Community Corner

Hutch the Beagle Returns Home After 12-Day Adventure

The 8-year-old beagle/basset-mix went missing on Sunday, July 28, when he joined his owner to watch some goats eating blackberry bushes near the Taco Time in Enumclaw.

After spending nearly two weeks away from home, Hutch is back enjoying his daily routine.

"He's on the couch, doing his thing and very, very hungry as always," Hutch's owner Mark Kullberg told Patch on Monday.

Hutch's hunger for adventure sent him on a 12-day journey when he joined Kullberg's wife Susan on Sunday, July 28, to watch some goats munching on blackberry bushes near the Taco Time in Enumclaw.

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Not knowing that the goats were penned inside an electric fence, Hutch got too close, shocked his nose on the wire and panicked--that's what started the whole thing, Mark Kullberg said.

He said Hutch wasn't wearing a collar at the time.

Find out what's happening in Enumclawwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The emotional journey came to an end on Friday morning when the couple received a call at 3 a.m. about a beagle running up Highway 410 near Corliss--just minutes from their home.

Mark Kullberg rushed to the scene, but by the time he got there, Hutch had scurried off and no where to be found. 

Around 4 a.m., a cake decorator at QFC was driving to work and saw a beagle near 284th Avenue SE and SE 432nd Street.

While Mark Kullberg was headed to the area, the 8-year-old beagle/basset-mix continued to travel north past SE 416th Street.

Finally around 6 a.m., an Enumclaw Police officer spotted Hutch and stopped to keep an eye on him. 

"We tried to stay calm, but we were unbelievably emotional," Mark Kullberg recalled. "We tried to let him catch our scent and offer him food."

During the 12-day search, a dog expert had instructed the Kullbergs to avoid calling for Hutch or look directly in his eyes due to the possibility of scaring him off in the opposite direction. 

While the owners tried to remain casual, Hutch turned and trotted off into a ditch and climbed back up into a tall grassy area. 

"He wasn't really trying to get away, but he was trying to stay away," Mark Kullberg said. 

He said he had some cat food and followed him into the grassy area, where he was able to grab Hutch for a tearful reunion. 

Overwhelmed with emotions, Mark Kullberg said he and Susan were in shock.

"Because it had been so long, we were…I don't want to say we were losing hope, but a lot of our hopes were dashed," he said. "You see the happy ending on a TV movie where the dog comes running to you and jumps into your arm. But that's not reality for the most part."

"It was heartbreaking to see a blank look on his face, but he did remember us after we got him. We hugged and kissed him repeatedly and he was wagging his tail," wrote Susan Kullberg on their Facebook page that kept the community updated during the search.

Soon after, Hutch was greeted with his favorite snack--a bag of carrots.

The owners took Hutch to his veterinarian and found several puncture wounds from possibly wandering through blackberry bushes or barbed wire. He also had bite marks on his rear from perhaps a dog fight or raccoons, Mark Kullberg said.

Despite the injuries, Hutch is expected to make a full recovery.

Mark Kullberg said he and his wife are grateful for those who called to leave a tip, stopped to help find Hutch or simply offered words of encouragement. 

"Hutch is doing well," he said. "We'd just like to thank the community of Enumclaw!" 


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