Another lost airport show dog

From today's email, from katsridge@aol.com:

<<Help needed in the Seattle Washington Airport area.  16 month old Red Wheaten Show Male Rhodesian Ridgeback call name Rhett got loose outside at the Seattle Washington Airport today 8/22/2007 at 11:00am.

Avid Chip Number *094*102*077

Owners  Edward Balassanian and Molly Larkin

Phone Numbers  (206) 390-1946

                         (206) 465-3690

They are driving around the airport as I send out pleas for help looking for Rhett.  Anyone in this area who can help search or pass out flyers will be greatly appreciated.  Please give them a call.

Permission to cross post.>>

Comments

[dance]

Any updates on Rhett, is he home safe and sound?

[Lorraine]

I too am wondering about Rhett. Why are stories posted and then no follow up?

[Susan Stahler]

I agree. Very frustrating.

[Edward Balassanian]

Hi, I am the owner of Rhett. I apologize for not following up on this link. Our breeder actually made the original post and I just found this now. Unfortunately Rhett is still missing. We spent every day since he was missing driving the neighborhoods posting flyers and talking to the locals. We had a couple sightings on the second day but then everything went dry. We've been checking the shelters and vets daily. I have posted a URL to a page we created for Rhett...

[Audrey]

Heres a story about a dog lost for 4 months in the area of that airport and was found yesterday.

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/521876/diary/Missing_duke_and_cheyenne_so_much/359032

[rooooby]

I hope your dog is found. Don't give up! We, the Vivi people have been searching, putting up posters and flyers for over 18 months and some of us still think she'll be rescued.

[Lorraine]

My heart goes out to you. I wish you luck and will be thinking of you in your search. My cat went missing for 3 weeks...he was a house cat that got out. Someone in the NEXT TOWN who was looking for THEIR missing kitty, thought he was a stray, trapped him and took him in. They posted pictures in the local supermarkets, which I spotted as I was leaving the store. I went nuts...right in the A&P! Don't give up hope!!

[Lorraine]

I just read the story about Chyenne and her lucky reunion with her family. I'm teary eyed to say the least.

[Edward Balassanian]

WE FOUND RHETT! Its a long story, but one with a good ending. He's safe at home with us and getting his strength back after almost 2 weeks on the loose. Thanks to everyone for their help.

[Lorraine]

Oh!!! I'm so happy for you! You must be crazy with joy! Please fill us in when you catch your breath. A huge hug and kiss for Rhett!!!!!

[Rosa]

Edward, YOU just made my day! I am so happy to hear your boy is back home with you. LOOKING Forward to reading about the details of his rescue.
VIVA LA VIVI!

[Mila]

Fantastic news, Edward!!! Please give Rhett hugs and kisses from all of us here!!!

[rooooby]

Great news about Rhett! I'm very happy for everyone in the family!
Now, we need to find our Vivi!
We also need to light some more candles, Vivi has 51 candles burning. I just lit 11 for the little girl.

[Karen]

Come back and tell us the story of finding Rhett when you are ready to.

[Kay]

Fantastic news. One more baby back where it belongs. Looking forward to the story of the rescue.

[Susan Lorinsky]

Edward, I'm so happy to read your post that Rhett is back home with you. Your news made my day. Hoping to hear that Vivi will be the next one. Whatever we have to do to help Team Vivi bring her in, count me in.
Rooooby, I'm going to light some more candles for Vivi. I could only light around 6 candles before. All the candle groups have lower numbers now.

[joan]

Great news Edward I too am so happy to read your post that Rhett is home. You made my day as well. I still talk about Vivi to anyone in or going to that Flushing park area hoping for a sighting.

[Pam A.]

Great news that Rhett is back home. Would love to hear the story.

[Meri-Lou Mahoney]

This is what I found on Rhett

"He was found by the animal control and returned to us."

[Karen]

Thanks. It would be interesting to hear when he was picked up and how. Perhaps we'll get that story eventually. I was helping a little with a lost ACD in NC last spring and in that case animal control had him for 3 weeks before turning him over. (In this case it even appeared that someone in animal control was perhaps thinking of keeping him, but felt pressure because of the presence of posters everywhere.) Maybe someday they'll check back in and tell us the rest. There always seems to be something to learn from these cases.

[Susan Lorinsky]

Karen, the part about an animal control officer thinking of keeping him even though there were posters all over gave me the chills. They are the ones who should be reuniting beloved pets with their families. Was that angle looked into with all the lost pups?

[Karen]

I think at first there were just a few posters for that ACD. This was a working dog from a family who does herding trials and I volunteered after seeing a cross post on a list. I emailed her a poster I designed -based on what we have seen works best, and told her some of what we learned from these searches. She took it and hung it everywhere. I don't think she knows for sure but it is my impression that after the posters made it clear this dog was still being actively looked for, either the animal control employee decided it was in his best interest to let him go or perhaps other employees pressured him. But she said he had some new habits and behaviors and asked me if I knew if animal control was supposed to train them. They didn't call her, they then took him to the SPCA which in her county is different and they called her. He was picked up the day he went missing. She got him back about 3 weeks later. I am drawing conclusions from that and could be wrong. A similar thing happened to me with my Patch and the person that had him was my neighbor. Relentless poster hanging really works time and again. And microchipping- he was not microchipped but I bet he is now.

[Meri-Lou Mahoney]

Here is something that is just too cute. You have to be patient

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_panda_station.html

[Edward]

Hi Everyone. How neat to see all the well wishes for Rhett. To follow up, he's doing great. He's about the most gentle creature I've ever been around and he's a joy to train. He's doing great with obedience and now that he's comfortable with us we are going to start looking into showing him (probably this summer). If anyone has info on lure coursing facilities in WA we'd love to hear about it - after running Rhett a few times I'm sure its something he'll love. Thanks again for all the nice thoughts and well wishes for Rhett.