Saving Tonka & Little P: In Memory of Kris

TONKA and LITTLE P are joining our #OneLuckyPup rescue program under heartbreaking circumstances and we are asking our community for help. Shortly after SARGE (now known as SAM in honor of the dog whose story led us to cross paths with him) was adopted by his foster parents his new mom, Crysti, learned her cousin, Kris, died during a hiking accident in Colorado. Kris had been hiking with his two dogs, who were his life, and a friend, Mark, when they became lost. They had only prepared to be gone one day and after two days of trying to find their way back, without water or food, they spotted a creek in a canyon below. During the descent down the canyon to get to the water, with Kris holding onto TONKA and LITTLE P beside him, he lost his footing and stumbled trying to pull his dogs to safety. All three of them fell to the bottom of the canyon. Sadly, Kris died upon impact. His loyal and well-loved dogs sustained injuries but were alive. From the top of the canyon Mark, who could not get to them, lit signal fires and hollered for help. He was found the next day by search and rescue helicopters. When search and rescue got to Kris his dogs were next to him, having not left his body since the fall.

Mark refused to leave Colorado without TONKA and LITTLE P. When all three were stable and able to travel he picked them up from the local shelter where police had taken them and is currently making the drive back to Long Island to bring them to Kris’s family before he returns to Florida.

We can all easily place ourselves in Kris’s shoes and would give anything to ensure our own dogs were taken care of in the face of tragedy. His family, devastated to lose him, is overwhelmed with funeral expenses and unable to afford the extensive emergency surgery needed to save TONKA’s badly broken leg and the x-rays to ensure LITTLE P’s jaw is not broken. They are just as heartbroken to not be able to care for his dogs.

Our adopters are family and it is without hesitation that we committed to taking TONKA and LITTLE P into our rescue and rehabilitation program. When they arrive Thursday and will honor their dad by ensuring they receive the medical treatment they need. We will work tirelessly to find one adopter for BOTH dogs so they may stay together and heal from the trauma. If you can please support our rescue and rehabilitation of TONKA and LITTLE P to honor the memory a man whose dogs were his life and help ease the pain on his family, we would be grateful.

Mr. Bones & Co. is a 501 (c)3 animal welfare nonprofit. Your donation is tax deductible to the furthest extent allowed by law. For additional questions please email [email redacted]