Dog makes return to Melrose owner

Molly Hickok said her chocolate lab Mamas has always been a little explorer. She's prone to jumping over the fence at the family home in Melrose.

She doesn't usually get far, but that changed around Jan. 22.

With her family gone to the store that morning, Mamas scaled the fence and somehow ended up 60 miles from home. Through the combined effort of local animal lovers and social media, she returned home Jan. 23 with a story to tell.

Santa Rosa Animal Control Director Crystal Trujillo said a motorist spotted the dog running along the side of U.S. 84, about 20 miles from Santa Rosa around 4 p.m. on Jan. 22. Trujillo said the driver stopped to help the dog, and found a friendly reception.

Trujillo said Mamas immediately ran up to the driver and jumped inside the car as if "it was an everyday occurrence."

The motorist brought Mamas to Santa Rosa Animal Control, where she received lots of water and plenty of pets.

"When the driver brought the dog here, I scanned the dog for a microchip and she didn't have one or a collar with tags," Trujillo said.

With no other options, Trujillo said she made a Facebook post. Just a few hours later, Trujillo received a call from Hickok, who related the story of escaping their yard.

Trujillo said Hickok had also made a Facebook post about Mamas' disappearance and that fellow animal lovers soon connected the two posts together, informing Hickok of Trujillo's post.

Hickok said she'd been planning to address Mamas' fence jumping with plans to make the fence higher. After she escaped and didn't immediately return, Hickok said she was absolutely terrified of what might happen to her furry companion. She said she never imagined finding Mamas in Santa Rosa.

"I'm just so happy she's home now. ... She is like family. I don't consider pets just as animals. They have feelings and thoughts, and honestly she is my baby. I wouldn't know what I would do without her," Hickok said.

Hickok said Mamas hasn't attempted to escape the yard since her journey last month. She said she thinks Mamas has maybe had enough adventure for one lifetime.