Please get the word out to keep an eye out for a lost dog named Luigi.

"On Saturday, June 25th we lost our dog Luigi. We were at the 190 rod portage between Kawasachong and lake Polly. If you could help get the word out it would be greatly appreciated. We believe it's possible he might have been stolen by another group while we were moving our boats.

Thanks for your help, if you have any questions please let me know.

Contact Maxwell (952) 715-1770 or Zane (651) 995-1103"

I am so sorry. I hate hearing stuff like this. Will be praying for you and your dog Luigi.

Oh no!!!!! Damn.

Have them contact these people.

https://theretrievers.org/

Also contact the outfitters and radio station in Ely.

airmorse: "Oh no!!!!! Damn.

Have them contact these people.

https://theretrievers.org/

Also contact the outfitters and radio station in Ely."

Yes, should definitely contact the Retrievers.

The dog looks to be a mix - maybe lab and shepherd? Not a likely dog to be stolen in the BWCA. They need to get volunteers to help get some of the owner’s scent back up there.

Hope the find him or get reunited.


Hopefully stolen is just a first reaction. Another group may have him right now thinking they rescued a lost dog.

I hope they find Luigi soon. I’m always sad to hear this when a dog gets lost up there. With that said I have read that lots of these lost dogs gets back to their owners.

Best of luck hopefully you'll be reunited with Luigi

Very sad, hope everyone is reunited.

T

This is so sad. On the trail and the dog is gone. If I was in the area, I'd go search myself to try to find him.

Mike

Duckman: "Hopefully stolen is just a first reaction. Another group may have him right now thinking they rescued a lost dog."

Yeah I think someone possibly taking a dog they think is lost is much more probable than stealing someones dog just to take. Especially as the people noted already had 2 dogs? 3 dogs in a canoe, and 1 you don't know how it even reacts in a canoe sounds a little suspect that someone would even consider that.

My bet is the dog ran off trail. Hopefully they can locate the pup!

Googled and found a Reddit post by the owner with more details.

I'm still hoping if someone took him that it’s a mistaken Good Samaritan, but the owner seems pretty convinced.

Duckman: "... I'm still hoping if someone took him..... but the owner seems pretty convinced."

Easier to blame someone else than to admit fault.

Duckman: "Googled and found a Reddit post by the owner with more details.

I'm still hoping if someone took him that it’s a mistaken Good Samaritan, but the owner seems pretty convinced."

I looked it up too. If it did happen, then a leash would have prevented it. We have a purebred so we are always very careful of this happening.

I can't imagine that anyone would steal a dog up there.

Canoearoo: " We have a pure bread so we are always very careful of this happening. "

I wanted a pure bread, but discovered I'm allergic to gluten.

Banksiana: "

Canoearoo: " We have a pure bread so we are always very careful of this happening. "

I wanted a pure bread, but discovered I'm allergic to gluten."

I’ve been around dogs my whole life and as much as people like to think of them as human they are not (they are better most of the time :) )…anyway…a dog that has never ran off, always listens can in a moment become irrational and get spooked, see game they never have, get scared and just plain take off…making them more scared…,making them take off even further until they are miles away. People think they know their dog and that their dog will never do this…until it happens and their dog is gone. It can happen to any dog no matter how good of an owner you are.

I have no idea what happened…but since legally in the BWCAW dogs are supposed to be controlled at all times on portages how could of it gotten stolen? Obviously you would need to be able to see it to know it was controlled? You would see someone steal it? If it ran off then maybe someone thought they were helping…my hope is the latter and Luigi will be turned in soon.

T

Duckman: "Googled and found a Reddit post by the owner with more details.

I'm still hoping if someone took him that it’s a mistaken Good Samaritan, but the owner seems pretty convinced."

Was the dog tied up at one end of the portage? Why are they so convinced that there was foul play?

From the Reddit feed, seems like an issue of location, timing, and gut feeling.

Basically the standard “my dog would never just bolt away, so it must have been those guys we thought looked shady.”

A1t2o: "

Duckman: "Googled and found a Reddit post by the owner with more details.

I'm still hoping if someone took him that it’s a mistaken Good Samaritan, but the owner seems pretty convinced."

Was the dog tied up at one end of the portage? Why are they so convinced that there was foul play?"

Was to dog tied up is the obvious question. A leash on a dog is like a lifejacket on a person. Sadly, we see lost dogs every summer in the bwca in recent years. Hope you find your dog!

I can feel the pain of the owners. However there is a lesson here. Here is the rule directly from the forest service:

Dogs are allowed in the BWCAW and Quetico Park. In the Quetico Park you must carry certification of a rabies vacination within the last year. Dogs must be kept on a leash when portaging in the BWCA, and in the Quetico park, they must always be on a leash.

I have yet, in 16 trips to the BWCA, ran into any group with a dog on portages where the dog was on a leash. I have always owned and loved dogs. But if I am carrying a canoe or a heavy pack I don't want to run into a dog off leash that wants to jump up on me and play.

To me this is another example of picking and choosing the rules that are absolute in the BWCA. Never more then 9 people or 4 canoes. Leave no trace. No cans or glass. etc. HOwever when it comes to this rule, I have yet to see anyone comply with it.

ockycamper: "I can feel the pain of the owners. However there is a lesson here. Here is the rule directly from the forest service:

Dogs are allowed in the BWCAW and Quetico Park. In the Quetico Park you must carry certification of a rabies vacination within the last year. Dogs must be kept on a leash when portaging in the BWCA, and in the Quetico park, they must always be on a leash.

I have yet, in 16 trips to the BWCA, ran into any group with a dog on portages where the dog was on a leash. I have always owned and loved dogs. But if I am carrying a canoe or a heavy pack I don't want to run into a dog off leash that wants to jump up on me and play.

To me this is another example of picking and choosing the rules that are absolute in the BWCA. Never more then 9 people or 4 canoes. Leave no trace. No cans or glass. etc. HOwever when it comes to this rule, I have yet to see anyone comply with it."

+1.

No matter how much you "trust" or "know" your dog, a leash is the humane thing to do in the BWCA.

How dogs will act when stressed by a strange environment and encountering humans and other animals in that environment is a crap shoot. Anyone who says they "know/trust" how their dog will react is kidding themselves. Has their dog encountered a moose? Bear? Wolf? Pine Marten? Porcupine? Lynx? etc. There was just a thread about mountain lions in the area. A dog tied alone at the end of a portage reminds me of the goat scene in Jurassic Park.

On top of that, there has been more than one dog lost when it runs away at the first flash of lightning and crash of thunder. Even when it doesn't react that way at home. Think of all the new odors, sounds, winds, etc and then add a blinding flash of light and a horrifyingly loud sound. Even our first instinct is to run away! Dogs cannot deny their instinct and with an adrenaline rush pushing them into fight or flight mode it is hard to imagine that more aren't lost.

Many dogs have been found by leaving a piece of familiar clothing with the smell they will return and wait there at that site.

ockycamper: " Here is the rule directly from the forest service:

Dogs are allowed in the BWCAW and Quetico Park. In the Quetico Park you must carry certification of a rabies vacination within the last year. Dogs must be kept on a leash when portaging in the BWCA, and in the Quetico park, they must always be on a leash."

I do not believe this comes directly from the US Forest Service. After all, why in the world would the Forest Service even mention what rules apply in Quetico which is way out of their jurisdiction? This looks to me like an outfitter or someone’s inaccurate interpretation. Please provide a link if you found this somewhere on a USFS site.

The rules according to the USFS BWCAW Trip PLanning Guide , on page 7, says “Dogs must be under human control at all times”. It does not specify or imply a leash must be used. The same verbiage is used on the SNF BWCAW Regulations and Rules page.

If the dog was under human control this thread would not exist.

Jaywalker: "

ockycamper: " Here is the rule directly from the forest service:


Dogs are allowed in the BWCAW and Quetico Park. In the Quetico Park you must carry certification of a rabies vacination within the last year. Dogs must be kept on a leash when portaging in the BWCA, and in the Quetico park, they must always be on a leash."

I do not believe this comes directly from the US Forest Service. After all, why in the world would the Forest Service even mention what rules apply in Quetico which is way out of their jurisdiction? This looks to me like an outfitter or someone’s inaccurate interpretation. Please provide a link if you found this somewhere on a USFS site.


The rules according to the USFS BWCAW Trip PLanning Guide , on page 7, says “Dogs must be under human control at all times”. It does not specify or imply a leash must be used. The same verbiage is used on the SNF BWCAW Regulations and Rules page. "

You are correct. I took it from an outfitter site where they had a list of the BWCA rules and regs. So I called the Forest Service. The rule is "under owner's control at all times". I asked them what this means. They said dogs are not allowed to be out of the owner's sight at any time, running ahead on portages, or roaming in the woods at base camps or portages. In short, they are required to be literally with the owner, under control, wherever in the BWCA they are.

I have yet to see that being the case when I have run into dogs on portages, entry points or camp sites.

Maiingan: "If the dog was under human control this thread would not exist."

Exactly.

Wow, tough crowd. The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog and he gets nothing but flack and lectures

dschult2: "Wow, tough crowd. The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog and he gets nothing but flack and lectures
"

I agree. I feel terrible for them and the dog. Everyone be nice. Anyone that loves the B-dub has got their shit together in my book. I hope Luigi finds his way home!

bobbernumber3: "

Maiingan: "If the dog was under human control this thread would not exist."

Exactly."

No shit Sherlock. You two are so helpful!

Last year I had to chase a couple of wolves away from my dog on the portage to Winchell from Brule. My dog was only 20 yards away and the wolves had no fear of me. That was a frightening experience. Dogs may keep the bears away but the wolves seem to enjoy their company.

dschult2: "Wow, tough crowd. The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog and he gets nothing but flack and lectures
"

Same nonsense went down on the reddit thread on this topic a few days ago. Got nothing nice or helpful? Keep it to yourself. Kicking people while they are down makes you a mean person.


I hope Luigi gets found.

OMGitsKa: "

bobbernumber3: "

Maiingan: "If the dog was under human control this thread would not exist."

Exactly."

No shit Sherlock. You two are so helpful! "

The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog....

I don't think the owner is part of this discussion (?) I am hoping people in this discussion realize the need to keep control of their dog to prevent another lost dog. Signed, Sherlock.

dew042: "

dschult2: "Wow, tough crowd. The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog and he gets nothing but flack and lectures
"

Same nonsense went down on the reddit thread on this topic a few days ago. Got nothing nice or helpful? Keep it to yourself. Kicking people while they are down makes you a mean person.



I hope Luigi gets found.


"

I’m confused…what does being helpful or nice mean? Every single year there are multiple post of people losing dogs…many times the dog is lost forever to die a horrible death in the elements because their human owner decided to bring them along for their comfort…not the dogs…

Multiple people have noted most if not all dog owners they encounter don’t follow the rules…I wouldn’t say that’s my observation, but I’d say it’s bad enough I am surprised when I meet a dog controlled by their owner…in this case it is obvious the owner didn’t follow the rules…

Maybe pointing out that if people follow the rules with their dog, maybe reconsider taking their dog based on its training or their ability to follow the rules will save a few dogs lives. I don’t know…that seems “nicer” and more “helpful” to me, than oh well I hope you find your dog and pretend this isn’t a problem or they didn’t screw up. The latter post will not save one single future dog…the former has a chance. On this issue I am on the dogs side and this is a problem that seems to be getting worse. I get that it comes off as not nice but positive change often comes out of speaking the truth…while ignoring the obvious perpetuates the problem.

So I think there is room for both types of posts…hey try this, call here…AND but this is why this happens and it was totally preventable.

I hope Luigi is found…I love dogs..but if he dies…this is the owners fault plain and simple. I hope others take note and do a better job so I never read one of these posts again. I also still feel bad for the owner. Just not going to pretend there isn’t an issue…and I’ll be shocked if this is the last post I read like this even this year.

bobbernumber3:
"The guy is simply asking for help locating his missing dog....

I don't think the owner is part of this discussion (?) I am hoping people in this discussion realize the need to keep control of their dog to prevent another lost dog. "

Thus making your grumbling even more nonsensical.

Calm ...

I took my Brittany up there once and even though he was exposed to the field (he was a hunting dog), and as obedient as a dog can be, ultimately I stopped taking him because he was miserable up there. Bugs and rain the two things at the top of the list.

Consider this is my advice: Is the dog exposed to real wildlife and are you sure the dog will enjoy him/herself.

I really hope Luigi makes his way home. I hate seeing these stories.

dew042: "

Thus making your grumbling even more nonsensical."

Attempt to clarify... the owner of this dog is not asking for help in this discussion, because the owner of this dog is not posting here.

I am hoping people reading and posting here realize the need to keep control of their dog to prevent another lost dog.

okinaw55: "Calm ...


I took my Brittany up there once and even though he was exposed to the field (he was a hunting dog), and as obedient as a dog can be, ultimately I stopped taking him because he was miserable up there. Bugs and rain the two things at the top of the list.


Consider this is my advice: Is the dog exposed to real wildlife and are you sure the dog will enjoy him/herself.


I really hope Luigi makes his way home. I hate seeing these stories."

I've taken my older heeler with me every time over the last decade. She and I spend a lot of time in the woods, and it has been a great experience. A true velcro dog that has never been a barker. She figured out portaging, loading, and unloading fast and always treated it like a job. People and animals couldn't distract her from getting the "job" done. She's gone blind on me, so her BWCA days are over.

I've got a younger heeler that's a year old. I have/had high hopes that she'd be an equally good dog for canoe camping, but at one year old I can tell she's probably not going to have the temperament for it. A lot factors in on that - her tendency to bark, her being more insistently social than the other dog, etc. She will never be as chill about everything as my other heeler and the steps I would have to take to maintain "control" over her would probably take most of the fun out of the trip for both of us.

It's really a judgment call you have to make about each dog.

I think much of the criticism comes from the fact they start with saying that the dog may have been stolen putting the blame on someone else.

whyzata: "Last year I had to chase a couple of wolves away from my dog on the portage to Winchell from Brule. My dog was only 20 yards away and the wolves had no fear of me. That was a frightening experience. Dogs may keep the bears away but the wolves seem to enjoy their company. "

When I lived in Alaska and would take my dog with me on backpacking adventures I always kept her on a leash, particularly when going through heavy cover or when we were in areas with lots of trees. The reason was because of bears. The last thing we wanted was for our dog to run ahead on the trail and encounter a bear and then come running back to us bringing the bear along behind her. I brought my dog in the backcountry for companionship but she was not part of the wilderness, just as I wasn't either, so I wasn't bringing her as a bear deterrent. Hopefully this lost dog, who was visiting the wilderness and is now somewhere in that wilderness which isn't his home, finds its way back safely.

I love dogs but I don't love dogs on trips and I will never camp with dogs.

My brother used to bring his dog on our quetico trips and that damn dog wouldr run off in the woods and come back covered in human feces from rolling it in.
Tom

timatkn: "I’m confused…what does being helpful or nice mean? Every single year there are multiple post of people losing dogs…many times the dog is lost forever to die a horrible death in the elements because their human owner decided to bring them along for their comfort…not the dogs…


Multiple people have noted most if not all dog owners they encounter don’t follow the rules…I wouldn’t say that’s my observation, but I’d say it’s bad enough I am surprised when I meet a dog controlled by their owner…in this case it is obvious the owner didn’t follow the rules…


Maybe pointing out that if people follow the rules with their dog, maybe reconsider taking their dog based on its training or their ability to follow the rules will save a few dogs lives. I don’t know…that seems “nicer” and more “helpful” to me, than oh well I hope you find your dog and pretend this isn’t a problem or they didn’t screw up. The latter post will not save one single future dog…the former has a chance. On this issue I am on the dogs side and this is a problem that seems to be getting worse. I get that it comes off as not nice but positive change often comes out of speaking the truth…while ignoring the obvious perpetuates the problem.

So I think there is room for both types of posts…hey try this, call here…AND but this is why this happens and it was totally preventable.

I hope Luigi is found…I love dogs..but if he dies…this is the owners fault plain and simple. I hope others take note and do a better job so I never read one of these posts again. I also still feel bad for the owner. Just not going to pretend there isn’t an issue…and I’ll be shocked if this is the last post I read like this even this year."

Well said.

All the hopes and prayers and kind words aren't going to save that dog at this point. A dose of reality may save someone else's dog in the future.

An additional, sobering point for everyone who thinks "I know my dog, my dog would never run off and would never act aggressively," etc: Years ago my wife's 4 yo brother was killed by two neighbor dogs while playing in his own driveway. Those dogs were beloved pets and had never given the slightest clue that they were capable of this kind of behavior. Simply put you cannot control an animal with your own confidence and faith. Control requires a physical component at all times.

I think I would start by mounting a couple trail cameras on the portage, to see if the dog is frequenting the area.

My wife and I are likely going thru there next weekend. we will keep an eye out for Luigi.