posted January 19, 2013 08:17 AM            

When a family pet goes missing, it's heart-wrenching for the owners. Not knowing where the beloved pet is and if it will return home safely can cause extreme anguish and heartache. For those who depend on animals not just for companionship, but also for assistance with daily routines, losing a pet can be that much more difficult.

When Shane Wilson's dog, Lucy, jumped out of the back of his pickup truck in Commerce, Ga., he figured he might never see her again. Wilson's home is 30 miles from the spot where Lucy went missing. So he drove the stretch of road every day for six days in search of her. He almost gave up, but then he got a phone call: Two women told him that they thought they had found Lucy.

Becky Davis and Tiffany Scoggins were having breakfast at a restaurant when they saw the dog, and they walked down a freeway exit ramp to get her. Even though Wilson had posted fliers all over Commerce about his missing dog, Davis and Scoggins were unaware of who she was. The two women took Lucy to a veterinarian, and the vet knew exactly who she was.

When Wilson got the call, he was hopeful, but hesitant to completely believe Lucy had been found because he'd had so many false reports. Wilson had the vet get Lucy to bark, and then he was sure. Not only is Wilson happy to have his companion back, but to have his little helper back: Lucy is a service dog who helps Wilson when he falls, and she also opens doors for him. Wilson lost his right leg after a motorcycle accident five years ago, and walks with a prosthetic leg.

"God sent us two angels today," Wilson said of Davis and Scoggins. The women would not accept the $500 reward that was offered, instead saying that just seeing the reunion of Wilson and Lucy was "worth a million dollars," and they added, "it made our day."

posted January 19, 2013 12:40 PM            

..& i can't even imagine. I'd die if I lost mine.

posted January 19, 2013 06:08 PM            

when they first had their babies they were riddled with nightmares of a similar kind..

one kept having a recurring one that he put his daughter up on top of the car for a moment and loaded it up with groceries or something else and then forgot about her and drove off. Only to remember about ten minutes up the road and freak out.

nightmare!!!!!

posted January 19, 2013 06:56 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by T:
(reminded myself of some stories from a couple of friends of mine - both parents, not of the same kid though.

when they first had their babies they were riddled with nightmares of a similar kind..

one kept having a recurring one that he put his daughter up on top of the car for a moment and loaded it up with groceries or something else and then forgot about her and drove off. Only to remember about ten minutes up the road and freak out.

nightmare!!!!!

sorry for the off topic!

---

posted January 19, 2013 10:57 PM            

I lose her in the blankets every night. She's lucky i havent squashed her yet.

posted January 20, 2013 07:26 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by T:
(keep in mind, my dog could fit inside the average person's pocket, so the thought of losing her isnt too far-fetched. LOL

I lose her in the blankets every night. She's lucky i havent squashed her yet.

If I had a big dog, i might not have nightmares or worry so much about it. She is very needy, like a baby and relies on me more than an average dog would their human.

---

posted January 20, 2013 08:20 AM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by T:
Yeah, i've heard the same - that it's common. That has to be super scary.

Thank god I'm only a dog Mom!!!

---

There's no such thing as only a dog Mom

posted January 20, 2013 03:29 PM            

Eventually I'll find at least one that fits. Has to be low energy, or an older one as high energy dogs scare her.

posted January 21, 2013 01:08 PM            

Yeah, she's really so sweet. She's not interested in other dogs (or humans, besides me) though (so weird!). There are a few in the neighborhood that we run into who get excited and want to play, she gets aggro and/or scared and hides behind me - wants nothing to do with them. Then there's a big old fluffy dog (looks like a chow/lab mix, and very old) next door who is always outside and she's fine with him, because he's calm and not bouncing around her wanting to play. They sniff noses and then she's done and not interested anymore. lol

It's been quite an experience, raising and living with a little dog like her. I'm glad she ended up with me and not a family with little kids who might hurt her accidentally. She's got it made with me.

posted January 21, 2013 03:45 PM            

My husband brought her home one blizzardy Febuary night. he went out to return a video and was late getting home.

The video place had a litter of puppies they were giving away. He came home with her i swear when she looked into my eyes she seemed recognize me from a past life or something.

She always followed me everywhere. everybody used to joke she had a 40 second rule as to how long i could be out of her site before she came looking for me.

She wasn't affectionate, but she used to stare at me all the time like she was studying me or trying to figure me out..lol

Anyway i'll never have another like her. she was special. she was 16 when she passed

posted January 21, 2013 04:50 PM            

You are so right about our soulmate pets. I can totally relate.

quote:

---

The video place had a litter of puppies they were giving away. He came home with her i swear when she looked into my eyes she seemed recognize me from a past life or something.

She always followed me everywhere. everybody used to joke she had a 40 second rule as to how long i could be out of her site before she came looking for me.

She wasn't affectionate, but she used to stare at me all the time like she was studying me or trying to figure me out..lol

---

Ha! Sounds like mine. She also gazes at me for long periods of time, with a little grin on her face, like she's in love. lol!!! I catch her doing it and it's so cute. She likes to wink at me a lot too. And same as yours, doesnt let me out of her sight for very long.

I bet yours was observing your beautiful aura.

I've also felt like I've had many past lives with my dog and wondered about it (and talked to her about it haha). Because ive found the same kind of "recognition" in her eyes......like there's a familiar soul underneath them.....i've known her before.

Arent we lucky to know that kind of love? It takes a special animal to find it.

Thanks for sharing.

reminded me of this quote:

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

So true.

posted January 21, 2013 06:50 PM            

quote:

---

Anyway i'll never have another like her. she was special. she was 16 when she passed

But i think some of these pets are surely soulemates

---

& as you know, we will meet with them again.

posted January 21, 2013 11:15 PM            

I was watching a show the other night where the owner died and the dog was left for days in the house by itself (with the dead owner) I pray to god that never happens with us. (that'd be a recipe for a ghost [=me] waiting to happen, i'd not be able to RIP)

Nice that you have a peaceful time and memory of her passing and could be there for her like you were.