NEWS UPDATE: Missing dog found in Lincoln, reunited with Colorado family

After missing for nearly three weeks, a dog has been found safe.

Alpha the Sheltie went missing the day after Christmas when his owners were passing through Lincoln.

Megan Rogers said she and her boyfriend made a stop at the Walmart on north 27th St. when the 13–year–old dog jumped out of the car and ran off. He had been spotted a few times in north Lincoln. 

“It was really heartbreaking to know that I had to leave him. I didn’t want him to feel like I was abandoning him at all,” Rogers said.

On Sunday, officers with Lincoln Animal Control finally found him near NW 7th St. and Cornhusker Highway – behind the Zoetis Building.

Alpha was carried one mile to safety. They were happy to find him in good condition despite the cold weather.

“We were surprised to find out that she was 13 years old because she was still running strong but she went into survival mode and found food and water and shelter and she did alright out there,” Animal Control Officer, Jacki Purdham said.

Morgan got a call on Sunday that Alpha was found and drove 8 hours on Monday to reunite with the 13-year-old Sheltie she’s had since he was just 6 months old.

“I was so glad that it was a good call but I was prepping myself for the bad one but there wasn’t a minute or night that I didn’t think about Alpha when he was missing,” Rogers said.

Morgan said she is overjoyed by the out pour of help and support from everyone in Lincoln and on social media.

Alpha is now able to go back home to his family and see his roommate Emma, a Blue Heeler who was also worried.

“He’s going to be in a fenced yard and he’s going to have a GPS put on him from now on,” Rogers said.

The support from the community did not end after Alpha’s return. A local salon offered to groom him for free before he went back home to Colorado.