Two-year-old Thea Chase gave her family the scare of a lifetime when she wandered off into the woods with her two dogs—and vanished.
For hours, her family and rescuers feared the worst. But when they finally found her deep in the forest, she was safe, sound, and sleeping peacefully—using one of her beloved pups as a pillow.
Thea disappeared from her home in Faithorn, Michigan, on September 20, 2023. As night fell, panic set in. State troopers, search teams, and volunteers from both Michigan and Wisconsin joined the desperate hunt, using drones, K-9 units, and all-terrain vehicles to comb through the dense woods.
Michigan toddler lost in the woods found asleep using family dog as pillow https://t.co/V6MuQWS0Kc pic.twitter.com/9m96dLLUfI
— New York Post (@nypost) September 23, 2023
Finally, at around midnight—four hours after she had gone missing—a searcher on an ATV spotted something incredible. There, nearly three miles from home, was little Thea. Curled up in the middle of the woods, she had dozed off on the smaller of the family’s two dogs, while the other stood guard beside her.
“It’s a really remarkable story,” said State Police Lieutenant Mark Giannunzio. “She laid down and used one of the dogs as a pillow, and the other dog laid right next to her and kept her safe.”
Thea’s mother, Brooke Chase, recalled the terrifying moment she realized her daughter was missing.
“I was in such a fog and in such a shock that she was literally gone in a split second,” Brooke told WJMN-TV. She and family members frantically searched their yard, calling out for both Thea and the dogs before calling the police.
The search party scoured the woods, fearing the worst. Then, a family friend spotted the Chase family’s Rottweiler, Buddy. As the searcher approached, Buddy started barking—leading them straight to Thea and her other four-legged protector, Hartley, an English Springer.
“She has those dogs wrapped around her finger,” Brooke said, relieved.
When rescuers brought Thea home on the back of the ATV, she was unfazed by the chaos. Giggling, she looked at her mom and simply said, “Hi, Mommy.”
Despite spending hours in the wilderness, Thea was unharmed. Temperatures had dropped to about 60°F, but thanks to her loyal pups, she stayed safe and warm.
It’s a story of loyalty, love, and one lucky little girl who had the best rescue team by her side.
Would your pet stay by your side in the wild? Share this heartwarming tale with your fellow animal lovers!
