Dog thought dead in Tomales Bay boat accident found alive

TOMALES BAY, Calif. -- A dog that was aboard a boat that capsized Monday in Tomales Bay, killing a man on board, was found alive Thursday by Marin County firefighters.

Two battalion chiefs were scouting locations for a firefighters' water rescue orientation around 11:30 a.m. today when they encountered Yoda hunkered down under a rock outcropping.

The yellow Labrador retriever named after the Star Wars Jedi master had been on board a 13-foot Boston Whaler that capsized in rough surf at the mouth of Tomales Bay around noon Monday.

RELATED: 1 dead, 1 rescued in Tomales Bay boating accident

Brian Phidat Ho, 47, of San Jose died. Ho's fishing partner and another dog survived but Yoda was missing and presumed drowned.

Battalion Chiefs Chris Martinelli and Graham Groneman were in a boat a quarter-mile north of Dillon Beach when they spotted a pale yellow object on the rocky beach.

Survived, he did. Yoda was wet and shivering, had no apparent injuries and he matched the description of the missing dog.

He was brought to the Tomales Fire Station to warm up by a fireplace and be fed. The Marin Humane Society checked him out before releasing him to a family member.

Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Bret McTigue said the family was at Ho's funeral when they were informed Yoda was alive.