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Mercedes is a mere shadow of her former self after spending more than two weeks lost in the wilds north of Payson. Erika Willison, Mercedes’ owner, said the 15‑year‑old Weimaraner is recovering nicely at home.
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Beer‑drinking dog survives 16 days lost in wilderness
by Jim Crawford

SCOTTSDALE – Imagine being lost in the wilderness for 16 days. No food, no water, no cell phone to call home and you haven’t the strength to yell, or in this case, bark for help.

Mercedes has a tale of survival to tell if she only could.

Seems like the 15‑year‑old Weimaraner dog went on an outing with Erika Willison, her owner, into the mountains north of Payson for a little rest and relaxation. Only poor Mercedes didn’t do much resting or relaxing after she wandered away from the cabin where Willison was staying with her boyfriend, Barry Myers, during Mother’s Day weekend in early June.

“We went up to the cabin on the Friday before Mother’s Day to spend the weekend,” Willison said. “She’s been going up there with me for two and a half years. I’ve got two other dogs, and I always take them with me when I go up there. That night she wandered away and didn’t come back. I was beside myself with worry. I’ve had her since she was five weeks old.

“I sent out fliers all over the countryside,” she said. “I figured she might be suffering from a little bit of doggie Alzheimer’s since she didn’t come back.

I stayed focused that she found a nice tree to lay under and went away peacefully. But I didn’t give up hope that she might still be alive.”

Sure enough, that hope paid off during the Memorial Day weekend when Mercedes wandered into a Flagstaff family’s camp after being on the lam for 16 days.

“She was five miles away from Barry’s cabin as the crow flies,” Willison said. “I don’t have any idea how far she traveled to how long it took her to get there, but it’s some very rugged country. You have to drag your camping gear with you. You don’t just pull up in your car and get out and pitch a tent. You have to really want to go to where they were.”

The Moen family took Mercedes in and gave her water and did the things you do for lost travelers. Then Thor Moen, an Arizona State University wrestler, carried Mercedes back to civilization as the family hiked out of the canyon.

“They had her a day before they could call me because there was no phone service where they were,” Willison said. “My phone number was on the tag. You should have seen how much too big the collar was when we got her back. She lost 12 ½ pounds.

“After two weeks, we pretty much gave up hope,” Willison said. “We went back to the cabin on the Memorial Day weekend and that’s when we got the call.

I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe they really found her.”

Willison took Mercedes to her veterinarian for a check‑up when she was returned.

“My vet calls her the dog with 18 lives,” Willison said. “She’s survived two stomach operations and swallowed a chlorine tablet when she was a puppy and survived that. Now this. She likes beer and eats tobacco. Maybe that’s why she’s lived so long. She’s a barroom dog.

“My boyfriend couldn’t believe it, either. He thought the Moens found the collar and put it on another dog. It froze once during that time. It rained for four days. Plus all of the wildlife. There are bears, mountain lions, coyotes. All kinds of animals. He said, ‘You’re so lucky. Tonight we’re going to the casino.’

“The Moens said they saw Mercedes’ tag and knew she was missed by somebody. That’s why they brought her out.

They couldn’t leave her up there to die,” Everybody likes a story with a happy ending.

“They (Moens) are wonderful people,” Willison said. “After 16 days you couldn’t believe how I felt. I don’t know how much longer she’ll live. It would be hard for any dog to survive an ordeal like that. No matter what the age.”

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