Dog named Bubba reunited with family 3 months after Arizona highway wreck

PHOENIX – Three months after going missing when the vehicle he was riding in rolled over on an Arizona highway, a dog named Bubba is back home with his family.

Bubba got lost after he and his owners were involved in a single-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 93 at milepost 147, south of Interstate 40, on Feb. 13, the Arizona Department of Transportation said in a press release Tuesday.

On May 7, the wife of Trooper Waterman (DPS didn’t provide his first name) saw an online post about the missing pooch being spotted near the crash site and told her husband to keep an eye out.

Later that day, a trucker called DPS to report seeing Bubba off U.S. 93 at milepost 148. The trucker left food and water behind when she couldn’t catch the dog, DPS said.

Watermen responded to the location and found Bubba, who appeared skittish and emaciated. He put out more food and water and figured he’d return daily to try and earn the animal’s trust.

Before leaving, he looked around to verify the location, so he could report it to a rescue group. That’s when he saw Bubba taking a post-meal nap.

Waterman was able to get a hold of the sleepy dog’s collar and lead him to his patrol vehicle.

The trooper drove Bubba to Mohave County Animal Control in Kingman, where the dog received medical care and his owners were notified.

Animal control officers then took Bubba home for a happy reunion.

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