Family of Hiker Who Went Missing in the Outer Banks with His Dog Shares Fate of Man’s Beloved Pet

The family of Chris Palmer, the hiker who went missing in North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is believed to have died, has shared an update about his beloved dog.

Chris, 39, and his dog were declared missing on Jan. 12 — three days after he last contacted his family — after his truck was found on a North Carolina beach, according to the National Park Service. After two weeks of searching, the Palmer family announced on Saturday, Jan. 24, that they made the “difficult decision” to stop all active efforts.

Chris’s father, Bren Palmer, also addressed Zoey — the 11-year-old German Shepherd who was missing alongside Chris.

In a Facebook post, Bren said Zoey had been seriously ill and that the family believes she may have died before Chris.

“She was a beautiful, well-behaved 11-year-old German Shepherd that he loved,” Bren wrote of Zoey and Chris. “She has been by his side since she was a puppy.”

Bren added that Zoey had been “very sick,” took multiple medications, and had severe hip dysplasia. Based on what the family has learned, they believe Chris may have spent time in the woods with Zoey during her final days. Bren said a shovel found in Chris’s truck contributed to the family’s belief that Chris buried Zoey after she died, then continued his trip to the coast.

Bren also thanked those who shared prayers and messages of concern for Zoey.

In his Jan. 24 post, Bren said the family’s decision to stop searching was made “with heavy hearts and profound sorrow.”

“We recently learned that Christopher was facing a terminal illness. Knowing this has helped us understand the choices he made,” Bren wrote. “Christopher loved the outdoors and valued his independence. The treatments ahead would have taken much of that away, and he did not want that future for himself.”

He added that the family believes Chris “perished in the sea,” calling the realization devastating but also something that has brought them “a measure of peace.”

“We are deeply proud of the man Christopher was, and we hope his story brings awareness to the emotional and mental burdens people can face during serious medical challenges,” Bren wrote, adding that the public support has been “profoundly humbling.”