Corky, a dog that survived 44 winter days lost in the Van Damme State Forest in Northern California, has recovered from his ordeal.

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Corky -- the "inn dog" at Susan and Richard Strom's Whitegate Inn in the village of Mendocino -- disappeared Nov. 3, 2005, near the Pygmy Forest during a hike with Richard, the Whitegate Inn said on its Web site.

Despite search and rescue efforts involving road crews, cable company repairmen, mushroom pickers, park rangers, volunteer fire fighters and hundreds of friends and well-wishers in the community, no one could find Corky.

Corky is a Portuguese Water Dog, descended from an ancient breed once used by fisherman in Portugal to herd fish into nets and carry messages between boats.

On Dec. 16, 2005, Corky finally came out of the forest onto a country road where a motorist rescued him about a mile from where he disappeared. His body weight was down 26 pounds from 65 pounds.

"Rehabilitation has taken months, but we're happy to report that he is finally at his normal weight and strength, said Susan Strom. "He also is back at the inn greeting guests."