Family's 3-Legged Dog Goes Missing For Almost A Year, Then They Get A Distressing Phone Call
Having a runaway animal is one of the worst gut-punches a pet owner can suffer, but most people still clutch to that sliver of hope that they'll fall into the small percentage of people who find their furry friends. Sadly, the reality is most people never get answers about where their pets disappear to. But for one Missouri man, his lost dog story unfolded in a way that was anything but typical.
Goes Missing
In February 2020, right before the COVID-19 pandemic locked down the world, Dylan Summers suffered an incredible loss. When the Bourbon, Missouri, resident went out in his backyard to call his dog Athena, she didn't come running with her tail wagging as usual. Instead, she was nowhere to be found.
Easily Identified
Panic set in. Dylan scoured the yard looking for her and subsequently the rest of the neighborhood. Fortunately, the one thing he could count on was that his dog was instantly identifiable. Athena, a beautiful brindle dog had one key feature that Dylan hoped would help bring her home — she had three legs.
Bad Days Behind Them
A year prior, Athena survived having her leg amputated. It was a tough decision that weighed heavily on Dylan as he tried to do what was best for his pet after she was hit by a car. He’d thought that overcoming that accident had put their worst days behind them, and he was sorely mistaken.
Health Risk
At the time of her disappearance, Athena was still on medication as part of her recovery plan, which added another layer of worry to Dylan’s plate. The idea of his dog suffering without proper care, on top of the confusion of not understanding what was happening to her, was almost too much to bear.
Search Attempts
Dylan acted fast in moments after discovering Athena vanished. He searched the area tirelessly without luck. He laid his hopes in attempting to locate her via online postings, though as he told the St. Louis news station KTVI FOX2, “No one came forward."
Believed Stolen
"I had suspicions that she was stolen but I couldn't confirm it. I was so worried about her," Dylan told the local news. It seemed suspicious that Athena vanished from the backyard without a trace when she had no problems staying put before. Without any leads on where she'd disappeared to, the odds of finding her looked slim.
Moving On
Broken-hearted, Dylan wasn’t sure he would ever see Athena again. So, he resolved that the best thing he could do was provide a good home to another animal in need. After ten long months without a dog in his life, he felt ready to adopt again.
Stopped In His Tracks
Dylan found himself scrolling through the Gateway Pet Guardians website, a rescue group located about an hour away. There, he saw a cute little face that stopped him in his tracks. Without pausing to think, he grabbed his phone, dialed up the number listed on the page, and hoped desperately that someone would answer.
Dog Looked Familiar
After painstakingly waiting through several rings that seemed to last hours, Dylan reached a voicemail. He blurted out everything he could hoping that he wasn’t too late. The face looking back at him from the website page was unmistakably Athena’s!
Waiting For Answers
An hour away, Program Director Alisha Vianello didn’t notice her missed call. In those moments, Dylan’s mind raced. Had Athena already been adopted? Was there a chance that he was wrong? Could this be a different brindle three-legged dog? He had no choice but to wait for answers.
Answering The Call
Thankfully, Vianello noticed shortly after, as she told KTVI FOX 2, "It was about 9 p.m. on the night of December 30th and I just happened to check my voicemail before bed and there was a call from Dylan stating that we had his dog! I called him back immediately and was so happy to learn that the dog we had named 'Miss-A-Toe' was actually his missing dog, Athena."
Many Lost Dogs
While it’s the dream for every family who loses their pet to be reunited by some miracle, the reality of that situation is not as common as you’d think. According to the American Humane Association, one in three pets is lost at some point in their lives. Whether by accidental means or theft, that’s a lot of ownerless animals circulating in the system.
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Small Percentage of Hope
In fact, the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families reports that just 23% of lost pets in the U.S. are actually reconnected with their families. Another obstacle is the lack of standardization across the shelter system. Some facilities keep statistics, others don’t. It’s easy for cases to fall through the cracks.
Grim Reality
Shelters and rescues work tirelessly to rehouse and care for the animals that enter their doors, but the grim reality is that many facilities resort to euthanasia to meet the demand of the constant influx of animals. The ASPCA estimates that roughly 1.5 million animals are euthanized each year. Yet, the success stories are what push them to keep fighting.
Chasing The Goal
It’s with the hope to provide fairytale endings for all the animals circulating in their local shelter systems that Gateway Pet Guardians operates each day. That was the goal in December of 2020 when they worked with St. Clair County Animal Control in Illinois after they rescued a large number of dogs from a neglectful property.
Unlike the Rest
Workers from both organizations felt that one dog within the group stuck out from the pack. While all the other animals showed signs of extreme neglect. One striking brindle dog had undergone an amputation operation and received other surgical work to her tail. That suggested someone out there cared for her.
Questioning Her Backstory
Not only did the surgical evidence suggest the dog had previous caregivers, but she was also spayed and pretty healthy. For some reason, this particular dog that showed signs of being loved had ended up on the property of a person in serious legal trouble that was seized by police. Clearly, there was more to her story.
Piecing Together the Puzzle
Program Director Alisha Vianello told KTVI FOX 2, "Everyone involved in her rescue had been so puzzled as to how a dog who not only was spayed but was also healthy and had received a life-saving surgery was on the property with other dogs who seemed likely to have never received veterinary care." When she heard Dylan's message, all the pieces fit together.
Jumping Into Action
Vianello reached out to the foster family that was caring for Miss-A-Toe to update them on the situation. Within 48 hours they made a plan for Dylan Summers to meet with the dog at the Gateway Pet Guardians facility to find out once and for all if she was indeed his pet Athena.
Reunited
After months of grieving for his beloved pet and resigning himself to never seeing her again, Dylan Summers was beyond excited to meet the dog he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was his pup, Athena. The moment they laid eyes on each other, everyone else knew, too, that she was his long-lost canine companion.
Fairytale Ending
"I was so happy to hear that she was safe and doing well, and being reunited with her was incredible,” Dylan told KTVI FOX 2, "She is already settled back in at home and it's like she never left. I am so appreciative of Gateway Pet Guardians for getting her back home to me." Despite the odds, they'd become one of the success stories.
Stars Aligned
It was pure chance that Dylan had begun to search for a new pet during the timeframe that Athena was listed on the rescue site and another coincidence that he'd found the right organization when it was an hour away from where he lived. The stars aligned just so to get man and his best friend back together.
Remaining Hopeful
For Dylan and most other pet owners, losing a pet is the same as losing a member of the family. That means, no matter the circumstances, giving up the search or hope of a reunion simply isn't an option. That drive is even greater for those who lose service animals, as they're crucial to navigating daily life.
Service Dog
Justin Scott, from Santa Clarita, California, had a tough job. As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), he'd experienced a lot of amazing moments, but also instances of immense pain. Luckily, he didn't have to face the tough moments alone, thanks to his service dog Shelby.
EMT Stressors
For starters, his wife Sara was also an EMT. Together, they shared the same desire to help people and make a difference in their community and understand the toll that can take. It's a no-brainer that they gravitated towards each other.
Person In Crisis
One day while on duty, Justin and his crew responded to a standard 911 emergency. Except there was something very different about this call. Justin knew the person in crisis...
Out of Options
It was one of his best friends. Despite their best efforts, Justin and the fellow EMTs were unable to save him — they simply ran out of options. The guilt crushed Justin and affected him in a way that he didn't think was possible.
Consumed By Darkness
The tragic event left Justin depressed and struggling to cope with the failure that cost his friend his life. Darkness consumed him, but not before he recognized that he needed help. It was time to make a change.
Healing Dog
Sara and Justin thought an emotional support dog could help the healing process. Justin shared in a Facebook post, "We waited until we found the perfect dog for us."
Perfect Match
As they scanned rows of dogs, they noticed this short-legged, pointy-eared dog named Shelby gazing back at them. The moment they looked into her eyes, it was a done deal. Shelby was officially a part of the Scott family.
"I looked at her still in the shelter parking lot," Justin recalled of the day they met, "and told her, 'I saved you, and now I need you to save me,' and she did. She pulled me out of the grips of hell."
To Justin, the dog was his guiding light and best friend. They did everything together, so it's no surprise that the dog also accompanied Justin, Sara, and their two boys on family vacations.
They packed up the car and traveled six hours for a Fourth of July camping trip in the Sierra Mountains. It was supposed to be a fun-filled weekend, but not long after arriving, Justin's worst nightmare became a reality.
For an unknown reason, Shelby became spooked. slipped out of her collar, and ran to the tree line for protection. Justin knew these woods; they were harsh and deadly. He needed to find her. He couldn't fail another best friend.
After searching the immediate area, they needed to call off the mission as nighttime fell upon them. That didn't mean they were giving up, though. They set out food traps overnight, but Shelby didn't come back.
But a number of bears did pay a visit to the campsite that night. Justin feared that Shelby would be no match against such merciless wild animals. He would save her, though, he thought, because she had saved him.
Shelby was missing for 13 days and Justin had not a single lead as to where she was. He didn't even know if she was alive. The Scott family reached out to a nonprofit, A Way Home For Animals, for help.
He connected with Babs Fry, founder of the nonprofit, and explained what had happened. Determined to reunite Justin and Shelby, Babs got in the car and drove to meet up with the Scotts.
They began with initial attempts of connecting with the town and surrounding communities to determine when and where Shelby was last seen. They posted signs, spoke with the camp host and general store owner, and made it clear who to contact if Shelby were to turn up.
Justin expressed his torment in a message on Facebook: "Shelby, you sat by my side and laid in my lap until I could stand on my own. We will get you back; we will never give up on you. I saved you once, and we will save you again."
Twenty-four hours later, they finally received a tip. Shelby was spotted about 3.5 miles south of the campsite. Babs immediately carried out a survey of the area to locate possible food, water, and shelter spots that Shelby might be hanging around.
Babs also set out five traps with the hopes of enticing Shelby out of the woods. They waited for days hoping that Shelby would show up, but she never did. Days turned into weeks, and Justin's faith began to break.
Finally, another call came in. Someone saw Shelby in a nearby area. Babs rushed to the location and set out the traps once more. She was determined to reunite Justin and Shelby. After 45 minutes, something amazing happened.
Shelby walked right into the trap! Upon initial inspection, Shelby appeared to be in good health — other than being a little dirty. Babs was thrilled to deliver Justin some good news for once.
On reunion day, a hesitant Shelby stood in front of the family, almost as if she couldn't believe it was really them. But like the flip of a switch, all of the sudden her stumpy tail began to wiggle and she showered them with kisses.
Deep down, Shelby knew her family didn't abandon her as she laid in Justin's lap, gazing up at him with unconditional love. It was the longest 28 days of Justin's life, but he couldn't have been more grateful to have his family member back.
Anyone who owns a dog can tell you there are few greater feelings in the world than earning a few of their sloppy kisses or gentle nuzzles. Yet dogs can offer so much more than comfort and love, and that is especially true for service dogs like Shelby. Just ask this little girl...
To say life was unfair to 11-year-old Bella Burton of Woburn, Massachusetts, would be an understatement. Diagnosed with Morquio syndrome, Bella was forced to walk on crutches or use a wheelchair to get around.
The syndrome made it impossible for Bella to process certain sugar molecules that acted as lubricants or shock absorbers in her body. As a result, she had decreased mobility and a slew of other nasty symptoms. It affected her mood, too...
"I'm just like, 'I don't want this anymore,'" Bella told BarkPost. She couldn't ride a bike; she couldn't run. She couldn't play the way that other kids her age did. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of Bella's heartbreaking situation.
Since Morquio syndrome was a progressive disease, it would only get worse as time went by; it was safe to say that Bella wasn't getting better anytime soon. But then, mercifully, her fortune started to change...
"We had volunteered up at Service Dog Project for a little over a year," Bella's mother, Rachel, said. And that was where Bella first met an unlikely pal: a 130-pound Great Dane named George.
"One day Bella climbed up with George," added Megan Korkaras, a trainer at Service Dog Project. "And the next thing you know, his head was in her lap, and he was just looking up at her like she was the best thing in the whole world."
Evidently, Bella noticed George's affection, too. "I could tell he needed me," Bella said. "And I needed him." Delighted, the Burton family brought George home for the weekend to test the waters. Soon enough, he became Bella's full-time service dog—with unbelievable results.
With George, Bella only needed one crutch because the Great Dane himself served as the other! "I lean on him," Bella explained. "He helps me walk. If I fall, I tell him 'Brace!' which means he will stand and won't even budge, and I can pull myself up."
This feat wasn't just visually impressive; it also strengthened Bella's legs. The service dog even accompanied her to weekly enzyme replacement therapy. Rachel, of course, was delighted at the effect George's presence was having on her daughter.
"We never thought she would be off crutches," Rachel said. "And now she will go in the yard and play, even without George. To see how much stronger she's gotten is awesome." For Bella, there were no words to describe her feelings to George—but she tried.
"He's always there for me," she said. "And whenever I'm feeling sad or something, he's always there. He knows, he just kind of comes over and leans over me... I pretty much love everything about him."
The unlikely duo never left each others' sides. Even at school, George knew where all of Bella's classes were and took naps in the back of the room while she sat at her desk! It was easy to see how this fundamentally changed the little girl...
"Bella was never really shy, but [George has] given her more confidence," Rachel told People magazine. "She feels she fits in better with her peers than when she was on crutches or a wheelchair. She feels more confident about herself." Naturally, Bella wanted to show her appreciation for her beloved pal.
So, her heart bursting with appreciation for her 130-pound savior, Bella entered George into BarkPost's "Dog's Best Day" contest. "George deserves this day," Bella said, "because he works extremely hard." But did this big lug stand a chance to win?
You betcha! After dubbing him the winner, the online publication rewarded George for his life-changing dedication to Bella. Their celebration of the Great Dane started at an unusual place, too: a burger joint!
"George does not get to have people food because he is a service dog," Bella said. But on his best day ever, all rules were waived—he got a tray of burgers all to himself! The best part? George's best day ever was only just beginning!
Next, organizers for George's best day shut down an entire mountain for him and Bella. Being a playful pup, George went completely nuts, sprinting around in the snow like a madman and skipping beside Bella's sled. It was hard to believe his day could get better...
Bella and George then visited the canine equivalent of a candy store where George munched on treats and chewed on a bone so large there was no chance it ever belonged to an actual animal. The Great Dane was living a well-earned dream.
"George is joyful," Bella said of her dog. "And he's always happy, and he's always there to cheer you up." Then, with all the confidence in the world, she added, "George is my best friend."
This Great Dane gave hope to a little girl who was struggling to enjoy the world around her because of her condition. He even helped make her stronger—both inside and out!
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