Dog walks miles home after being lost over a week

If you're a dog owner, you probably can't fathom ever losing your precious pet. We put up fences, use leashes and train our pups with commands to come if they wander too far -- but sometimes it's just not enough.

Kris Anderson of Carlsbad, California, recently lost track of her shar-pei mix, Georgia, when the dog took off while they were on a hike together. Anderson was out with Georgia on the dogs eighth birthday at a nature preserve near San Diego.

Anderson, who is an avid hiker, tells HuffPost News that letting Georgia off-leash is something she'd done many times over the years. "It's her spirit, her bond, she likes to run and chase rabbits and squirrels. I heard her go after something and I couldn't see her. Day turned into night, and the ranger took the Jeep out as far as I could. And we couldn't find her."

Rangers told her that finding the dog would be unlikely because coyotes prowl the preserve.

But Anderson searched for days and after a week resolved herself to the fact that the coyotes must have gotten her beloved pet.

The very next day she got the surprise of the lifetime. Anderson says at about 8am Georgia suddenly showed up at the doggie door. "I thought it was a dream at first, and I couldn't believe it when I touched her. She's not a touchy feely dog, she just went on the couch with her legs stretched out and laid down," she told HuffPost.

The vet was just as surprised to see Georgia back and unharmed. According to Anderson, the dog was hydrated with a few minor cuts.

But, Georgia's return home is even more impressive than that. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the pooch walked 35 miles to get home, through a torrential downpour, rough terrain, street traffic and even fireworks on the 4th of July.

Now that Georgia is safe and sound, Anderson says she won't run the risk of taking her off-leash again.

"I wish in a perfect world I could leave her off-leash, but after what happened I think there's no reason to do that again. So I'm going to be a leash walker from now on!"