Tail-wagging reunion: Bend veteran’s lost support dog back home

Many dogs become lost on the High Desert, often prompting intense searches to find them. A Bend veteran of the war in Afghanistan had been looking for his service dog in training since he ran away near Camp Sherman almost two weeks ago. After numerous tips, a happy reunion came Thursday.

Shaak-Ti (pronounced shock-tea) became separated from Jack Matson at Jack Lake Road near Camp Sherman after a gunshot was heard nearby while they were out camping.

Friends and others who heard of Matson’s plight came to his aid this week, as he passed out flyers at campsites in the area.

It all paid off Thursday.

“I just finished cleaning her and everything,” Matson emailed to NewsChannel 21 Thursday night.

“She’s safe, and we are both so happy,” he said. “I teared up when I got to hold my friend again. She is a little underweight, but that will be dealt with.”

“We had received many tips today by phone, even when I went out there,” Matson added. “She had run from anyone who called her name. As soon as I spotted her, she ran into my arms when I called her!”

The small 3 1/2-year-old Rottweiler is a support dog Matson is getting trained as a service dog. She has a white spot on the chest and wears a camouflage service vest with information about Shaak-Ti and Matson on it.

Matson said there have been numerous sightings in the past few days. Matson and those helping look for the dog had said she is a calm, friendly dog but was very skittish and between the fish hatchery and pioneer camp, in a residential area.

Matson said he was in the Army for five years, 2008-13, in airborne infantry, with two tours to Afghanistan.

“This is not just a dog,” Matson said of his then-lost dog. “She is my friend and she is very important to me. It’s been too long. She needs to be back home.”

And now she is. As Matson made plans to camp again in the area, in hopes she’d smell her dog bed and come running, Thursday’s reunion happened.

“I am surprised how much community help I received,” he said. “Not common where I am from.”