Behind the Headlines

It’s well known, yet somewhat boggling, that when we run an animal story it generates a lot of feedback. It’s understandable because many people feel passionately about their pets and furry animals in general, but slightly odd that we get more input on stories like this than say stories about tax increases or people in perilous situations.

So I shouldn’t have been surprised that the story I put together on the woman who thinks her dog was snatched kicked off a slew of emails and phone calls. As far as I know, she has not heard anything specific about her dog as off yesterday afternoon. She has, however, been consulting with two pet psychics to see if they could shed some light on the situation. She thinks one has given her a pretty strong tip.

She’s refusing to give up. I just came across this in our paper, in the lost and found classified section:

“TO THE PERSONS - Who picked up the black & tan female miniature dachshund on Thurs. afternoon, 4/19, on Dunbar Rd., We have offered you a $500 reward to return our little girl. Is she OK? Please don’t hurt her. We want her to come home to us, we miss her very much. Why won’t you return her to us? Have we done something to you that you feel we should be punished for? Do you want to hurt her for some reason? I am trying to understand what would motivate you to keep my little dog from her home. You knew when you picked her up she belonged to someone; she has a family that loves her. It is like losing a child or another valued member of the family, there is a void only their return will fill. Please do the right thing & return her to us. I pray you never have to feel the loss we feel. Sincerely, Bill & Cheryl, 734-384-1315.”

Many people out there are cheering her on. Do you think an ad like this will be effective? Is she going about this in the right way?