Baloo is back, safe and sound

They called themselves Team Baloo, a group of volunteers assembled by Bert Lambert and Brandy Putz, who were desperate to find their beloved emotional support dog.

For three days, the search west of Lewes resembled a small military operation: drones with thermal cameras, trail cameras and a K-9 tracker with a dog named King. 

The cameras showed Baloo wasn’t straying far from the camp he had set up along a tree line nearby. One day, he was spotted near the American Classic Golf course, behind Acme.

Two days into the search, Lambert and Putz saw Baloo with their own eyes. “We saw him a football field away. He didn’t recognize us, and to see him walk away was the most heartbreaking thing,” Putz said.

But in the end, Baloo trusted a kindly couple – an ICU nurse and a retired police officer. They saw Baloo on Beaver Dam Road May 20, just a mile from Lambert and Putz’s home.

“They got lucky. They followed the rules. Baloo trusted them enough to come to them, to sniff them out,” Lambert said.

Lambert said the couple did not want to share their names or accept any reward money.

The rules Lambert talked about were posted on social media with photos of Baloo – do not call, chase or approach. Their biggest fear was that somebody with good intentions would chase Baloo into a road.

Baloo’s escape happened May 17, by accident. “He ran out the front door. It was left open a little too long. He’s new to the area. He got scared and got out,” Putz said.

Putz grew up in Sussex County and just moved back three weeks ago after 20 years on the West Coast.

She got Baloo four years ago from a Seattle rescue organization she worked with. She said he had been picked up in California, sick and injured.

“He was about to be euthanized, but the rescue group brought him to Seattle. When I saw his picture, I knew that was my dog,” she said. 

John Sotomayor rushed to help Lambert and Putz. He brought a drone and some personal experience.

“I went through this nine months ago. I lost my dog for 21 days,” Sotomayor said. “Since then, I’ve been doing pro bono search and rescue. I learned a lot; you have to when you’re going through this.”

Sotomayor set up trail cams and scent trails using strips of Putz’s clothing, hoping Baloo would catch on.

Putz works at Heirloom, for owner Meghan Lee. Lambert works for Megan Kee at Bramble & Brine at the Buttery, both in downtown Lewes.

Lambert said Lee and Kee could not have been more supportive.

“[Megan Kee] didn’t fire me for frantically abandoning her restaurant on a Friday night. She offered flyers, ATVs, reward money and dinners for people willing to help,” Lambert said in a social media post thanking Kee and Lee.

Lambert and Putz are also thanking photographer Neil Parry and volunteer firefighter Eric Reifsnyder, who flew their drones, as well as K-9 tracker Lauren Sheldon and trapper Samantha Happekotte.

Al Frantic of Frantic Frets in Milton, and his wife, Mary, designed the flyer that was posted online.

Lambert said he wants to throw a barbecue for Baloo to thank everyone. He said he has heard from people who want to donate to the trackers who gave their time to help in the search.

“The more gear and resources these people have, the more pets they can save,” Lambert said. “I know Brandy and I will be assisting them in the future. We want to keep Team Baloo together.”