Tuesday, June 17, 2025
59.0°F

Pawsitive outcome for missing dog search

AMY QUINLIVAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 1 week AGO
by AMY QUINLIVAN
Mineral Independent | March 12, 2025 12:00 AM

On Monday, March 3, a 2005 Honda Civic was reported stolen in Missoula. After a cross-county and state border hopping chase, the 34-year-old suspect was finally apprehended in Kootenai County, Idaho.

He is currently being held in jail on multiple felony charges. After Idaho police recovered the car, the owner of the vehicle, Kelly Woll, was most concerned about her missing dog. Butters, a 14-year-old miniature schnauzer, was not inside the vehicle. 

Word quickly spread along the communities of I-90, and local citizens set about looking for Butters. By Wednesday morning, the little schnauzer's face had been shared all around Facebook, and towns along the interstate had residents searching near the busy roadway. 

One thoughtful Alberton resident keeping her eyes peeled was Olivia Hoffner. She found Butters Wednesday morning, bringing a happy ending to a nerve-wracking ordeal. 

Hoffner mentioned, "I found the dog this morning when I was taking my daughter to school. He was wandering around the dirt pullout next to Exit 75. There was an empty vehicle and no one around, and I remembered the post I shared. I called his name, and he responded, so my daughter and I caught him." 

Hoffner reached out to the owner and reunited Butters that same day. 

The dog appeared to be unharmed, considering all it had been through. 

Hoffner said, "He was just cold and scared!" 

She then drove Butters to Missoula to get him back to his owner. For such a ruff day - it's great to see a pawsitive outcome.

MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES

Kalispell
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 18 years, 2 months ago
Car thief makes quick grocery run
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 6 years, 6 months ago
Car thief makes quick grocery run
Bigfork Eagle | Updated 6 years, 6 months ago

ARTICLES BY AMY QUINLIVAN

New law benefits small timber projects
June 4, 2025 midnight

New law benefits small timber projects

For landowners, loggers, sawmills and those who manage the state’s natural resources, Montana House Bill 79 is an all-around win. Passed in April, this new bill creates a small timber sale exemption primarily for property owners to clear landings for a homesite, reduce wildfire risk by thinning, or clean up damage after wind events.

PHOTOS St. Regis Memorial Day Flea Market
May 28, 2025 midnight

PHOTOS St. Regis Memorial Day Flea Market

St. Regis Memorial Day Flea Market

Mobile pet clinic parks at St. Regis Senior Center
May 14, 2025 midnight

Mobile pet clinic parks at St. Regis Senior Center

Starting in June, the St. Regis Senior Center will be hosting a mobile pet care clinic on the first Friday of every month, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Melanie McInroe, the owner of Mel’s Mobile Pet Care, is looking forward to bringing this service to the area.