GREELEY, Colo.—A dog stood guard at her owner’s body for weeks after the man committed suicide on the remote northeast Colorado plains, living off mice and rabbits and keeping coyotes away, authorities said.
The body of 25-year-old Jake Baysinger of La Salle was found Sunday on the Pawnee National Grasslands about 75 miles northeast of Denver. Cash, his German shepherd, was found beside him, thin and dehydrated but alive.
Weld County Deputy Coroner Gracie Marquez said Tuesday Baysinger’s death was ruled a suicide. The cause of death hasn’t been determined but authorities found a gun nearby.
“At least we know it’s over now,” said Baysinger’s wife, Sara Baysinger. “We’d been looking for my husband for six weeks, and this isn’t how we wanted it to end, at least we can close this.”
Jake Baysinger was reported missing on June 28, and authorities say they believe he died that day. An extensive search failed to locate him, but rancher Kip Konig spotted Cash last weekend, went to investigate and discovered Baysinger’s body and his pickup.
Konig said Cash kept running back to the pickup and jumping into the front seat.
“I got the sense she was trying to tell me where her master was,” Konig said.
Cash was checked out by veterinarians and then reunited with Baysinger’s wife, Sara, and their 2-year-old son, Lane, on Monday.
“She was extremely excited,” Sara Baysinger said. “She scratched my chest. She was jumping on me and excited to get out of there. She got in the truck and was licking on me.”
When Lane saw Cash, he yelled and ran for her, trying to find some bones or treats to giver her, she said.
“He’s very close to that dog,” she said. “He’s very happy to see (Cash).”
