An elderly Saint Bernard had endured a long and difficult life before finally being rescued from a puppy mill.

The rescue service *Ruff Start* found her a foster family, and it seemed that this old lady’s life was finally about to change for the better.

However, what should have been the start of a new, comfortable life suddenly turned into a nightmare when the old lady disappeared into a cold, snowy forest, putting her life in danger.

The elderly dog, still very fearful due to her traumatic past, startled when she got out of her new parent’s car and bolted away in a panic.

She vanished into the woods, and her chances of survival in the cold seemed slim. She had just been shaved, so she didn’t even have a full coat of fur to protect her from the freezing winds and deep snow.

Despite intense search efforts, days went by without any luck. She was so frightened that she hid, avoiding all possible chances of being rescued.

With or without fur, it seemed unlikely she would survive more than a few days alone in the woods, let alone over two weeks. Hope of finding her alive was fading.

But the old lady proved to be tougher than expected. She wasn’t ready to give up and die, frozen and alone, in the forest. Perhaps deep down, she knew she deserved to be rescued and spend the rest of her life in a loving home.

Finally, after 17 long days, a call came to the Sherburne County Sheriff’s office about a dog stuck in the forest.

Rescuers from *Ruff Start* shared on Facebook that the old lady’s leash had gotten tangled in some branches. She was very scared, and they had to approach her very cautiously, but eventually, they managed to untangle her and take her to safety.

Once back at *Ruff Start Rescue*, she took a few days to recover from her ordeal, but soon enough, she was ready to return to her new foster mom.

Ruff Start Rescue announced the good news on Facebook, adding: “And yes…we have two leashes, a slip lead, a harness, and a martingale collar on her along with two handlers. We’re not taking any chances.”

They thanked the volunteers for helping to search for the old lady, as well as everyone who spread the word about her situation. “Awareness is what made this possible,” they wrote on Facebook.

At last, the hard days were over for the elderly lady, and she could finally relax in the warmth of her new home. She was safe, and would spend the rest of her life surrounded by love and care.