Norton family reunited with dog that went missing for nearly a month

NORTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A Norton family was recently reunited with their dog that had been missing for weeks.

Brooke Panek had been searching for her 5-year-old English bulldog, Sammie, ever since it wandered off from her backyard on Dec. 5.

She reached out to the Missing Dogs Massachusetts Facebook group, which rallied around her cause and put up flyers and noting every possible siting.

Panek said she and the members formed what she called “the Sammie Squad.”

“That’s just what we did for the past month of our lives, so I’m really appreciative,” she said.

Then, when all hope seemed lost, Sammie was found a couple miles away from home on New Year’s Eve.

“When I saw her I felt like she said, ‘Thank God. You know this is over. And I’m done and can be safe now,” Panek said.

Sammie’s collar was still around its neck, but much looser. The dog had lost 20 pounds.

After a couple of days at the vet, Sammie is back home with the Panek family, who will not be letting her out of their sight anytime soon.

“She survived a month in December weather. Cold, cold mornings,” Panek said. “I just feel like she’s a warrior, and she made it.”