A Kelowna family’s dog is back home after surviving, escaping and running from a rollover crash.

Dearah Jordan and her mini Australian shepherd Daisy, 3, were on their way home from a lake trip when they were involved in a collision on Highway 33 near Kelowna, B.C. 

“The first thing I noticed was my dog was gone,” said Jordan, remembering the moments after opening her eyes once her vehicle stopped rolling.

In an interview with CBC’s Radio West, Jordan said she immediately undid her seatbelt, got out of her vehicle and started looking for Daisy. Despite the seatbelt burns, sore neck, scrapes and bruising, Jordan remembers being most worried about her dog.

However, she said her efforts to find her best friend were stymied by well-meaning emergency crews who insisted she be taken to the hospital for assessment. 

At the Kelowna General Hospital, she underwent a litany of tests and scans to confirm no serious injuries were hiding behind her scrapes, bruises and muscular pain.

“The doctor was wanting to get me out as soon as possible, because he knew I was wanting to go get Daisy,” said Jordan. 

“That’s all I could think about.”

Not far from the scene of Jordan and Daisy’s rollover crash, members of volunteer organization Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) and the RCMP were responding to a separate call. 

Forrest Kellerman with COSAR remembers hearing a chorus of sirens in the distance. He asked an RCMP officer he was working with what happened, and learned there had been a serious rollover. 

That evening, remembering the sirens, he searched for more information on the crash and found a post on Facebook pleading for help finding Daisy.

COSAR does not formally assist in searches for missing dogs, but Forrest said this story hit close to home and the rescue mission was personal — he and his wife Tracey Kellerman have two Australian shepherds themselves. 

They set out the next day and spent hours searching in the bush, using their training as COSAR responders. 

The following day, Forrest met Jordan and her husband, who had hardly slept since the crash.

They gave him more information about Daisy and exactly where the crash took place, helping to refine his search.

Again, he spent hours in his truck and on foot, methodically searching the area.

They were joined by dozens of other people who offered anything they could — from technical resources and skills like thermal drones, expert advice in finding lost pets, to a warm meal and fresh eyes. 

“People were bringing us food, satellite links, everything imaginable, like volunteers were coming out of the woodworks, just complete strangers. It was so emotional,” said Jordan. 

She said when she was at her lowest point emotionally, a stranger told her that it was their birthday, and they wanted to spend it searching for Daisy.

4 days later

Four days after the collision, and with a few promising sightings but no leads, Tracey insisted she and Forrest go out again. As they pulled up to the scene of the crash, she felt compelled to check the truck that had hit Jordan’s vehicle, on foot.

“I came down the little embankment, went around the bush, and we just were like, eye to eye,” said Tracey, remembering the moment she saw Daisy.

She said Daisy was laying down, in the passenger seat of the truck that had collided with Jordan’s vehicle.

“I’ll never forget seeing her,” said Tracey, still in disbelief.

Tracey said she quickly but calmly alerted her husband who was up the embankment from her, and stayed at the truck with Daisy.

Tracey said she spoke softly and moved slowly, to make sure Daisy stayed put. Forrest, meanwhile, zoomed in his truck to get Jordan and her husband who were searching in a clearing a little ways away.

“I just bawled, and I held her and I squeezed her,” said Jordan. 

She said Daisy was whimpering, a relief as she is often quite vocal when filled with big emotions.

“I felt so lucky and relieved and thankful.”

Jordan said she took Daisy to the vet, and the dog is in great health, just very sleepy from her adventure in the woods. 

“I’m a walking miracle, but we need one more miracle,” said Jordan.

The man who had been driving the truck that collided with hers is still in the hospital.

“Accidents happen. It was an accident. He has a border collie, and for some reason [Daisy] felt safe in his vehicle.”

Jordan hopes he is able to recover and get back home to his dog soon.