Wyoming family searched 5 days for 120-pound dog, then he came running at the sound of their truck engine

Five days into a search across the ranch country of Wyoming's Natrona County, Kendra Green and her family still had no sign of their dog Tango. 

With a 120-pound dog missing in open land, they were left wondering how he could stay out of sight for so long — and whether they would get him back at all.

Here's what to know

Tango, a two-year-old Great Pyrenees, Maremma, and Anatolian mix, had been missing for five days after being rehomed to unfamiliar territory in Natrona County, according to Cowboy State Daily.

As the search stretched over mile after mile of ranchland, Green said the family began to fear the worst.

"There is a part of us that definitely thought maybe, you know, because he's a 120-pound dog. How does nobody see him?" Green said, per Cowboy State Daily.

A sighting from Jill Sisson changed the search. She sent the family a photo of a dog she thought might be Tango along with a dropped pin, and the Greens returned to that part of the BB Ranch area. They eventually found him about three miles from the marked location.

What ultimately brought him in was a sound he knew. Green told Cowboy State Daily that after days of checking backroads for their lost dog, Tango ran to Anthony Green's truck when he heard the engine.

Anthony Green said the terrain itself may explain why such a large dog went unseen.

"Well, there's a lot of draws in that country that you can't see down in from the roads, and my guess is the last few days we were probably driving right by him and didn't know it," he said, per Cowboy State Daily.

Tango made it through the ordeal, but the days alone had clearly taken a toll.

"He's skinny," Green said. "You can feel his bones."

More background

Tango is a livestock guardian dog, a breed known for roaming and working independently across wide stretches of land.

Green worried he could run into livestock and be killed by a rancher protecting animals, or simply keep moving through isolated areas where nobody would spot him.

When Cowboy State Daily first covered the search, Kathy Liles, who has worked with livestock guardian dogs, warned that dogs like Tango can go a "long, long ways."

Green said Tango appeared to have gotten into a fight while loose, leaving his face torn up and his legs and stomach marked by bites and claws.

She contacted her veterinarian quickly, and medication was ready by the time the family got back to Gillette.

Green had cared for Tango since he was roughly eight weeks old and rehomed him only after fights started between him and his brother.

What can be done?

Support came from beyond the family, including offers to use drones and even airplanes, while other people got in touch to see how they could assist.

The family intends to neuter Tango and his brother, keep them in separate goat areas, and see whether time and distance make it possible for them to live safely on the same property.

"Just don't give up. You just never know," Green said. "The amount of effort you put in really pays off, and the community helping really helps too. Just keep sharing it, get the word out, and more eyes on it, the better."

Where can I learn more?

These articles follow missing pets finding their way home and working dogs tracking wildlife, pests, and invasive ants.

• In California, an AI photo match brought Sweetie home from 33 miles away.

• In vineyards, growers found a new method of pest control with working dogs.

• In Australia, search dogs detect fire ant sites officials call deeply concerning.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.