PHOENIX — An Arizona family has reunited with their beloved dog Dozer after he was lost following a crash near Stoneman Lake nearly two weeks ago.
Dozer, a black and white pit bull mix, was ejected during the crash on southbound Interstate 17 on March 12, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a Facebook post.
Troopers spent hours looking for Dozer, DPS said. In the days following the crash, they spent hours, even their lunch breaks, searching for the dog.
DPS said it received several calls from people who saw a dog in the area that matched Dozer's description but troopers weren't able to find him. That's when DPS reached out the Central Arizona Search and Rescue for help set a trap.
A trap was set and DPS said volunteers were constantly checking for Dozer. Finally, Dozer was found in the trap on Monday.
Dozer was thin and exhausted but he didn't have any major injuries, DPS said. Animal rescue volunteers and troopers took Dozer to his family and he couldn't hide his excitement.
In a video that captured the reunion, you can hear one of the people who helped find Dozer say she hasn't seen him wag his tail until he saw his family.