N.J. police dog-in-training found day after running off after deer

Jack, an Ocean County Sheriff's Office K-9, was found unharmed Tuesday afternoon about 24 hours after he was reported missing.

The Chesapeake Bay retriever took off around 2 p.m. Monday during a training exercise at Allaire State Park in Monmouth County. Apparently, Jack still has a ways to go in his studies: Police said he became distracted by a deer and chased it into the forest.

Though Jack has been schooled in scent work and tracking, he was unable to sniff his way back home. A man found the dog around 3 p.m. near the intersection of Interstate 195 and Route 34.

Officers said they were glad to have their canine companion back in time for Christmas.