A Canadian woman will soon be reunited with her dog after a tragic crash in Spencer, Idaho, last month that claimed her husband’s life and left one of the family’s two pets missing for weeks. The dog, a dachshund named Tessa, was found near the crash site earlier this week, bringing long-awaited relief to the family.
According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the 77-year-old woman and her husband, Terry Bertamini, were traveling along I-15 on October 23 when their vehicle veered off the road about two miles north of Spencer. Investigators say fatigue played a role in the crash. The driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to roll and land upside down. Terry Bertamini, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. His wife sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital.
The couple had two dogs with them during the crash. One dog, Sadie, was found uninjured and brought to safety by first responders. Snake River Animal Shelter, contacted shortly afterward, agreed to care for Sadie until the family could reclaim her.
Tessa, however, was missing. Shelter workers, law enforcement, and emergency crews searched the area but believed she may not have survived. After being discharged, Mrs. Bertamini returned to Canada with Sadie, uncertain whether she would ever see Tessa again.
Last Thursday, Evan Smith, an animal control officer with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, contacted shelter director Michelle Ziel-Dingman to report a possible sighting of Tessa near the crash location. A shelter employee set a live trap in the area, but no activity was detected throughout the weekend.
On Monday morning, Idaho Transportation Department workers Joe Branson and Kurt Beckstead checked the trap and discovered Tessa inside—tired but alive after surviving more than three weeks along the interstate.
“Tessa had survived,” Ziel-Dingman said in a news release, calling the rescue a “little miracle” during a heartbreaking time for the Bertamini family. She added that the family’s son will travel from Canada to Idaho this Friday to bring Tessa home.
The shelter expressed deep gratitude for the teamwork between state workers, law enforcement, and volunteers who helped make the reunion possible. For official pet safety and emergency preparedness information, visit the American Humane and Idaho Transportation Department resources.
