Harnett Dispatch

A Thankful Mom & Dad

To ALL who came together:
On the morning of Dec.18, 2012, our lives could have changed forever!! It was around 10 am that our little boy and Doberman Pinscher were noticed as missing and the hunt, painful, long, and emotional began. After looking in the front of our cul-de-sac I realized that they could be down by the dam with all the construction equipment. I called the community club house and someone was on their way to unlock the gate so I could drive down to that area. After telling Walter why I needed it unlocked, he sounded the horn to all who would answer!!! Within minutes Walter was on the phone with dispatch at the sheriff’s department, Joe rounded up neighbors, and word got out clear across the community from one end to the other. We must have had at least a hundred people looking; search groups were assembled at the marina and club house and near our house. We had officers here in minutes, EMTs, and I even talked to a few volunteer fire fighters who heard on one of their radios. With my husband fresh out of foot surgery and helplessly on crutches, he maintained great composure and stayed planted at home in case our little boy and dobie came back. But, after much effort on feet, bicycles, golf carts, POV’s and atvs, they were still MIA. Joe and Walter then decided to call in the hounds. It was getting late and we would soon be losing daylight. The hound was here within 30 minutes and within a few sniffs of some articles from my little boy, he was on a trail. He was off and all were certain that this K9 wouldn’t miss his mark! Over the hills and through the woods, off the paths often traveled, through some murky waters, and finally through a small clearing was when his handler KNEW all would be ok. The blood hound managed to take his handler and a few more who followed up through the back way, outside of the perimeter of the community, and BELIEVE THIS…. behind the Food Lion on Highway 87 across from Linden Oaks!!! They were found, walking side by side, with not a care in the world!! The deputy threw him on his back for a piggy back ride and our dobie followed faithfully. Emerging from the woods, this wonderful deputy carried my son back to where I and my husband were escorted to wait and there they were!!! Even though it was ok at this point to do so, we couldn’t breathe!! Overwhelmed and thankful, we asked him where he was trying to go. He told us that his girl (our dobie) ran away and he didn’t want her to get hurt so he followed to make sure she made it home ok and that no one hurt her!! My little boy made it this far, in his pajamas, barefoot, in 30 degree weather to make sure his best friend didn’t get hurt!! The love of a dog and a little boy is inseparable!! But because of our wonderful God, much prayer, love, and a community coming together, the day that could have changed our lives forever became the day that we will be able to tell over and over and over again. It will forever be a day that my little boy got to “rescue his best friend” as he tells it…LOL!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us look for our little boy and dobie!! All we could think of was Christmas, birthdays, and years to come without our precious son and that life couldn’t have continued without them both!! Thank you for giving us back happy memories, beautiful pictures, and the reason why, sometimes, it’s ALWAYS ok to go above and beyond for someone else!! Thank you and God bless you all who helped!!
A Thankful, Happy, and Blessed Home!!