Here’s a sad story with a happy ending. A few weeks ago Zak, a 1-year-old basenji mix, was traveling with his owner through Omaha.
Truck driver Robert Shields, from CA, was driving through Omaha when he was in a deadly accident on Interstate 80.
The death of his owner left Zak stranded, with no way home.
The Humane Society sent a plea for donations to fly Zak home. They’d considered asking another trucker to drive him home but decided that they did not want Zak riding with strangers. The Shields family had told Wiese that paying for the dog’s flight would be a hardship.
An American Airlines employee heard about Zak’s plight and arranged for a free flight. The dog leaves Omaha this afternoon and arrives in San Diego about 8:40 p.m., Omaha time.
Wiese said she spoke with Shields’ daughter, Jaime Pickett, Tuesday morning, and the family is very happy to hear of Zak’s pending return.
Zak will be returning home with nothing more than a scratch on his head. It’s believed that a prior medical condition could have contributed to Robert Shields death. The dog had been traveling around the country with his owner since he was a few months old. I’m sure Shields’ would be relieved to know that his best friend made it back home safe and sound.
Thanks to Jodi who barked this story to me.
