The bark was faint, carrying across a swampy stretch near the flooded DuPage River. On Sunday, after Bear had been missing for three nights, Eric Underwood heard it. He and his son, Trevor Underwood, followed the sound and found the golden retriever neck-deep in rising water, his collar caught on a branch.
Bear’s ordeal had begun Thursday outside his family’s home near downtown Plainfield, Illinois. His owner, McKinley Sochacki, said a man approached Bear, grabbed him and tried to pet him. Bear panicked, bolted into the street and was struck by two cars before disappearing near the river, according to Sochacki.
The search started quickly and grew. “We probably had 30 people searching the first night, and we still could not find him,” Sochacki said. Family members and other searchers kept looking throughout the weekend, putting up flyers and using a thermal drone.
Still, three nights passed without a sighting. Heavy rain had brought severe flooding along the river, adding urgency and danger to a search already complicated by swampy ground and a frightened dog who had vanished after the reported collisions.
When the family returned Sunday, the small sound Eric heard changed everything. Bear rarely barks, Sochacki said, but this time his voice reached the people looking for him. Eric and Trevor traced it into the flooded area and discovered the branch holding Bear’s collar while water rose around his neck.
Once Bear was freed, his family took him to a local veterinarian. He was examined for broken bones, then shaved so ticks and burs could be removed. His identified health problems were infections and rashes. No further clinical details or subsequent medical update were provided.
Floodwater adds risks for dogs and searchers
A missing dog near floodwater creates two emergencies: finding the animal and preventing searchers from becoming stranded or injured themselves. The CDC advises people to stay out of floodwater, which can hide debris, downed power lines, contaminants and sudden changes in depth or current. Even shallow moving water can be dangerous.
The RSPCA’s flood guidance says people should not attempt to retrieve stranded animals when doing so would endanger human life. Professional animal-rescue teams or emergency services are the safer choice when water is fast-moving, rising or otherwise hazardous. Searchers should also heed closures, warnings and directions from local authorities.
Flood exposure can matter after a dog is back on dry ground, too. Prolonged wet conditions can contribute to skin problems, while contaminated water may carry germs and other hazards. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory notes that wet conditions can increase potential exposure to leptospirosis and raise the risk of dermatologic concerns. Those possibilities cannot establish what caused Bear’s infections or rashes, but they help explain why veterinary assessment after prolonged floodwater exposure is important.
The reported vehicle strikes made Bear’s examination especially significant. Trauma is not always obvious from the outside. BluePearl Pet Hospital advises monitoring injured pets for changes including limping, stiffness, unusual breathing, pale gums, abnormal lethargy or loss of consciousness. A dog suspected of being struck by a vehicle should be evaluated by a veterinarian, and new or worsening signs warrant prompt veterinary attention.
Preparing for separation before an emergency
Bear’s family plans to get him a GPS collar. Tracking devices can be one part of a broader preparedness plan, but Bear’s story does not establish that one would have prevented his disappearance or led searchers safely through flooded terrain.
Ready.gov recommends microchipping pets, keeping contact details current and maintaining a collar with an identification tag. Its emergency-kit guidance also includes a backup leash and collar, veterinary records, and a photograph of the owner with the pet. Those measures serve different purposes and can help other people identify a lost animal or verify ownership during a disaster.
Bear is now home, resting with his canine brother, Gus, and the rest of the family. “Glad we found him because he’s part of the family, so anyone would do it,” Eric said. After flyers, a drone, heavy rain and three empty nights, the search ended because one dog who seldom barked managed a sound loud enough to be heard. Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
