Odyssey of a Stolen Dog: From Idaho to Arizona

The picture of a lost dog being found earlier this year after being gone for only one night did not seem to warrant front-page coverage in The Times. An incident in our family was much more interesting and received no news coverage whatsoever.

An 8-year-old female black lab was stolen from outside a small restaurant late at night at Sandpoint, Ida. She was tied outside, which had been the custom of her owner for many months. This happened on June 12, 1984. The owner was so devastated with the loss of this companion that he came back to stay with his parents in Buena Park, Calif. On Aug. 20, 1984, a call was received from Phoenix, Ariz. The dog had been picked up by the dog pound and taken to an animal clinic that was open 24 hours. As a dog tag with the vet’s name was still attached, the clinic made a call to Sandpoint, finding out the owner’s name and where he was staying. The owner and dog were united the next day.

What makes this story more of a human interest story is that the owner is a 31-year-old young man who seven years ago had a brain aneurysm. As a result, he is paralyzed on the left side. He walks with a cane using his good right hand, and when he and the dog go walking the dog is tethered to his belt on the left side. She was valuable in making sure that he does not bump into anyone on the left side, as he has no peripheral vision.

She was his constant companion, as he lived by himself in Sandpoint. He got her as a puppy before his physical handicap and she was adapted to his life style. When she was taken, he could not bear to live without her. It was truly a miracle that somehow she managed to get away from whoever took her and that her owner was traced.

GRACE COUGHLIN

Buena Park