Alaskan Dog Koda Vanishes for 9 Days, Pilot Baits Frisbee Fugitive

Dog Koda, missing nine days near Alaska’s Carmen Lake, triggered trending searches like “how long can a dog survive alone” and “does a pilot ever find lost dogs.” Pilot John Kagerer, lured by “a gut feeling,” landed his plane; Koda emerged, frisbee in tow, refusing to come closer than 10 feet. “He grabbed his frisbee ... and said, ‘No, I’m out,’” Lewis Ekle recalled.
After Koda’s frisbee-fueled escape, volunteer pilot Kagerer became the embodiment of the “lost pet search by air” query, deploying dog treats from his cockpit. Social media and “how to get a dog to trust you” searches soared as Koda circled the plane, requiring rope, snacks, and a surreal mid-wilderness airlift. “It’s just amazing to have him back home,” said Amber.
Koda’s nine-day Alaskan odyssey ended with a pilot, a rope, and a bag of plane snacks—leaving two humans, one rescued dog, and an unused frisbee waiting in Anchorage.