Missing Girls In Algonquin Park Found By Zoe The Labrador Retriever, Ontario's Cutest New Hero

Zoe the labrador retriever is being celebrated on social media.

Not all missing person cases have happy endings, but thankfully, this one does. The two missing girls in Algonquin Park were found this week in what is considered the best possible outcome for the situation. The three-day search for 16-year-old Marta Malek and Maya Mirota came to an end on Monday when the OPP’s canine unit discovered the pair just before noon.

The search party for the girls involved many moving parts, but as far as the internet is concerned, it’s all about the nose that found them.

The dog responsible for finding the lost teens, a Labrador retriever named Zoe, received all kinds of love on social media this Tuesday for her excellent work:

 

Zoe the Search and Rescue labrador is a true hero! She sniffed out the two sixteen year olds who'd been missing since Thursday in Algonquin Park. This good girl deserves a whole lot of spoiling. Great job, Ontario Provincial Police Canine Unit! ❤️🐾 https://t.co/hwlEkPLZyQ

— The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society (@OntarioSPCA) July 16, 2019

So happy the girls were found alive. Zoe the Police Dog deserves a medal, or at least a T-bone steak! https://t.co/vj8yyQpM4j

— Barbara - That Girl (@OverByTheRiver) July 16, 2019

I love stories like this. A happy ending thanks to the skill and temperament of a dog. Good girl Zoe!

How Zoe the police dog sniffed out 2 missing girls in Ontario's Algonquin Park | CBC News https://t.co/0NyrNaygba

— Angela Saini (@angelasaini) July 16, 2019

Good Zoe! Good dog!https://t.co/B5SLg6JnhX

— Michael Ras (@mike_ras) July 16, 2019

Well done, Zoe!!https://t.co/e4OL2PlrQq

— Younger1989 (@paulyoungcpa) July 16, 2019

Fixed the headline: How dogs are the best and Zoe the best girl saved two lives. https://t.co/odZvcWYPQc

— JMDavis (@JessMarinDavis) July 16, 2019

I love that Zoe, the RCMP dog who found the 2 kids in Algonquin, has a tactical dog collar. You never know when your police dog might need a Cobra belt to do some rappelling. pic.twitter.com/VnTUAngloK

— Joshua Hind (@joshuahind) July 16, 2019

Awesome! Geat work Zoe and handler...https://t.co/OtQUBeN6mm

— Jeff Easton (@jeffeaston01) July 16, 2019

Warms my heart. https://t.co/22XvDUw0Rn

— Maggie M (@moreofmaggie) July 16, 2019

Good dog, Zoe. @dog_rates https://t.co/SVx3LV0Ulu

— Yumi Webster (@yumikid) July 16, 2019

According to a report by CBC, Zoe and her handler officer Scott Gannon of the OPP Canine Unit were just two members of the Emergency Response Team. The team, made up one of the four Search and Rescue dog teams, had been flown in on float planes to help.

However, out all of the other rescue dogs, it was Zoe who showed notable signs that she had picked up the girl’s scent.

 

"That's what you want to look for when the dogs acquire a track. There's a physical cue or a difference in their behaviour," explained Gannon during an interview with CBC.
Malek and Mirota were found safe and in good physical condition.

"They were very excited and happy to see us, and we were the same way," Gannon said. "They both gave us hugs." Of course, they were also excited to see Zoe, asking if they could pet their rescuer."

 

I mean, do rescue stories get any more heartwarming? Everyone was found safe. It only took a few days to locate the girls, which is a miracle in itself and an adorable hero dog was involved. It doesn't get any better than that!

*Cover photo is used for illustrative purposes only.