Tiny Wiener Dog Miraculously Found Alive a Week After Being Thrown From Crash in Wyoming

What began as a heartbreaking tragedy on a remote Wyoming highway ended in an unexpected miracle when a small dachshund named Chewie was found alive seven days after being hurled from a car during a violent crash.

The Crash That Changed Everything

On October 23, Amanda Lohr and her boyfriend were driving from Indiana to visit friends in Portland, Oregon, accompanied by their beloved pets — their cat Newt and their seven-year-old dachshund Chewie. The trip took a devastating turn when an 18-wheeler semi-truck attempted to pass their 2005 Buick Century but misjudged the distance. The truck slammed into their car with tremendous force, sending it rolling three times along the highway near Elk Mountain, Wyoming.

The semi-truck continued down the road without stopping. Amanda suffered only minor injuries, but her boyfriend spent more than a week in recovery due to neck injuries. Sadly, their cat Newt did not survive the crash. Amid the chaos, Chewie vanished.

Despite an extensive search by police officers and volunteers, there was no sign of Chewie. Officers feared that the frightened dog may have either crawled away and succumbed to injuries or been struck by another vehicle. The couple was devastated. In addition to losing their pet, they had also lost nearly everything they owned in the wreck.

A Week of Despair Turns Into Hope

A week after the crash, Amanda received a phone call that would change everything. On the other end was Kenny Coomes, a FedEx long-haul truck driver who had been traveling between Salt Lake City and Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Kenny had spotted a small dog running near Interstate 80 — alone, frightened, and dirty, but alive.

Though Coomes tried to catch the little dachshund, Chewie was too scared and darted away. Shortly afterward, another couple, Scott and Kodi Allred, happened to be driving along the same stretch of highway. They, too, spotted the tiny brown dog running near the road.

Determined not to leave him behind, the Allreds stopped and gently worked to gain Chewie’s trust. After several tense minutes, they managed to slip a collar and leash over his neck and finally bring him to safety.

A Miraculous Reunion

The couple brought Chewie to the Laramie Humane Society, where staff scanned him for a microchip. To everyone’s astonishment, the chip identified Chewie as belonging to Amanda Lohr of Kokomo, Indiana — the same woman who had survived the horrific crash just a week earlier.

The Allreds shared the incredible news on social media, writing, “We found this sweet little wiener dog on Interstate 80 in the middle of nowhere near Elk Mountain, Wyoming. We thought he was abandoned, but after scanning him, we found out he has a pretty miraculous story.”

When Amanda got the call confirming that Chewie was alive, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She later shared on Facebook, “We thought he was dead because a teen told us he hit a dog near the accident site, and police wouldn’t let us check if it was him or not.”

A Story of Resilience and Kindness

Chewie’s survival became a symbol of hope and resilience for Amanda and her boyfriend, who had endured so much loss in just a few days. His return also highlighted the importance of microchipping pets, which ultimately made this heartwarming reunion possible.

Thanks to the compassion of strangers and a few determined rescuers, the tiny dachshund who disappeared into the Wyoming wilderness found his way back home.

As Amanda wrote after being reunited with her brave little dog, “Heroes don’t always wear capes — sometimes, they just stop on the side of the highway.”