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MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. -- A dog survived six weeks in the wild after being separated from her owner. Rosie, an Australian cattle dog, was the focus of a community-wide search last month.

Rosie's owner, Tim Daly, left her at a friend's house while he was fishing in a tournament. That's when he said she wandered off and never came back.

"She's my constant companion, she's always by my side," said Daly.

This launched a county-wide search. Daly said community members got the word out using social media, posters and car magnets.

"It's kind of changed my life a little bit because so many people went so out of their way to help us," said Daly.

Day after day, searches turned up unsuccessful but Daly never lost hope.

"I knew that she was out there somewhere and surviving," said Daly.

Several people had reported seeing the dog in the woods near Highway 70 so Daly set a humane trap baited with fried chicken, hoping to lure Rosie.

And it worked, hours later, Rosie wondered into the trap and Daly found her the following morning. "I kind of broke down a little bit and once I got to the trap and put my hands in the trap, she realized it was me," said Daly.

As for how she survived 35 days in the wilderness, veterinarians said canines are very resourceful.

"It's amazing the survival instinct of our domestic pets. Actually, the instinct never goes away," said Dr. Stephen Anderson.

Daly said they are more than friends, they're family.

"She's like one of my kids. It's tough to explain when they're gone, they're missing," said Daly. "The emotions you go through."