In the town of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, a local hiker embarked on a trail with his dog when an unexpected discovery caught his attention. As he glanced down a coal pit, he noticed movement among some rocks—an indication of a tail belonging to Freddy, a missing 6-month-old golden retriever. This discovery marked the end of an extensive search effort in the region renowned for its coal mining heritage.
Collin Leiby, a dedicated hiker and professional photographer specializing in weddings, recognized the golden retriever immediately. Freddy, who had been the subject of a community-wide search, had been missing for a week, and Leiby, living just a few blocks away from the dog’s home, had been keeping a keen eye out for him. He stumbled upon Freddy on Sharp Mountain, resting about 10 feet down in a coal pit, seemingly too exhausted to climb out on his own.
“I felt a tear welling up in my eye,” shared the 33-year-old Leiby, recalling the emotional moment. As he called out to Freddy, the puppy slowly got up and attempted to make his way toward his rescuer. Despite icy conditions, Freddy managed to ascend partway up the pit wall. Seizing the opportunity, Leiby reached out, gaining hold of the dog. He then provided water, attached a spare leash, and safely led Freddy down the mountain accompanied by his own dog, Bass.
The joy was evident as Freddy displayed signs of elation, hopping and crying in gratitude, according to Leiby. It was apparent the young dog was eager to return home.
Pam and Joe Palko, Freddy’s owners, had left no stone unturned in their quest to find their missing puppy, gone since February 17th. Their efforts spanned using social media platforms, responding to various tips, and orchestrating a volunteer drive to distribute flyers in schools, churches, and throughout Pottsville. They even engaged search teams with tracking dogs and deployed thermal drones in their mission.
Though some areas were eliminated from the search with this technology, Freddy remained elusive as the chilling temperatures continued to drop across Schuylkill County, intensifying the Palkos’ concern.
“It was exceedingly cold out there,” expressed Pam Palko, a financial planner who balances work with motherhood. “Determination spurred us on; however, as the days passed, hope started to dim.”
Their day had been filled with another potential sighting that turned out to be a false alarm. As nightfall approached, Joe Palko received an unexpected alert from their home security camera, signaling the presence of a stranger at their doorstep—with Freddy. Parallel to this, a helpful neighbor, Dr. Carolyn Canizaro-Orlowsky, a retired veterinarian, reached out to inform them of the development, prompting the Palkos to rush home.
“He was understandably anxious, very hungry, and confused,” recounted Dr. Canizaro-Orlowsky of their initial interaction with Freddy. But upon seeing the Palkos, the dog’s demeanor shifted to one of happiness, complete with an excited wiggle.
The Palkos, who had recently faced the heartbreak of losing a cherished pet to cancer, had welcomed Freddy to their family to provide companionship for their other golden retriever, Harper. Despite the ordeal, Freddy emerged with a loss of approximately 10 pounds but is otherwise recovering well. The family extends profound gratitude to the entire Pottsville community for their solidarity and persistence in reuniting them with Freddy.
“This experience reinforces the importance of perseverance,” Canizaro-Orlowsky noted. “It’s a powerful reminder not to give up.”
