Omaha, NE - He's a dog who lost his best friend. But at least Zak is going home, thanks to American Airlines. The general manager called Action 3 News this morning and is planning to fly him home tomorrow.

On Sunday, Zak was riding in a semi truck on Interstate 80, when his owner lost control and crashed.  Investigators think Robert Shields had a heart attack before the crash.  Shields died.  The two are from California.

Pam Wiese with the Nebraska Humane Society says the one-year-old Basenji mix is staying at the animal shelter.  Pam says, "The trucker got him like at 8- or 10-weeks-old and has had him ever since, with the long haul trucking over the road."

The spunky dog spent most of his life riding shot gun with his owner in the semi.  Witnesses to the crash tried to save Shields, but he died at the hospital.  Pam recalls, "There was a crash. It was pretty traumatic, the loud noises. He (the dog) is not sure what happened and was thrown around a bit and then brought here."

The Nebraska Humane Society asked for help from the public to get Zak home to San Diego to the rest of his family because the trucker's widow couldn't afford to fly him back. Pam talked with Shields' widow: "She was frantic and calling up, 'I really want him. He was the last tie with my husband and my husband loved this dog.' She really wants him back and we want to get him to her."

American Airlines' general manager called, we connected her with the Humane Society's Wiese, and Zak is scheduled to fly home Wednesday, courtesy of the airline.

The Humane Society sees several cases like this a year and has an animal travel fund to help pay for transportation. They return lost pets to their owners in other parts of the country.

If you would like to donate:
Nebraska Humane Society
8929 Fort Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68134

402.444.7800

Updated by Kathy Sarantos Niver, kathy@action3news.com

Reported by Michelle Bandur; michelle@action3news.com