Missing dogs reunited with family

Foxy and Sissy are back at home

By Diane Hettrick

I am happy to report that the two little dogs, Foxy and Sissy, were reunited with their owner today. (See previous story).

I don't usually publish missing pet stories. Dogs are usually found right away. Cats either come back on their own or are never found.

This seemed different. The dogs were frightened by the fireworks on New Year's Eve.

In that case, dogs can run so far and so fast that they end up far away from home and can't find their way back. And these girls had been gone for several days.

I was assured that the owner and her family had contacted every group and followed every suggestion for finding lost pets.

These dogs were special for another reason. According to the owner's son, one of them had belonged to his grandfather. The other was his grandmother's dog - and his grandmother had died just a few months ago.

The family was distraught.

I was finished with the day's edition, but I added the story and asked readers to contact our Tips email.

The next day, I received an email from a reader who volunteers at PAWS in North Lynnwood. PAWS is the animal shelter for both Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

She said she had been there on Tuesday and thought she saw the dogs. Further, she said that PAWS only keeps strays for three days before they are put up for adoption - and this was the third day.

PAWS was closed for adoptions on Wednesday but open for owners looking for lost pets.

I sent the phone number - the owner called and got voicemail. I sent the address, Wednesday hours, maps, driving directions, and urged an immediate trip to PAWS.

PAWS has a contact form on their website. I included all the information I had. Linked to the published story. Attached the photo of the dogs.

Within an hour, I had a response, telling me they had made contact with the owner.

This afternoon, the owner's son told me that those were their dogs and they were safe and well at home.

Whew!