospital for a medical evaluation. Thank you to@TexasEquuSearchalong with the army of searchers who never gave up.”
Noppe was treated for dehydration as well as cuts and bruises at a local hospital after authorities located her, according to her family.
“She’s doing surprisingly well for how long she’s been out there and the conditions that we were expecting,” Noppe’s daughter Courtney said at apress conference about her mother’s rescue. “The heat. The rain. We’re very grateful.”
Noppe’s children also appreciate Max’s efforts to save their mother.
“He saved her life,” Courtney said, and her brother Justin added, “He’s our hero.”
Find Sherry/Facebook
Noppe’s children believe their mother remained in the same location, about two miles from her home, throughout the ordeal. Rescuers found Noppe and Max about 50 to 100 yards into the woods off a trail, the outlet reported.
“The person out there I knew who was searching for her informed me they had found her and I didn’t believe it,” Courtney said at the press conference. “I said I want a picture and I got that picture and I started calling everyone, and it’s the greatest news I could have ever gotten.”
“I’m grateful for them not giving up, for pushing on,” she added of the group who searched for her mother. “They really were committed.”
“It’s been a blessing to us to bring our mother home on Mother’s Day — this weekend’s going to be very special for us,” Justin added.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Justin also shared the sentimental connection the family has to Max.
“Max was our brother’sdog. He passed away two years ago,” Justin said. “He’s the last thing that we really have of him. To get them both back is a silver lining.”
source: people.com
