SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KRNV) — A dog that went missing during Caldor Fire evacuations in August was found near Lake Tahoe months later and reunited with its owner.

On Dec. 16, the director of animal response team Tahoe Paws Wendy Jones was notified about a dog that was located near Twin Peaks west of South Lake Tahoe.

The dog was in the snow, apparently unable to move, and was growling at the people who observed it. El Dorado County Animal Services Officer Kyle Shumaker was notified, but he was unable to access the area due to the five-foot snow depth and steep terrain. Jones called upon TLC 4 Furry Friends and Tahoe PAWS volunteers, who suited up with snowshoes, dog rescue equipment, and a sled from Officer Shumaker. The dog was tracked up the mountain, and finally found under a tree. At first he was not moving but eventually he opened his eyes and lifted his head.

They were able to place him on the sled and on top of a volunteer so he was kept warm and calm.

He was immediately turned over to Officer Shumaker who took him to a veterinarian.

Animal services officers found a microchip in the dog which led them to an owner in Riverside County. When contacted, the owner said that Russ had gotten scared and run off from his owner’s vehicle while he was in Tahoe for a job in August. The owner made a report to animal services and searched for Russ, but was then evacuated with the rest of the south shore due to the fire.

Russ and his owner were reunited when he was well enough to make the trip home.