Charlotte firefighter reunited with beloved dogs that ran off after crash

MARYLAND — A Charlotte firefighter whose dogs ran off after he was involved in a car crash in Maryland more than a week ago has been reunited with his beloved pets.

Brian Shelton told Channel 9′s Gina Esposito last week he was driving from Myrtle Beach to New York City with his dogs Ena and Caleb when a wrecker pulled out in front of his pickup truck.

He said when a passerby came to help, his two dogs jumped out of the open car door onto the interstate and ran away scared.

“The dogs were obviously very frightened, you know,” Shelton said. “They bolted down the highway back in the direction we had been coming from.”

To help find the dogs, a local animal rescue group set up traps in the area. Hundreds of people called in with sightings and hung up fliers. They also used professional pet trackers and drones.

After eight days of searching, the dogs were finally found and Shelton was given special instructions to lure them in.

“I had a treat in my hand and just kind of made wining sounds, almost like baby sounds, is what they instructed. Basically makes the dogs curious to see what’s going on,” he said.

Ena was found first Sunday morning near Clarksburg, Maryland. Caleb was found just a few hours later.

Both dogs had ticks, but appeared to be healthy and are back with Shelton.

“They immediately started whining, waging their tails, jumping all over me,” he said.

Shelton works at Engine 22 off west Sugar Creek Road and said while he was in Maryland looking for Ena and Caleb, he felt the support from his fire captain and the community.

“It was overwhelming how big it got and it just made me feel very humbled by it all, very grateful for it all,” he said.

LOST & FOUND: Community helps return missing dog to its owner LOST & FOUND: Community helps return missing dog to its owner

There is a GoFundMe set up for Shelton to help pay for transportation and medical costs.

Shelton said the vet is paying for his dogs’ check-up, but the money will be used for any additional medical bills.

He plans to donate any leftover money to the local rescue group that helped bring his dogs home.

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