Craig Strickland's Family Keeping Hope After His Dog Is Found Alive: "It's a Good Sign"

 OFF DAY n' Arkansas = Early mornings w/ @zhocker18 and our bud Sam

A photo posted by Backroad Anthem (@backroadanthem) on Nov 21, 2015 at 8:39am PST

Backroad Anthem's lead singer, Craig Strickland is still missing, but his dog Sam was found alive – and that's "a good sign" if you ask the country singer's family and friends who are keeping hope alive that he's found soon.

Craig's dog Sam...such a brave dog @helenelizabethstrickland A photo posted by Backroad Anthem (@backroadanthem) on Dec 29, 2015 at 3:59pm PST

According to People, Strickland's bandmate Toby Freeman said, "Craig's dog being found alive is a very good sign. That's a piece of hope that we're actually clinging on to."

Freeman added, "Dog being man's best friend is a saying that's so common, but it's actually so true in this case." he continued, "Sam's an older lab and for him to make it in such harsh conditions – it's just so amazing and we're clinging on to that."

MStars News previously reported that Strickland and his friend, Chase Morland, went duck hunting in the middle of a winter storm over the weekend where they disappeared. Morland lost his life and was found with Strickland's beloved black lab.

A photo posted by Backroad Anthem (@backroadanthem) on Dec 28, 2015 at 12:49pm PST

Strickland's wife Helen revealed that Sam is doing "fine" but still is asking for prayers for her husband's return.

For everyone wanting to know, Sam is fine. He was a brave boy. He wouldn't leave Chase's body until the Warden found him. — Helen Strickland (@HelenWisner) December 29, 2015

The 29-year-old's family has traveled to the site where Strickland went missing in northwest of Tulsa. Freeman claimed that the singer and his father were very close.

"Craig and his dad Randy are so close. They pretty much do everything together when he's home," Freeman continued, "They are a very faith-based family. God is their center. I know Randy's clinging to hope, but his heart is just broken. It's such a gut-wrenching accident and it's so tragic. His wife Helen is struggling so much, she's just hoping and praying that they find Craig."

 #prayersforCraig please still remember to lift up the family of Chase Morland as well. We pray for a safe return for our brother and best friend!

A photo posted by Backroad Anthem (@backroadanthem) on Dec 29, 2015 at 6:45am PST

Despite the awful weather conditions, Strickland and his friend were determined to go hunting. "Anything that Craig put his mind to he could accomplish," Freeman explained. "He's so passionate about his wife, his family, the band – he had a fire in him for the things he loved."

Before his death, Morland tweeted: "In case we don't come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma."

MStars News prays that Strickland is found alive soon.