Missing dog named Rusty found wandering on highway 1,000 miles away finally returns home
By Martha Williams
Daily Mail
Aug 17, 2025
Rusty
A missing dog that was found terrified and covered in ticks on a highway 1,000 miles away from his family has finally returned home.
Rusty is a 'smart' Australian Shepherd who went missing when his owner was sent to prison and he was left under the supervision of her friend.
The owner is a woman who had been living in Cheyenne, Colorado, prior to being incarcerated. Her friend disappeared and Rusty was left alone, Cowboy State Daily reported.
How the dog somehow ended up walking 270 miles from Cheyenne to Shoshoni, Wyoming, remains a mystery, but he was found on the side of the road looking 'really scared'.
Rusty first arrived on Lander Pet Connection Director Hannah MacGregor's radar in May after a friend spotted the dog 'out in the middle of nowhere'.
'A bunch of people had left bowls of food and water,' MacGregor said. 'When they initially reached out to me about the dog being out there, I had already seen it on Facebook.'
'Someone had posted, but they couldn't get close to him, and they were just trying to find out where he belonged.'
MacGregor's friend spent hours trying to rescue Rusty and finally, with the help of another family, was able to coax the pup into her vehicle.
Rusty is a 'smart' Australian Shepherd who went missing when his owner was sent to prison and he was left under the supervision of her friend (Pictured: Rusty with his new family. Addison, left, Allen, and Aiden Miller)
The friend kept Rusty overnight and then delivered him to the shelter, where workers found a microchip on the dog.
There were two phone numbers and an emergency number listed on the chip - but the first two lines had been disconnected.
Luckily, the emergency number worked and they were able to locate the mother of Rusty's owner in Oklahoma.
To form a plan for Rusty's care, the shelter had to wait to speak with his owner - who was still incarcerated.
Workers neutered Rusty at the request of his owner's mom.
After discussion with the owner's mother and son, it became clear that the family members would not be able to pick Rusty up.
The dog was placed under the care of a foster family in Afton, Wyoming, who volunteered to take care of Rusty short-term.
The dog was placed under the care of a foster family (pictured) in Afton, Wyoming, who volunteered to take care of Rusty short-term
'At that time, it sounded like the owner was going to get out of jail soon,' MacGregor said. But that did not pan out, and the owner's incarceration was expected to continue until January.
Rusty was bonding with the family, so he stayed with them until the owner's other son became involved and agreed to take the dog.
Addison Miller said her husband, Allen, and their son, Aiden, will host Allen's mom when she completes her time in a treatment facility for her addiction issues.
They were happy to add Rusty to the family - which already includes two dogs and a puppy, who Rusty has become fast friends with.
Addison has experience in dog training, 'He is a purebred Australian Shepherd. Both his parents are papered,' she said. 'He is the most beautiful brown boy ever and he is so sweet and so smart.'
The Millers were happy to add Rusty to the family - which already includes two more dogs and a puppy, who Rusty has become fast friends with
To collect Rusty, the family drove to Rock Springs from their home in Sapulpa, Oklahoma - a 1,021-mile journey.
Addison shared that Rusty once saved her husband's mother from overdosing on drugs.
Just over a year ago, Rusty's owner passed out in bed from an overdose in a locked room. Rusty somehow knew 'I need to go check on mom,' Addison said.
Rusty attempted to chew through the door and when he couldn't get through, went to her roommate's door and jumped on it until the roommate opened it.
'Rusty pulls her roommate down to her room and is barking and scratching at the door and the roommate is mad because my door is all messed up now,' she said. 'But (the woman) is not answering so he busts through the door and there she is blue on the bed, and the roommate saved her.'
The owner is in recovery from her addiction issues and when she gets out will stay with them, continue her sobriety journey and be reunited with her 'baby.'
Miller said her husband's mom calls every day and when Rusty hears her voice he becomes 'all excited wagging his little nub tail.'
2 comments:
That is a lovely story.
We inherited a trained Belgian Malinois from our son. "Breacher" is retired and acclimated well to his new environment. However, he is still a trained Belgian Malinois. I may save some money and cancel my home alarm.
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