(Supplied)

By Haven Thibert

Southern Alberta community helps bring lost dog home

Oct 31, 2025 | 1:54 PM

What started as a worrying weekend near the Alberta border ended with relief, smiles, and tail wags, thanks to the Southern Alberta community.

Annabelle, a highly trained drug detection dog, went missing near the Coutts border, just south of Lethbridge, late last week.

For more than 40 hours, she was lost in the wild, prompting a search that brought together residents, hunters, and animal lovers from across southern Alberta.

Social media helped spread the word, with people sharing tips, sightings, and words of encouragement as volunteers worked to find her.

Searchers on foot and by vehicle combed the coulees and fields for any sign of Annabelle.

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The breakthrough came when a local hunter, following the story online, contacted a friend with a drone.

Within hours, they spotted movement in a patch of cattails.

When searchers looked closer, they found Annabelle — tired and hungry, but safe.

She has since been reunited with her owners, and photos of her safe return have quickly spread online, bringing relief to volunteers and anyone who followed the search.

Since returning home, her owners have reportedly been “spoiling her rotten”.