Many people who enjoy activities like hiking and surfing often take their pets along with them to enjoy the outdoors. Sometimes, though, the unexpected can happen. When two friends took a surf trip to Canada, they were completely unprepared by what they found.

Finding a lost dog in the wild

As Zach Regan and Matty Johnson were out on their boat at Vancouver Island off of the coast of British Columbia, they spotted a dog in a sea cave. Little did they know when they spotted the dog that she had been stranded there, all alone, for three months.

The pair spotted the dog as they paddled along the shore near the Juan de Fuca Trail.

“Glancing in the caves as we were going by I saw tan legs kinda walk out,” Regan told CTV News. “We knew immediately that it was in major distress.”

Rescuing the dog

The two surfers had been trying to beat an incoming storm but didn’t hesitate to stop and help the dog. Looking around, they saw no one else in sight. Johnson immediately jumped in the water and made his way to shore on his surfboard.

“All I had was a leash and some neoprene armor on and I was like ahhh I don’t know how this is going to go,” Johnson said.

Getting the dog to safety

Gaining the dog’s trust, Johnson was able to coax the dog over and placed her on the surfboard. Next, he paddled out to Regan who was waiting for the two to return to the friends’ boat.

“I came in with the boat, and I grabbed her before she sunk to the bottom because she was so weak,” Regan recalled.

The dog had been stranded for months

Once they had the dog on the boat, Regan and Johnson tried to keep her warm by snuggling with her. Before heading back, they also placed her in a surf bag, bundled up in a life jacket for safety. It was only after they got back to civilization that Regan and Johnson found out the dog had been missing for three months.

“It blew my mind. I couldn’t really comprehend that for a bit,” Regan said.

A happy reunion

It seemed the dog had become lost after accompanying her owners on a hike along the Juan de Fuca Trail. The couple had searched for their lost dog for months but had not been able to find her. They assumed the worst and were overjoyed when they learned their dog had been found.

A friend of theirs recognized the dog after seeing the story on CTV News. Fortunately, Regan and Johnson came along and were able to save the dog, who is named Stella, and reunite her with her owners.

For more on this dog’s lucky rescue, check out the video below.

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Source: Narcity Canada

H/T: Good News Network, CTV News