Police Officer Drives 650 Miles to Return Dog to its Owner

by Robert Hudson
When a New Jersey police officer, Wall Township Ptl. Frank Kuhl, of Howell, was called to the aid of a 34-year-old man in need of medical attention. He never thought he would end up driving the man’s dog over 600 miles to reunite them. The man from Myrtle Beach, SC was traveling with Bella, his basset hound, at the time of the incident.
Bella was taken to Monmouth County Humane Society to be cared for because her owner was in the hospital.
Police Officer Drives 650 Miles to Return Dog
The Humane Society said they would keep Bella for a week before putting her up for adoption. A week went by, and the sick man was still unable to take Bella back and neither the co-owner or any friends of theirs were able to make the trip to New Jersey to bring Bella home.
Ptl. Kuhl could not just stand by. He had to help.
“It pulled on my heartstrings a little bit,” Ptl. Kuhl told reporters. “I have two dogs at home, and I got a vibe that this guy feels the same way about dogs that I do.”
Ptl. Kuhl took Bella into temporary custody and made all the arrangements.
“My whole family pitched in a lot during that time,” Ptl. Kuhl said. “Bella got along great with everyone.”
On Aug 4., Ptl. Kuhl and squad mate Ptl. Michael Tancredi, made the nearly 650-mile drive down the coast to the door of the woman who co-owned the dog with the man still in the hospital.
“As soon as the woman opened the door, she was so excited” Kuhl told reporters. “She was calling to all her other dogs; ‘Bella’s home!’ ‘Bella’s home!’”
Police Officer Drives 650 Miles to Return Dog
Ptl. Kuhl says its an experience he won’t forget.