Onslow-American-Eskimo-Dog

When you're raw fed and holistically raised, it can only help

surviving in the wild for eighteen days! :

Little Onslow, my five year old Mini American Eskimo Dog, spent eighteen

days trying to get home to Canby, CA from Mt Shasta - on the other side of

the state through two national forests. We know he crossed the summet of

Mt Shasta twice, as well as crossing two freeways at least four times. Each

time he ventured into the forest, he came back to the west side a few days

later - either due, we assume, to being chased by predators (we know he

was sleeping within yards of a Mountain Lion that was spooked by the

barking of a brave little Boston Terrier named Brewster at one point!) or

needing to refuel from hunger. Those forests are pretty formidable, and little

Onslow only weighs eleven pounds (and considerably less than that

now - poor baby.)

My little unwitting local celebrity evaded capture like a pro - never entered a

trap, and without letting anyone get their hands on him. Finally, when he was

caught yesterday, his ARista aligned captor decided HE would take him home

and first hold him for ransom, then make ridiculous demands as to how I must

proceed (and how much I must agree to pay) in order to get him back.

Ultimately, we had people who were able to convince the sheriff's office to

intervene (they typically tell people to go file a lawsuit in such cases) and we

were able to get Onslow into safe hands then transported home. ...

Out with the pack this morning, Onslow visited all his favorite spots,- said hello

to the ducks and the goats, helped me with the haying and watering, and then,

when the pack was all gathered, he stood in the center, looked around and

wagged his tail at each member. Then he simply threw his head back and barked

gloriously! His bark is hoarse. (as is my voice!) I told him we both wore out our

vocal cords through this ordeal.

Onslow is finally home, and I am grateful beyond words to everyone who

helped, who contributed their time and their travel, who kept their eyes open,

who reported sightings, who cared, who worried, and who prayed. I'm particularly thankful to Suzannah and Deane, who coordinated our efforts

locally from Mt Shasta, to Burtis who set up trail cams all the way from

McCloud to Canby as well as sending out drones, to Jules, who brought her

excellent tracking skills to us (and who personally, along with Kim and

Michael, brought Onslow home!), and to Michael who ultimately stood up to

the ARista nutters and demanded they return Onslow on that last terrible day.

Mostly I am thankful to Jehovah God - who held us both so close throughout this ordeal, through my un-Christian-like mouth when confronting the ARistas on the phone, and who's eyes, we know, are on even the tiniest sparrow. Most certainly they are on Onslow and everyone who loves and fought for him. (Luke 12:6-7)

Terry Thistlethwaite

June 6, 2026

.Onslow's Journey Home