A Regina resident’s quick thinking and love for animals led to a heartwarming reunion for a family from Ontario and their missing dog, Bear. The German Shepherd–Husky mix had gone missing during the family’s overnight stay in Regina, leaving them devastated.
After spending hours searching, the family had to continue their journey to Edmonton for business. Desperate, they posted about their missing dog on Facebook, hoping someone would spot Bear. That’s when Matthew Wesley, an avid animal rescuer, saw the post and decided to take action.
Wesley recalled, “I woke up Sunday morning, scrolling through Facebook, when I came across a post about a German Shepherd-Husky running loose.” Realizing how cold it was overnight, Wesley, joined by his children, ventured out to the area where Bear was last seen, hoping to find him. He asked a few locals if they had seen a dog matching Bear’s description, and after a few negative responses, one person confirmed seeing the dog earlier.
Following the lead, Wesley found Bear running between a church and a nearby house. But catching the frightened dog was no easy task. The chase eventually led to Victoria Square Mall, where two helpful strangers assisted Wesley in cornering Bear so he could safely secure him.
Once Bear was in Wesley’s care, he noticed how cold the dog was. “He was shivering, but in just 20 minutes, he warmed up to me,” Wesley said. He was impressed by how well-cared-for Bear seemed, which reassured him that the dog’s owners were responsible and loving.
Wesley, not viewing himself as a hero, informed the family that their dog had been found. “They called me a godsend,” he said, though he remained humble about his actions. Since the family was still in Edmonton, they asked Wesley to care for Bear until they returned to Regina, and he agreed.
Despite some online criticism of the family for leaving Bear behind, Wesley defended them, noting that they had obligations and were unfamiliar with the area. “They didn’t just abandon the dog. They were devastated,” Wesley explained, adding that, in their situation, the dog’s recovery would have been difficult without local knowledge.
As Bear spent time in Wesley’s home, he quickly grew attached to the dog, who fit in well with his other pets and children. Wesley said it was unusual for him to bond so quickly, but Bear’s affectionate nature made it hard not to.
The day Bear’s owners returned to Regina, they visited Wesley’s home, and Bear’s reaction was pure joy. “He was jumping up and down, his tail wagging so hard. It was a moment that made everything worth it,” Wesley recalled.
The owners, from Dryden, Ontario, shared how beloved Bear is in their small community. He’s a familiar face at the local RONA, where he’s known as the “door greeter,” loved by all.
Wesley hopes the family will stop by again when traveling through Regina so his children can visit Bear, who had become like part of the family during his brief stay. Reflecting on the experience, Wesley called it a “fairy tale story,” one that not only reunited a dog with his family but also strengthened the bond between a community and its four-legged residents.
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