Luna, a German Shepherd puppy, fell overboard from a fishing boat off the coast of San Clemente Island in February and was missing for five weeks. Miraculously, she swam to San Clemente Island and survived.
On February 10, about two miles off the coast of the San Clemente Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, Luna was with her owner Nick Hayworth aboard “The Elizabeth H.” Nick soon found that Luna was missing. He thought that possibly Luna had swam to shore, so he called the Navy. Hayworth insisted to the Navy, that he was 90% sure that she made it to shore because she was such a strong swimmer. Luna was never found.
Luna, rescued, safe and happy. Photo courtesy of San Diego Tribune
Haworth searched the waters for about two days and Navy staff also searched the island for about a week but found no sign of Luna.
What can only be described as a magical moment for civilians and the Navy, Luna who was lost at sea, was has made it back home. Then on Tuesday, five weeks after Luna went missing, Navy biologist Melissa Booker called him to tell him she had found Luna. Booker found Luna on the side of the road.
Luna was presumed lost at sea. Until Tuesday morning, that is, when staff arriving for work at the island’s Naval Auxiliary Landing Field spotted something unusual — a dog sitting by the side of the road. Domestic animals aren’t allowed on the island for environmental reasons.
Melissa Booker, a wildlife biologist for San Clemente Island for the Navy, stated, “She had her own personal Southern California Iditarod.”
Luna was a little malnourished and a bit shy but the energetic pup has been cleared for any diseases and given a token by the Navy.
A Navy biologist called Haworth, who was out of state working in the middle of a lake. Haworth was happy and grateful and thrilled that his dog had been found.
Truly an ‘Incredible Journey.’