Ringo, a young heeler-border collie mix originally adopted from the Casper Humane Society, has been returned to the Wyoming shelter after being reported as a found animal in Jamestown, North Dakota.
The dog was spotted last Wednesday in a Jamestown Walmart parking lot, sparking a coordinated effort among local animal service organizations and volunteers to bring Ringo back to Casper.
The process began when Rachel Hastings, a community service officer with the Jamestown Police Department, responded to the initial report and found Ringo’s microchip linked to the Casper Humane Society. Hastings soon confirmed that the people reporting Ringo as found were also his original adopters. Facing difficult personal circumstances, the adopters felt they could no longer care for him and had sought to rehome him but had found area shelters were at capacity.
Once identified, Casper Humane Society expressed interest in Ringo’s return, citing their adoption policy that prefers adopted animals be returned to their care if needed.
“We invest a lot of time and care for these animals and develop meaningful connections… We’re committed to ensuring their safety and to finding them a good fit in the long term,” said Johnnie Ramirez, manager of the Casper Humane Society.
In the coordinated effort, Prairie Paws Rescue and other volunteers worked together to transport Ringo back to Casper, with volunteers taking him through several transfer points across North and South Dakota to ensure his safe arrival. Kaye John, Prairie Paws Rescue co-founder, emphasized that their mission prioritizes an animal’s wellbeing.
“Volunteers are dedicated to doing what’s best for these animals, and in Ringo’s case, that meant returning him to his originating shelter,” John stated.
Now safely back in Casper, Ringo has settled back in at the shelter, where he will receive continued care, exercise, and socialization as he awaits a new potential adopter. Ramirez says the shelter staff is hopeful they’ll find him a home that suits his high energy and friendly nature, giving him another chance to be adopted into a loving environment.
The Jamestown Sun contributed to this report.
