Community

Wow am I grateful for the amazingly supportive and actively good-natured community I live in. Our thirteen-year-old boxer went missing a couple days ago and without prompting, people living nearby began posting pictures of him on Facebook (they had no idea who he was at the time). After posting and reposting and comments about when/where he was last seen, a whole lot of good people began going out and looking for him. Mind you, it was already about 7 or 8 at night, dark, and we personally didn't know these people. Nonetheless, they put on some warm clothes, strapped on a headlamp, and went out looking when they heard this cute old dog in a sweater was lost.

(The picture of Roy someone had posted on social media)

Try as we might, we couldn't find him that first night. It was a distressing time because we had just gotten a cold snap and if he wandered away from the small residential area, there was nothing but forest and coyotes. All that night and all the next day, we and countless others searched for him, driving up and down roads, in and out of neighborhoods, checking for tracks, calling out his name and whistling...it was a manhunt. 

It was going to be another cold night and I couldn't stand the thought of poor old Roy being out on his own in the woods for a second time. It was dangerous. I had just gotten home from work after dark when we got a call from my wife's mom saying she heard barking in the woods off a dirt road nearby. We raced over and were met by some good family friends ready to dive into the forest. One of the guys and I jumped in and began tearing through the dense brush that was thick with thorns, vines, and branches. Flashlight in my mouth and trying to clear the way for the guy with some lopping shears, we made our way to the barking and finally spotted our tired old dog in his dirty blue and green sweater. 

When we made it back out (which was no easy task, either), there were about five or six cars parked at the bend with their lights on. Armed with flashlights and ready for a search and rescue, friends and neighbors had gathered when they heard Roy had finally been spotted. Seeing him safe and in the care of his family, there were cheers and Roy got all the pets he could handle. 

It absolutely blew my mind how incredible everyone was and how willing they were to sacrifice their time and effort for our dog. Even if they were friends, it was so generous of them to drive around and call out for him unsolicited, not to mention the countless people I had never met who were just as concerned as if it had been their own dog. Thank you, thank you, thank you, community. Without you, we may not have ever found a part of our family. You banded together and showed me what it means to look after your own. What a terrifying and powerful experience. I never hope to relive it, but know that should anyone else here befall the same fate, we're here for you. Thank you.