Loyal Dog Discovered Beside Body of Owner Reported Missing a Week Ago

The body of a missing Arkansas man has been discovered a week after he was last seen alive.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Timothy Reels, 62, from Spadra was last seen on Monday, February 21.

Deputies were notified of his disappearance after responding to a 911 call received at around 4:30 a.m. on February 27.

Investigators conducting a subsequent search of Reels' property found both his cell phone and truck were still on the premises.

However, they did discover that a brown male pit bull and a Honda 4-wheeler vehicle were missing.

A ground search was then initiated with the sheriff's office receiving support in their efforts from Hartman Fire, JC Search & Rescue, JC Dive Team and Arkansas Game & Fish.

K9s, ATVs, boats and drones were all deployed in an attempt to locate Reels and his dog.

On Sunday, February 27, search teams found Reels' 4-wheeler vehicle abandoned around the Spadra Bottoms.

Reels' body was eventually discovered ¼ mile from where the vehicle was found.

In a further twist his pit bull was found still alive beside its owner.

The canine was successfully captured by the search team and has since been taken to a local veterinarian for further examination.

"Investigators are still on scene. They will work in conjunction with the coroner's office to determine time and cause of death," Johnson County Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook update on the case. "No foul play is suspected at this time."

Newsweek has contacted the County Sheriff's Office for comment.

Responding to the social media post, one user, writing as Virginia Rice, expressed her condolences, describing Reels as a "good man." That sentiment was echoed by Joann Smith who wrote: "Prayers for the family. Tim was a good man."

Many also thanked the authorities for rescuing his dog.

"This is heartbreaking," Kelly Hardgrave wrote. "So glad he was found and thank you for taking such good care of a very loyal dog."

Shauna DeeAnne Hamilton also commented: "Oh, this is so sad. But what a good dog. Bless his family and prayers for them in the coming days. I hope his sweet dog goes to his family where he will get the love he deserves and live out his life with a family that loves him."

The dog's determination to stay by its master's side is reminiscent of other stories of canine loyalty to owner's that had died. In Greece in 2019 a dog was found waiting by a roadside shrine erected in memory of his owner who was killed a year and a half earlier.

One of the most well-known examples is the story of Hachiko, a purebred Akita born in 1923, that was owned by Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at Tokyo University. The two were inseparable and every day Hachiko would walk to Shibuya Station when Ueno was due back home from work.

Sadly Ueno died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1925. But that didn't stop the loyal companion from waiting for his master. Until his death some nine years later, Hachiko would walk to the station and wait for Ueno.

Correction 03/01/22, 13:36 a.m. ET: This article was updated to reflect the fact that Hachiko died nine years after Hidesaburō Ueno, not nine months.