Truckee's Animal Control returns lost dog to Sierra Pet Clinic

“It’s a New Years’ miracle,” said Anthony Quinterno of Nevada City. “We thought for the last eight days she was deceased.”

“She” is Daisy, a 7-pound, 8-month-old wire-hair dachshund.

On Dec. 22, Quinterno and his girlfriend Rachelle Chan were heading west on Interstate 80 after a visit to Cabela’s. The weather outside was frightful. They lost control, veered and crashed. Daisy jumped out of the car window and was gone — for nine days.

“So many people helped with the search,” said Quinterno. Russell and Kristy from High Sierra Tow (Linda Russell snowshoed for hours) MD construction, Jess Bailey and many more. “I got a call from a woman in hysterics, saying she hit and killed the dog. She couldn’t even speak.”

Daisy actually survived eight days of exposure and severe snowstorms. Truckee’s Animal Control officer Martin Schneider received a call and picked Daisy up at 2:30 p.m. He took daisy to the home of Sierra Pet Clinic’s Dr. Michael Ryan.

“It’s an amazing story,” said Dr. Ryan. “She did a lot of things right. I would have given her a 10 percent chance of survival.” Daisy was alert and responsive, although a bit weak upon inspection.

Owners Quinterno and Chan were ecstatic to retrieve the missing pup. “I couldn’t believe it, it was a one-in-a- million chance to get her back.”