Cooper The Dog Found At Last – Lost Labradoodle WestJet Put On Wrong Plane Saved!

It’s a cautionary tale that no pet owner wants to live through: losing an animal while traveling for vacation. But happily this dog tale has a happy ending. Although airline carrier WestJet initially lost Cooper, one Halifax family’s beloved golden Labradoodle, he was eventually found albeit a bit thinner and dirtier than when his adventure began.

Chelsea Simon, one of the dog’s owners, panicked after being told that Cooper was lost in transit after being put on the wrong flight. Cooper, an adorable white pup with a hangdog expression, was sent to visit relatives on Wednesday, while his family headed to a wedding in Jamaica.

But instead of ending up at his destination in Deer Lake, N.L., Cooper went missing for nearly 48 hours. First Cooper was mistakenly placed on a flight to Hamilton, then, when the plane landed he made a run for it while on a bathroom break; think he was trying to hoof it to sunny Jamaica, mon?

After realizing their mistake, WestJet flew Simon and a friend out to Hamilton, where they joined in the search that was already underway for Cooper.

Then a miracle happened: nearly two days after his flight from justice, the wet, starving, and dirty, fugitive was spotted and taken into custody!

“It’s the most overwhelming feeling of happiness,” said Simon, after being reunited with her fur baby on Friday.

Cooper was found hiding in a fenced area near the airport, and immediately gave himself up when he spotted his worried humans.

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When word of Cooper’s plight spread on social media, the pet rescue groups Healing Hearts and The Dream Team, along with Dog Tales, a dog and horse rescue organization north of Toronto, quickly aided in the search.

A WestJet spokeswoman said the airline has offered to pay Cooper’s vet bill and will assist in getting the well-traveled dog and his owners back home.

Cooper’s unintentional journey is a good reminder to always take a few important precautions when your pet is traveling, either with or without you. First, make sure he has identification on him, as well as on his crate or carrier. And, if you let your pet out for a bathroom break, having it in a harness is a good idea (although I’m not sure that the fleet-footed Cooper would agree!).