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Break Out The Klenex. You Might Need It...

Nov 28, 2003 12:54PM PST
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Jeanie Flores did a double-take when she glanced out the window of her Wichita home this week. The brindle-colored Lab and chow mix outside looked like Bear, the family pet who disappeared in November 1997.

"Oh my God. I think that's my dog!" she thought to herself.

She called the dog's name. When he responded, she started bawling.

The dog's whereabouts for the past six years and his surprise return two days before Thanksgiving remain a mystery.

Frank Flores brought Bear home as a puppy on Aug. 28, 1990. Bear disappeared one month after the family's October 1997 move to a new neighborhood.

"I waited up all night for him, and he never came home," Jeanie Flores said.

Because the family had just moved, the address on Bear's identification collar hadn't been changed. The family put up signs, called the shelter, put an ad in the paper. They drove around their old neighborhood, but they never found Bear.

Jeanie Flores called his return Tuesday a miracle.


Missing Dog Returns After Six Years

Discussion is locked

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Sounds like a miracle to me
Nov 28, 2003 1:02PM PST

Hi Blake,
That is absolutely amazing, and your right, those old eye of mine feel a bit watery. Happy
Thanks for sharing.
Steve

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Alive In Memory...
Nov 28, 2003 2:29PM PST
That is absolutely amazing, and your right, those old eye of mine feel a bit watery. Happy

This story particularly hit home for me because I lost Coco, my dog in 1982. I have to admit the story brought a tear to my eye too. Coco was like my shadow that never left my side. When I drove truck, he always sat on the middle console or slept in the sleeper of my cab-over...

In 1982, I decided to buy a furniture business located to the west of Boise, ID with a friend and like usual, I took Coco along with me. It was an 18 hour drive to my friend's house. I arrived there at 4 AM. Since my friend's wife didn't allow dogs in their house, I had to put Coco in their fenced backyard. At 7 AM when my friend's wife awoke, Coco was nowhere to be found. We searched the neighborhood and called Animal Control but could never find him. I was devastated...

I dreamt for years that Coco managed to find his way home. There was no way he could have done so, but I kept up the hope for a very long time. Stories like this recent one, where pets find their way home, encouraged me to maintain hope above all odds. Sadly, I never saw Coco again in real life. But I keep him alive in my memories...
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Stop beating yourself about it Blake
Nov 29, 2003 1:23AM PST

It wasn't your fault they didn't let coco sleep in the house somewhere for the night. Heaven only knows what happened to your dear faithful dog, but I am sure he understands that it wasn't your fault.
Steve

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Covering All The Bases...
Nov 29, 2003 1:25PM PST
It wasn't your fault they didn't let coco sleep in the house somewhere for the night. Heaven only knows what happened to your dear faithful dog, but I am sure he understands that it wasn't your fault. - SteveGargini

Steve, I stopped beating myself up over this incident years ago. I have another great dog now. I've avoided making some of the same mistakes as I've made in the past. Since Coco was so dependable, intelligent, and bonded to me, I never felt a need to buy him a collar or tags. Had he had the tags, perhaps I would have gotten him back...

So now, even though LaiLai, my current dog, is just as bonded and dependable, he has a tag that has my phone number and address. In addition, LaiLai's collar has his name and my phone number. I'm also considering implanting a chip. I doubt I would ever lose LaiLai since he never lets me out of his sight, but just in case, I have my bases covered. I never want to go through the stress and heartache of losing another trusted companion...
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Re:Nice happy ending (NT)
Nov 28, 2003 10:40PM PST

.

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NT-Not only did I need Kleenex, but I had goose bumps...thanks for sharing this wonderful story!
Nov 28, 2003 10:54PM PST

.

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Re:Break Out The Klenex. You Might Need It...
Nov 29, 2003 1:43AM PST
"Frank Flores brought Bear home as a puppy on Aug. 28, 1990."

What's equally amazing is the dog is 91 years old (according to the 7:1 ratio) and was still able to get back home?
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Hi Walt. My neighbor is 90 years old.
Nov 29, 2003 2:18AM PST

.
That dear old lady can outdo me on a exercycle by a mile. If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it. She will be 91 in January. I hear that age is relative. Might be true too as all the relatives born about the same time I was look older than I do. LOL

It's possible that dog may not have been far from home all these years. It's even possible that who ever had him brought him back.

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The Fountain of Youth...
Nov 29, 2003 1:35PM PST
What's equally amazing is the dog is 91 years old (according to the 7:1 ratio) and was still able to get back home? - Walt H

It does seem amazing that this dog could have found its way home after all these years and at its advanced age. If miracles are possible, this story surely provides evidence to support them...

Here in Florida, it seems that many dogs live much older than I knew they could. Before moving here, I had never seen a dog that lived past the ripe old age of 15. But lately, I have seen several dogs in the 19 and 20 year range that were in remarkably good health. I don't know if they have discovered the Fountain of Youth or modern nutrition and medical care have improved to the point that we will be seeing more and more of our beloved companions living well past the norms of the past...