Dog hitches ride with trucker to return to family

LINCOLN, Neb. — A dog-loving Nebraska trucker took a lost pooch on a long haul back to its family in Arizona.

Trucker Jimmy Dimmitt was in Ashland preparing for a trip to California when he heard from a Facebook friend about 95-pound bull mastiff Koda needing a lift back home to Arizona.

Koda went missing Aug. 4, the day Dani and Jason Windham were planning to marry at Holmes Lake in Nebraska. Before the wedding ceremony, Koda and the family’s other two dogs, Finn and Hooch, knocked down a fence and took off from the Windhams’ home.

The couple, their friends and family searched for the canines before and after the nuptials. Finn and Hooch were found by animal control, but Koda wasn’t.

Seven days after Koda went missing, the couple moved west to Camp Verde, Arizona, where Jason works for the sheriff’s department.

Koda was found after a farmer living near Wahoo, Nebraska, reported last Wednesday that a dog was chasing his cattle.

Koda, now 20 pounds lighter, was taken to Green Acre Veterinary Clinic where staff found a microchip and identified the Windhams as her owners.

The newlyweds wanted Koda back home, but didn’t have the money to fly her back. Sam Franklin of Lost Pets of Lancaster County put out a call for help that was ultimately answered by Dimmitt, who said he didn’t hesitate to offer Koda a ride back to Arizona.

He let the dog ride in the front seat during the 1,380-mile, 24-hour trip, the Lincoln Journal Star reported.

The Windhams reunited with Koda on Monday.

“Dani and Jason were so very thankful,” Dimmitt said. “I was glad I could do my part.”