Rocky Survives 43 Days Lost in Rockies, Reunited with Owner

Rocky, a mottled brown-and-black Labrador-boxer mix, was reunited with owner Steven Maa on March 1, 2026 after surviving 43 days alone in the Rocky Mountains. Summit Lost Pet Rescue and local volunteers tracked, trapped and returned the emaciated dog to Steven; video of the reunion was posted by the rescue.

Steven had plans to ski in Keystone on Dec. 28, 2025 and briefly left Rocky with a pet sitter near Montezuma. Shortly after the drop-off Rocky broke free from his harness, ran down Montezuma Street toward Keystone and disappeared into the high country. The rescue team first spotted Rocky three days later but was unable to catch him, and a photo from that sighting was sent to Steven, who “confirmed it was ‘100% Rocky.’”

About 40 days after the initial sighting a tip came in with Rocky’s location. Summit Lost Pet Rescue tracked the dog and, within nine hours of the call, safely trapped him. Brandon Ciullo, co-founder of Summit Lost Pet Rescue, said, “Animals are resilient, tough and resourceful. They’ll find food, water and shelter.” Ciullo also noted this was extraordinary survival: “First time we’ve ever seen a dog last this long without us being fed and still survive.”

Medical checks followed the capture. Summit Lost Pet Rescue reported that Rocky had lost nearly half his body weight, dropping from about 50 pounds to 26 pounds, and he saw a local veterinarian multiple times for assessment and treatment. After receiving veterinary care to regain strength, Rocky and Steven finished their cross-country trip to California together.

The recovery operation involved Summit Lost Pet Rescue coordinating with local volunteers and supporters; Summit County Animal Control and Shelter provided photos documenting the reunion. Rescue team members used repeated sightings and a timely tip to narrow Rocky’s whereabouts before deploying humane trapping measures that led to his safe capture.

Some details reported in different accounts vary: one social-media post identified Steven as a New Jersey man and said Rocky was 10 years old, while local reporting lists Rocky as 11 years old; location references include both a Montezuma Street near Keystone and a header that read Montezuma County, which differs from the Summit County context tied to Keystone. The core facts remain consistent across reports: Rocky was missing for 43 days, was trapped after a tip, received veterinary care for severe weight loss and was reunited with owner Steven Maa on March 1, 2026.