Hiker Finds Lost Rooster in Appalachian Mountains, Takes Him on 42-Mile Journey To Sanctuary
Heather Bolint loves chickens. She loves them so much, in fact, she calls herself the “chicken whisperer” and even goes by the Instagram handle @forthechickens.
“Whenever I’ve been around chickens I just kind of go crazy because I love them so much,” Bolint told The Dodo. “They’re my favorite animal.”
It is because of this that it is perfectly fitting Bolint would come across a unique sort of chicken as she pursued her lifelong dream.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail was always something she’d wanted to do. In 2017, she started out on the long 2,190 mile journey from Maine to Georgia.
It was during the lengthy trek that Bolint met a polish crested rooster, an “unusual breed” according to Pet Helpful.
“I was able to scoop him up and decided the only thing to do was to start hiking with him,” Bolint wrote on Facebook.
From there the pair became close friends. “All my friends and family were like, ‘Of course YOU would find a rooster in the middle of the woods,'” Bolint shared with The Dodo.
Unable to find homes where the little guy might belong, and without cell phone service to call animal control, Bolint knew she had to protect her new friend.
‘Eddie,” as the rooster was affectionately named, stayed with Bolint during 42 miles of her hike. When their journey came to a close, it was bittersweet.
Bolint took Eddie to Poplar Spring Animal Sanctuary in Maryland. Once there, his name was changed to Mason — the name Eddie was already owned by a sanctuary peacock, apparently.
Though they had to part, Bolint has taken time to visit the little guy. She’s glad he’s in a safe place where he can be with other chickens.
“Sometimes I feel that you’re put in a situation at the right time, at the right moment, for a bigger reason,” Bolint said.
Words well spoken. We’re so glad these two came across each other when they did. Not only does it serve as a fun story, it also shows kindness and compassion should be extended to all creatures great and small.
We hope this rooster loves his new home. He may be Mason now, but we’ve no doubt he will always be Eddie to the woman who hiked across states to take him where he belonged.
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