08/28/08

And The Good Samaritan Award Goes To….
Horst Hoefinger

There are so many sad stories in the news about the horrific crimes people commit against dogs it starts to become overwhelming.  When I came across a story about a woman who rescued two lost labs wandering the streets and read two years prior she did the same thing I knew I had to share this story.

Teri Carnessal, who lives in the Jacksonville, FL area truly deserves a good samaritan award. Last Sunday while driving down the highway she noticed two labs running in the road.  Knowing something was not right with this picture she stopped her car and called out to the labs who without hesitation jumped right in.

Once inside Carnessali’s vehicle, the black and blonde canines were well-behaved on the ride home and seemed content to wile away the hours in their rescuer’s Florida room. Because Carnessali has cats, she knew she couldn’t keep the two large dogs, but she couldn’t let them roam a busy road where she felt sure they’d eventually be hit by a car.

The crazy part is that two years ago she rescued another pair of labs, one blonde one black, not far from where these two were.  At first she thought they may be the same pair but they weren’t. Also, unlike the first pair there were no signs put up for these two.

No signs appeared near the site of the black and blonde dogs, and after putting the word out, sending out notices and keeping the dogs at her home for as long as possible, Carnessali had to board them at her veterinarian’s office.

“I didn’t know how long I could afford to do that,” she said, “but I hated to take them to a shelter. It’s hard to find homes for large dogs, and I didn’t want to separate them.”

Not only did she take the time to stop and rescue these dogs from getting run over on the highway she paid to board them to keep them safe.  In my book that makes Teri Carnessali a true hero. Eventually Carnessali received a call from a man about the missing dogs.

“When he described the dogs, even down to one of them having a place on his leg without hair, I knew they were his,” Carnessali said, explaining how the man had been on vacation with his family and had a neighbor taking care of his pets.

After the phone call a happy family reunion soon ensued. Carnessali said, “It’s a great feeling to be able to reunite a person with their pet.”  I think it’s a great feeling knowing there are people like Teri Caressali out there.

08/22/08

Bandit Burglarized
Horst Hoefinger

 

In West Seattle, WA a burglar broke into a house and when the owner came home she found her two pugs gone.  The only things missing were two men’s rings and her pugs, 6-year-old male named Bandit, who is blind, and a 4-year-old female named Pippin. 

Barney Lubetkin’s wife, Marsha, reported her dogs missing Monday after she returned home from work to find a screen from an open window had been bent and tossed on the deck and her drawers and jewelry box had been emptied.

Police told Marsha Lubetkin the dogs might have gotten out of the house during the burglary, but she thought they were stolen because the blind one couldn’t have gone far, she said, and nobody in the neighborhood had seen them.

What a horrible feeling to come home to find your house broken into and your beloved dogs gone.  The Lubetkin’s spent weeks putting up flyers, posting on blogs, searching the surrounding neighborhoods, and following up on leads from callers.  All to no avail, the dogs could not be found.  On Thursday all this changed when they recevied a phone call from the King County Animal Shelter in Kent.

The dogs were dropped off at the King County Shelter where they were identified by microchips embedded under their skin. Shelter workers told owner Barney Lubetkin that an unidentified woman had brought in the dogs, saying someone put them in her yard. She then quickly left.

 The shelter where the dogs were dropped off was 15 miles from the Lubetkin’s home. A rather long distance for a blind dog to travel. The shelter took the license plate of the woman who dropped off Bandit and Pippin but have no further information on her. Marsha Lubetkin said she would pay the $1000 reward offered if she is found, and is indeed a good samaritan. I’m just happy that her dogs are home safe and sound.

 

 

08/10/08

Missing K-9 Found
Horst Hoefinger

A short story with a happy ending, thanks to one person who took the time to make a difference. On Thursday Robby, a police K-9, went missing. The 10 year old police dog disappeared from his handler’s backyard in Friendswood, CA.  A story that could have had a tragic ending turned into a happy reunion.

Robby, a 70- to 75-pound Belgian Malinois, was picked up by “a good Samaritan,” Friday morning and taken to a vet, said police spokesman Vance Mitchell. When police searching for the dog made calls to local vets, they happened to call the one where Robby had been taken.

Robby was reported to be in good health and was returned to his handler on Friday.  On behalf of Dogster, I’d like to give a big thanks to the “good Samaritan” who took the time to make sure Robby made it home safely.

07/16/08

Update: Three Of Toy Manchester Terriers Found
Horst Hoefinger

We just received an update on the story we posted on July 10th,  concerning the six stolen Toy Manchester Terriers.

Last night one of Therese’s friends received a phone call from someone that found a cage with 3 ”min pins” on the side of the road in Sorel, Quebec (just south west of where they were taken!!). After confirmation, they are 3 of the missing TMTs! 2 older males and 1 older female.

This is fantastic news! Let’s see if we can’t help bring the  other three home.

Linda Richard stated “I am home now at 9:50pm with my three stolen dogs. The Toy Manchester’s were my old Man Goofy (10 1/2), Munster (7 1/2) and Female Trouble (5). They are happy to see me and kiss me. I will pray to get back my missing dogs: Lucas, Scarlett and the young Star. I will pray to see them too. THANKS ALL OF YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE TO HELP ME”

07/10/08

Tulsa, OK - Boo Needs You!!
Horst Hoefinger

Dogster member Boo is missing and his owners need your help.  If you have seen him in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area please contact  the owner at meganandwinnie@yahoo.com.

Boo, if you are reading this, please contact your parents immediately. They are worried sick about you.

07/10/08

Help!! Stolen Dogs!!
Horst Hoefinger

I wanted to pass along a letter I received about six Toy Manchester Terriers that were stolen from a home.

The police think that the burglary was a cover and that the dogs were the target.A neighbor saw, the day of the break in, a white truck and a red car in her drive way.

Reward offered for information leading to the safe return of these dogs. If you have ANY info, PLEASE contact:
Thérèse Szulik - St-Damien, Québec Canada
Tel: (450) 835-4699 Email: therlik@hotmail.com

I can’t imagine the feeling of having six of your buddies just taken from you. If you live in the Quebec, Canada area, please keep your eyes out for these cute dogs.

Thanks Simba for bringing our attention to it.

05/07/08

Dogster Blue Still Missing After 1 Year, Wise Words from Dogster Lena Malik
Joy

Sometimes in the everyday chaos of caring for our furbabies we temporarily forget some very important truths. Thank you, Lena Malik, for reminding us that while our time with out furbabies is wonderful, it is also limited. We also need to keep the lost ones, like Blue, in our thoughts.

Lena Malik wrote:
Dear Joy,
Thursday, May 8th is a somber annifursary for many of us. Our dear friend BLUE will have been missing for a year.

I write in the spirit of all lost dogs wanting to go home to where they know they are wanted, missed and an integral part of the family who keeps on searching. I also write for all the humans having to deal with the uncertainties, the heartache and roller coaster of emotions trying to find their beloved pet. Hearing of incredible reunions and nearly impossible journeys back gives us hope while we try to cope with our own thoughts and emotions on how we would truly be, to survive and face each day not knowing and waiting, perhaps even with guilt or a thousand questions every day.

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04/17/08

Oregon Black Labrador Callie Finally Gets Home After Boarding Kennel Mistakenly Mixes Her Up With Kennel Mate
Joy

How scary for this family! I’m so glad Callie has made it home.

Thanks to the Associated Press for this article.

Man who claimed dog was imposter reunited with right pooch

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. (AP) — Ken Griggs finally brought the right dog home. More than two weeks after the Lake Oswego man claimed a boarding kennel returned the wrong dog after spring break, he and his family were reunited with their black Labrador named Callie.

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04/16/08

New Devices Help Find Lost Pets
Joy

Thanks to FoxBusiness for this article.

Need to Know Where Your Dog or Car is? A Host of Devices Will Tell You

Donna Fuscaldo
FOXBusiness

From cell phones to wristbands to handheld devices, a host of companies are launching personal GPS locators that can find everything from a dog to a car.

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03/14/08

Randolph, Iowa Mayor Offers Bounty on Stray Cats and Dogs, You can Sign Petition
Joy

catsterlady.jpg

What do you do if you’re the mayor of Randolph, Iowa and you want to cut decrease the numbers of stray cats and dogs. You take a page from history and enact a bounty of them. Why use more modern (and sensible) tactics when its so easy to do something so 18th Century?

How many ways is this wrong? Let’s start with unscrupulous adults and children kidnapping dogs and cats to make money.

Here’s the mayor’s own newsletter openly admitting his retro tactics.

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