PETS UNBEARABLE LOSS OCCASIONALLY By DUKE CONOVER “Tink lost, not stray,” is the idea that Missing Pet Partnership, a Washington-based group, developed to reunite more lost dogs and cats with the families who love them. Rather than accepting throw-away messages like “homeless,” “abandoned,” “dumped,” and “feral” for the apparent stray dog or cat, the partnership sought to make a difference through education, to help people understand the hard to comprehend idea that the stray dog or cat found in a neighborhood or elsewhere is not thrown away but actually may be a member of a family looking to be reunited with its beloved pet. L Christie Bell, Lisa Lauck are turning “Missing Bellla” into a nonprofit. “Before you work to give a found dog or found cat a new home, think lost, not stray,” the partnership wrote in its report on recovering lost pets. “Our message to the animal welfare industry and citizen rescuers is this: many of the stray dogs and feral cats that come into your care are actually lost pets with families who would do anything to get their companion animal back home.” Lisa is one of those pet owners. After losing her cherished Bella four years ago, Lisa continues to long for the return of her Brussels Griffon, an intelligent and cheerful breed that has a terrier-like disposition and is known for its almost human expression. Bella was the first dog Lisa rescued, and her missing is the impetus to a growing effort to prevent cruelty to all animals and aid in public education. Bella was used as a breeder in Illinois for five years, Lisa says. She was petrified of men – as her owner was a man – and would go potty on herself if a man cornered her. She had a lot of health problems and had to have surgery to remove a walnut-size kidney stone that developed from years of untreated urinary tract infections. About six months later, after a son of one of Lisa’s friends accidently spooked the dog, Bella took off into a wooded area. Lisa and Christie spent nights and weekends in the woods for weeks trying to find Bella. A large sum of money was raised as a reward, local news reported on the missing dog and the efforts to find her, and Lisa created a Facebook page, “Missing Bella.” Bella never came home. With the search for Bella, Lisa and Christie started a journey that includes animal rescue, fostering and advocacy. “Te little griff touched my heart like no other dog has since; and even though after four years, I still cannot come to terms as to what happened to her. “But she has helped so many other dogs since.” Bella Lisa and Christie have sought non-profit status – federal tax exemption through Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code – for the “Missing Bella” organization. Tis will help the two raise tax-deductible dollars to stimulate awareness of responsible pet ownership. “At first it (Missing Bella) was to find my dog, but then people starting posting on my (Facebook) page about their lost dog or dog they found,” Lisa says. “So it became a place for lost and found animals. “Ten we became more involved in rescue, and when Christie started fostering for Bluegrass Boxer Rescue, I took in several pregnant dogs from shelters so they wouldn’t have their puppies in a kennel. Now with applying for our 501(c)(3), we can start a much needed spay/ neuter fund here.” isa Lauck lost a pet, and it inspired her and her friend, Christie Bell, to take action. Makes a Difference INTHEVUE.COM PROMOTING EVENTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE JULY 2014 19
