The partner of a man who went missing near Chetwynd, B.C. more than six weeks ago says she believes their dog, which disappeared at the same time, has been found alive.

Micaela Sawyer says she believes a golden retriever found injured and emaciated last week is the same dog, named Murphy, that she and her partner, Jim Barnes, owned together.

Barnes, a paramedic, took Murphy with him before he disappeared. He was last seen on the Groundbirch Forest Service Road, about 60 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John, on Oct. 18.

In a Facebook post, and in subsequent text messages to CBC News, Sawyer said although the dog is badly injured and scared, she is confident it is Murphy.

Sawyer said she hopes the dog’s reappearance will give RCMP and search and rescue crews new leads into the whereabouts of Barnes.

The golden retriever that’s believed to be Murphy. The dog was found Nov. 28 about 100 kilometres away from Jim Barnes’s last known location. It was discoloured and emaciated, so further steps have been taken to confirm its identity. (Facebook/Maria Esau/Micaela Sawyer)

RCMP ‘aware’ of dog being found, haven’t confirmed ID

A picture of the found dog was first posted in a Fort St. John-based Facebook group for lost and found pets on Nov. 28. People quickly began wondering whether it might be Murphy.

The dog was reportedly found near Mile 95 Road near the community of Wonowon, about 100 kilometres northwest of where Barnes was last seen.

The dog was given to a Fort St. John vet for treatment and observation before being released into Sawyer’s care.

Because Murphy was not tattooed or microchipped, and because the found dog was emaciated and discoloured, extra steps were taken to further confirm its identity.

That included taking the dog to places Murphy was familiar with, including a local grooming parlour.

Shelley Donally, who owns the parlour, told CBC News that a vet tech accompanied the dog to her workplace on Sunday, where they tested how he reacted to having his fur and nails treated and compared it to pictures they had of Murphy.

Jim Barnes and his dog, Murphy. (Submitted by Micaela Sawyer)

Donally, who also breeds golden retrievers, says Murphy was a red-haired golden without distinctive markings, which is why the vet and Sawyer wanted to get additional opinions, especially since the nose and fur of golden retrievers can change colour with weather, diet and health.

“We did not have rose-coloured glasses on,” she said, noting that the dog acted like it was familiar with the parlour and quickly relaxed, just as Murphy had on previous visits.

A dog groomer who helped identify an injured golden retriever found north of Fort St. John explains why she believes it belongs to Jim Barnes, a paramedic who went missing in the region in October.

In the end, she said, “we’re very clear in our opinion that is Murphy.”

“It does look like he’s seen a lot,” she said, saying he had several puncture wounds.

Barnes’s grey Chevrolet pickup and his dog Murphy, in photos distributed by RCMP. (RCMP)

RCMP North District spokesperson Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said local police were “aware” a dog matching Murphy’s description had been found and that “investigational avenues are being followed up on,” but that she could not provide a timeline on when police would release more information.

A petition to reopen the official search for Barnes was started last week following news that another missing man, 20-year-old Sam Benastick, had been found alive after first being reported missing around the same times as Barnes in a different part of northeastern B.C.

Barnes had set out on Oct. 17 to gather firewood and potentially hunt grouse, Sawyer has previously said, and left with his truck, dog and firearms.

She reported him missing after he failed to return home for his work shift on Oct. 18.

LISTEN | Call to reopen search for missing B.C. paramedic: 

Jim Barnes and his golden retriever have been missing in the Chetwynd area since mid October