Reunited with man’s best friend

First he lost his house by fire. But then the real kicker came when his life companion took off apparently distraught over what had happened.
After the early March blaze, Steve Jensen of Hope experienced several restless nights wondering if he would ever be reunited again with his life partner, a black and white English Springer named Chelsea. The two have been together for nearly 11 years ever since Chelsea was five months old. 
“She’s like a wife to me,” said Jensen, who is single and lives alone with his dog. “She means a lot to me. She’s my companion and with me most of the time.”
The saga began in the morning hours of Monday, March 2 when Jensen’s house went up in flames after a malfunctioning wood burning stove ignited the single story structure. During the commotion, he put Chelsea in his truck next to the blazing house. Jensen suffered smoke inhalation while trying to put out the fire and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he was held for more than a day. 
Meanwhile, Jensen’s brother came to Hope to pick up Chelsea as firefighters battled the fire. When his brother brought the dog to his home in Owatonna, Chelsea escaped from him and bolted away. 
Upon hearing what had happened, Jensen admitted, “I was a little upset.”
But that’s when community organizations, a local radio station, complete strangers and even Jensen’s pastor sprang into action in an effort to bring a happy ending to what had already been a tragic week for Jensen. 
The Steele County Humane Society posted a notice on its website about the wayward dog. Within a day, the society had 5,400 views from around the county. 
A big break came on Wednesday when someone spotted Chelsea by Aurora Lutheran Church located on the eastern edge of the county. Acting on the tip, Sandy Miller, pastor of First Lutheran Church of Hope where Jensen is a member, drove around for nearly three hours looking for her, but she came up empty-handed with no sign of Chelsea. 
“We were all hoping and praying she would find her way to Hope, but she went east,” Pastor Miller said. 
The next afternoon a neighbor called KRFO-Radio reporting a sighting of Chelsea on 38th Avenue near Bixby. “I drove out there, but couldn’t find her,” Jensen said. 
Another call came in a short time later that Chelsea had been spotted on 38th Avenue east of Aurora church. Once he got into the area, Jensen found a couple pick-ups parked on the road with nobody around them within a half mile of each other. He saw someone by a shed located near by. 
At last Chelsea had been found—trapped by strangers in the shed. 
“She was so shook up and disoriented that she wouldn’t even come to me,” Jensen said. 
Jensen and the strangers who corralled Chelsea into the shed tried desperately for about an hour to capture her. She was trapped under a camper and Jensen crawled underneath in an attempt to reunite with his pride and joy. But it wasn’t easy.
Chelsea snapped and tried to bite Jensen. “She was being offensive,” he said, noting it was totally out of character for her. 
Finally Jensen grabbed a hold of her collar and made every effort to calm her down by petting and talking to her. Chelsea then realized it was her owner and after being on the run for three days, the two were reunited once again. 
“She was just so traumatized that she wouldn’t even come to Steve,” Pastor Miller said. “Once he touched her, it was all good again.”
Added Jensen: “I couldn’t believe that we found her after all that time. I think she was scared and disoriented from all the commotion (at the fire).”
By the time Chelsea was captured, she had been on the run for 12 miles and survived a couple sub-zero nights. Jensen said he is convinced she was trying to find her way back home. 
After the successful rescue, Chelsea was taken to Heartland Animal Hospital in Owatonna to be checked over. She received a clean bill of health. 
Jensen says there is no doubt he would have been heartbroken had Chelsea never been found. “I’m just thankful we found her,” he said. “I want to thank everyone for helping.”
Pastor Miller said Jensen is drawing on a lot of strength from the church. “It has been a real blessing to see the church in action,” she said. 
“It was certainly a happy ending to a long day and a sign of hope in a very tough week for both Steve and Chelsea,” Miller said. “We give all thanks to God for his love and grace shown through so many.”
Jensen and Chelsea have been staying with his parents in Medford and plan to have temporary housing this week. Jensen plans to rebuild his house in Hope. 
The church is planning a benefit for Jensen in May, though no details have been worked out. 
Though he lost his house and all his belongings, Jensen feels like a lucky person. He survived the fire and he’s been reunited with the love of his life.