Dog stands guard for a WEEK with her trapped friend until the pair were found together

  • A dog duo that had been missing for a week on Washington State's Vashon Island were lost when one of the dogs fell into an old cistern in a ravine
  • While one dog, a Basset hound named Phoebe, sat trapped, her Irish setter companion Tillie waited by her side
  • Tillie was also occasionally spotted outside the ravine, where she gained the attention of a passerby, leading to the discovery of the pair

By Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 15:30 EST, 17 September 2015 | Updated: 19:44 EST, 17 September 2015

Two dogs that had been missing for a week are now safely back home after they were discovered in the woods, where one had watched dutifully over the other as she sat trapped in a ravine.

The dogs, a Basset hound named Phoebe and a Setter mix named Tillie, went missing September 8 and as days went by without a trace, their Washington State owners feared the worst.

However, when a 'reddish' dog was spotted coming up to residents of a private property and before disappearing into a raving, the Vashon Island Pet Protectors (VIPP) got wind of the sighting.

True love: While one dog, a Basset hound named Phoebe, sat trapped, her Irish setter companion Tillie waited by her side for a full week

True love: While one dog, a Basset hound named Phoebe, sat trapped, her Irish setter companion Tillie waited by her side for a full week

The non-profit animal rescue group had been posting to its Facebook about he missing dogs for days and their work appeared to have paid off.

Volunteers from VIPP went into the ravine near where the dog had been seen and started to call out for Tillie, the red Setter mix, reports KING-TV.

'With a needle in the haystack hope we made our way into the ravine and after a bit of searching, finally heard that sweet sound we have been waiting for all week. A small one-woof response when we called out,' reads an overjoyed post on VIPP's Facebook.

The volunteers came upon Tillie, who had her head resting on the cement wall of an old cistern.

'Heart sinking...we knew that meant Phoebe was inside the cistern,' reads the post.

With all the time that had passed, the volunteers couldn't but wonder what state Phoebe might be in.

Phoebe was trapped in an old cistern in a ravine. Tillie stood by her side for a week, only walking away now and again to try to get help

Phoebe was trapped in an old cistern in a ravine. Tillie stood by her side for a week, only walking away now and again to try to get help

Thankfully, the ending was a happy one.

Phoebe was alive and perched atop some rubble, allowing her to stay out of the water at the other end of the cistern.

'For nearly a week Tillie stayed by her side with the exception of the few minutes of each day when she went for help,' said VIPP's Amy Carey.

Carey stressed the importance of staying hopeful--and vigilant--when a canine companion goes missing.

'My message to most people with missing dogs is that unless the dog is being seen periodically, it is likely stuck somewhere,' Carey said. 'That's where the amazing Miss Tillie steps in as the heroine of this story. Not sure Phoebe would have ever been found without her as they were miles from the last place spotted.'

 

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