All the talk about holiday travel this week has a Chico area family reminding people to hang onto their pets.A recent visit to pick up relatives at the Sacramento International Airport left their dog, gone, for over 30 hours.“He bolted,” said Charlie the dog’s human, Anna Farrell. “He bolted and then he was gone.”Gone in a flash after jumping out of their truck as they sat curbside at Terminal A.“We had some dark thoughts when we found out he was running across roads,” she said.Farrell explained to KCRA 3 the agony of knowing her precious pup was wandering the airport property without her, but she was unwilling to believe she’d seen the last of him.“We can’t give up on Charlie,” Farrell repeatedly said in her head during the hours he was missing.So she enlisted help from those with eyes on all things airport. The dispatchers from Sacramento International’s communications center combed through various camera angles.“It ran like a streak across the screen,” said senior dispatcher Lona Bradford. “I looked through bushes and anywhere I could get camera range, I was looking.”But then the trail started to go cold.“I just couldn’t find the dog anywhere after I lost him on video,” Bradford said.With hours ticking by and concern growing deeper, the Farrell family continued a ground search, created a flyer and connected with everyone they encountered.“Dispatchers, shuttle drivers, the guys who drive around security,” Farrell said. “There wasn’t one person who didn’t make an effort, and said, ‘OK, we’re gonna look out for him.’”Kind strangers even joined the search after seeing Charlie’s story on lost animal social media pages.“He’s such a sweet dog,” said Jordan Brace, a high school student who showed up with her mom to assist. “I was just like, I need to come help because I love animals so much.”Then, finally, that collective effort paid off.“I got the call at 6:05 a.m.,” Farrell said.A shuttle driver spotted Charlie running from the economy lot to the daily lot so she raced to that location.She spotted the dog and managed to coax him back into her arms – immediately overcome with emotion.“I was just screaming/crying,” Farrell said. “I couldn’t believe I had him.Farrell completely credits her daughter Jacqueline for staying positive and motivated to continue the search. And she’s grateful for all those on board for the 30-plus-hour search mission.Meanwhile, Charlie is keeping close to his loved ones these days and is all “adventured out” after his holiday time ordeal.After everything that happened, Charlie now wears an AirTag tracker on his collar and the family has a seat belt restrainer for him in the car.“We just feel beyond lucky that we got him back,” Farrell said. “We know that you just don’t give up.”See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
All the talk about holiday travel this week has a Chico area family reminding people to hang onto their pets.
A recent visit to pick up relatives at the Sacramento International Airport left their dog, gone, for over 30 hours.
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“He bolted,” said Charlie the dog’s human, Anna Farrell. “He bolted and then he was gone.”
Gone in a flash after jumping out of their truck as they sat curbside at Terminal A.
“We had some dark thoughts when we found out he was running across roads,” she said.
Farrell explained to KCRA 3 the agony of knowing her precious pup was wandering the airport property without her, but she was unwilling to believe she’d seen the last of him.
“We can’t give up on Charlie,” Farrell repeatedly said in her head during the hours he was missing.
So she enlisted help from those with eyes on all things airport. The dispatchers from Sacramento International’s communications center combed through various camera angles.
“It ran like a streak across the screen,” said senior dispatcher Lona Bradford. “I looked through bushes and anywhere I could get camera range, I was looking.”
But then the trail started to go cold.
“I just couldn’t find the dog anywhere after I lost him on video,” Bradford said.
With hours ticking by and concern growing deeper, the Farrell family continued a ground search, created a flyer and connected with everyone they encountered.
“Dispatchers, shuttle drivers, the guys who drive around security,” Farrell said. “There wasn’t one person who didn’t make an effort, and said, ‘OK, we’re gonna look out for him.’”
Kind strangers even joined the search after seeing Charlie’s story on lost animal social media pages.
“He’s such a sweet dog,” said Jordan Brace, a high school student who showed up with her mom to assist. “I was just like, I need to come help because I love animals so much.”
Then, finally, that collective effort paid off.
“I got the call at 6:05 a.m.,” Farrell said.
A shuttle driver spotted Charlie running from the economy lot to the daily lot so she raced to that location.
She spotted the dog and managed to coax him back into her arms – immediately overcome with emotion.
“I was just screaming/crying,” Farrell said. “I couldn’t believe I had him.
Farrell completely credits her daughter Jacqueline for staying positive and motivated to continue the search. And she’s grateful for all those on board for the 30-plus-hour search mission.
Meanwhile, Charlie is keeping close to his loved ones these days and is all “adventured out” after his holiday time ordeal.
After everything that happened, Charlie now wears an AirTag tracker on his collar and the family has a seat belt restrainer for him in the car.
“We just feel beyond lucky that we got him back,” Farrell said. “We know that you just don’t give up.”
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter
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