Blind dog rescued after 2 weeks in Alaska cold

11-year-old Labrador retriever wandered away on Feb. 6

A blind dog lost in the bitter cold of Alaska for two weeks found her way home last week.

The 11-year-old Labrador retriever named Madera originally wandered away from her Ester, Alaska, home on Feb. 6, according to a report from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

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On that day, the temperature in the area dropped down to 40 degrees below zero.

While her owner, Ed Davis, didn't expect to find her alive, a man riding a bike alongside his own dog found Madera in the woods about a half-mile from Davis' home last week.

Madera, who is completely blind due to an autoimmune disease, was only slightly worse for the wear after her ordeal. Davis told the Daily News-Miner that Madera had lost about 14 pounds but was otherwise healthy.

The man who found Madera, Constantine Khrulev, declined a $100 reward and instead asked that it go to the Fairbanks Animal Shelter Fund. Impressed by the gesture, Davis increased the donation to $250.