In August 2025, 85-year-old Barbara Crosby went missing in Sonora, Tuolumne County, California. Her small dog, Poncho, was spotted after a Silver Alert. A driver followed Poncho down toward a steep, brushy embankment, called 911, and rescuers found Crosby sleeping nearby. Poncho later went missing too, but was found two days later, dehydrated and recovering well.

Sonora, Tuolumne County, California, United States

After an alert, a small dog appeared by the road

Barbara Crosby, 85, had left a senior living facility in Sonora. Authorities said she was at risk because of dementia and had last been seen on foot with her small dog, Poncho.

On the night of August 24, Brett Christopher saw Poncho while driving home. Because the alert connected the dog with the missing woman, he stopped instead of passing by.

Poncho went down, and people followed

KCRA reported that Poncho moved down an embankment beside the road. Christopher described it as steep and heavy with brush, the kind of place where a person almost had to crawl on all fours.

He called 911. Deputies and search crews came to the East Bald Mountain Road area, descended about 70 feet, found Poncho under brush, and then found Crosby asleep a short distance away.

The woman was saved, then Poncho needed saving too

The sheriff's office said rescuers used a basket stretcher and rope system to bring Crosby back to safety. Yet Poncho ran off before he could be secured.

Neighbors kept looking and left food and water near the area. Two days later, animal control found Poncho about two miles from the last sighting. He was dehydrated, examined by a veterinarian, and doing well.

Loyalty without words

Poncho's story is moving because it is not neat like a movie. He could not explain a location. He only stayed near enough, moved in the right direction, and gave people a chance to understand.

This archive records Poncho because sometimes rescue is made of several small acts: an alert, a driver who stops, a dog who does not leave, and a community that keeps searching.

Timeline

• Around 2025-08-23 06:30 Barbara Crosby was last seen on foot in Sonora with Poncho.
• 2025-08-24 A Silver Alert was activated.
• Around 2025-08-24 21:00 Brett Christopher spotted Poncho and followed him toward the embankment.
• Soon after Search crews found Poncho and then Crosby asleep nearby.
• 2025-08-26 Animal control found Poncho dehydrated but doing well after veterinary care.

Public source

• KCRA: Hero dog who helped lead rescuers to missing Tuolumne County woman is found