Eddie's OK: Search dog found safe

By CHERY SABOL

The Daily Inter Lake

Eddie was back on duty Thursday.

The U.S. Border Patrol dog - that gave in to his instincts Monday and chased an animal in the Trail Creek area of the North Fork - was the subject of a search and lots of concern by people nationwide after Eddie failed to return to his agent handler.

On Wednesday evening, the dog was found just three-quarters of a mile from where he gave his handler the slip. His leash was tangled in brush, trapping him in the woods.

His handler and three other agents were searching, 10 yards apart from one another, in dense brush on a steep slope when they heard a "woof," said James Bunner, a supervisor at the Border Patrol station in Whitefish.

"It was quite a tearful reunion," Bunner said. "I didn't know German shepherds could cry."

Support for the agency and Eddie has been "absolutely overwhelming," Bunner said.

Messages came from as far away as Great Falls, where one resident was positive he had seen the dog. Someone from Lakeside sorrowfully reported seeing an animal hit by the road that might be Eddie.

Bunner was able to tell her by then the dog had been found. A psychic also weighed in with an opinion on where Eddie might be.

Eddie's tale was reported as far away as the Boston Globe newspaper, Bunner said.

Trained in narcotics detection and human tracking, Eddie is an investment in breeding and training for the Border Patrol, but he was clearly more than that to the people who were worried about him.

He went to a veterinarian after he was found and got a clean bill of health Wednesday night.

"The vet said that other than the fact that he was a little hungry, he was OK," Bunner said.

Eddie was back on light duty Thursday with his very grateful handler, whom Bunner described as "the happiest agent" working for the patrol this week.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com