Kids & Family

Lost Dog 'Max' Comes Home After Two Weeks on the Loose

'Heartfelt thanks to all who called with sightings,' owner says.

Max, the missing dog with an orange collar who ran off near Madison Junior School two weeks ago and regularly was sighted around Madison and Florham Park, returned to his Madison home over the weekend.

The Weimaraner is about 20 lbs. lighter than when he left, but otherwise healthy, his owner, Rennae Hipple, wrote in a board post.

"Max the dog has been found!" she wrote. "Max came willingly Saturday afternoon and is safe, clean and warm. The vet gave him a clean bill of health although he is nearly 20 lbs lighter. Heartfelt thanks to all who called with sightings and for all the well wishes we couldn't have done this without your support. What a great community."

After he was reported missing, people noted Max sightings near Drew University, at Giralda Farms, and by the Florham Park police and fire stations.

Cindy Hayes Grenier said Max was "running strong" when she spotted him on Thanksgiving at Ridgedale Avenue and James Street in Florham Park, five days since he had taken off. He was too skittish to catch, though they tried for an hour, she said.

Recently, Max had been stopping by the tennis courts in Florham Park on Elm Street.

John Winter heard the news on Saturday from a Florham Park police officer when he went to look for him there.

"Good news, I was just down there by the tennis courts looking for Max and a Florham Park cop came up and told me Max was found this afternoon in good shape, so it's all good for Max!" he said.


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