Around 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, New Jersey State Police Troopers Ryan Koehler and Vincent Ferdinandi got a call they weren’t expecting: a golden retriever was seen swimming in Barnegat Bay on the Jersey Shore and needed help.
According to Ferdinandi, the officers jumped into a 22-foot Zodiac boat to get to the dog, which was about 75 yards from the shore. They led the dog to a bridge behind a house and then used a rope line to pull him onto the bridge.
“He was very tired,” Ferdinandi said about him. “Absolutely hungry and not getting enough food.”
Ferdinandi says that Marie and James Zangara were playing fetch with their 3-year-old dog Chunk on June 6 when he got scared and ran off into the woods.
The trooper says that since Chunk left his house on Sunday, a search campaign has been going on with the help of social media, local police departments, baited traps, dog hunters, and trail cameras.

Then, early on Tuesday morning, two joggers saw Chunk on the Mantoloking Bridge. Ferdinandi says Chunk jumped into the water when they tried to get him back. He had swum about two miles across the water before he was found.
Ferdinandi said, “It was hard to believe how happy they were to see a family member again, and the dog was happy to see his family, too.”
Koehler has been a trooper for 16 years. He has a rescue Lab/Shepherd mix, so he knows how terrible it would be for a dog to go missing for more than two weeks. He adds, “I completely understand.
Ferdinandi also says, “We’re just glad that the dog and its owners were able to get back together.”
The New Jersey State Police shared the good news early on Tuesday morning in a Facebook post that has been shared more than 6,000 times.
When troopers Koehler and Ferdinandi arrived in a boat, Chunk was swimming near the Mantoloking Bridge. In a Facebook post, the State Police said that they were able to get Chunk safely to land.

“Chunk, who is 3 years old, has been missing for more than two weeks,” the message says. He was happy to be back with his grateful owners, which should go without saying.
Losing a dog hurts as much as losing a person we care about. So it’s better to be careful than to cry when you lose your dogs. Here are a few ways to keep your dog safe.
How to keep your dog from getting lost
Buy a good leash that is strong, safe, and comfortable. When choosing a leash, you should think about how long it will last and how big your dog is. Even a small animal could be stronger than you thought and act in a way you didn’t expect.
Teach your dog the commands it needs to know so it will follow them right away. Please come! Sit here. You can do things in a different order, but doing these two things first could save your dog’s life.
Remember that when dogs are scared, they will run away. They are often startled by loud noises like gunshots, explosions, and thunder that come out of nowhere.
When their instincts to hunt are triggered, dogs also want to run away. Putting a hunting dog or terrier on a leash is a good idea. It might want to run after something, especially if it was in the country or around smaller animals.
Even the calmest, most obedient dogs can be hard to predict when they are in heat. It might stop doing what you tell it and try to run away. If you don’t want any puppies, have your dog spayed or neutered in order to prevent issues. You could also walk your dog on a short leash at certain times.
If you live in a house and have a pet, only let it out into the yard when you can watch it. Leave your pet at home with a sitter or at a pet hotel where the staff knows how to take care of it.
Get your dog used to riding in the car so he’s ready for the trip. A dog that has never been in a car before might be scared by the sound of the engine, strange smells, or the windshield wipers.
This article should have helped you keep your dog from running away. Share this post so that others can also learn from it.