Dog Gone: A Lost Pet's Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home (published in 2016) is author Pauls Toutonghi's book about the real-life story of a golden retriever mix named Gonker, who vanished on a hike with his owner on the Appalachian Trail in late 1998. Gonker is suffering from Addison's disease; if he isn't found in three weeks, he will die. As such, Gonker's owner, Fielding Marshall, and his family race to find their beloved dog before he dies. At home, they set up a mobile command center and begin to feverishly search for their pup. However, they encounter numerous roadblocks, including poor weather and difficult terrain. They scour animal shelters, churches, community centers, parks, and community centers. In the end, they find Gonker, who is more than 100 miles from where they last were. Most importantly, he was safe, and they were able to give him treatment for his Addison's disease before he died.
Dog Gone was adapted into a film of the same by Netflix. Released in 2023, the film received middling reviews but was otherwise successful on the streaming service, where it was viewed by countless people. In contrast, the novel on which the film is based received exceptionally positive reviews. In their review of the novel, Publisher's Weekly said Dog Gone is "More a commentary on human nature, family dynamics, and past sorrows than a standard lost-dog story."
