Luna, American Bulldog

Missing deaf dog "Luna" found safe
By: Erin Connolly
January 12, 2010

She had been missing for more than a week. But now Luna, a deaf dog, has been found and reunited with her owners. Oddly enough, bacon may have been the trick to bringing Luna home. Our Erin Connolly explains.

LATHAM, N.Y. -- Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief tonight now that Luna has been found safe and sound. She escaped from Shaker Veterinary Hospital in Latham more than a week ago and since then, had been braving cold temperatures, as dozens of volunteers searched for her. There had been a few unconfirmed sightings, but no luck until Monday.

Ralph Rataul, Luna's owner, said, ''She's a huge part of the family and now we can feel complete again. It's really exciting.''

It was a day Ralph Rataul and his wife Shelley of Rensselaer had been waiting for. It was a day that couldn't come soon enough.

Rataul said, ''It's been hellish. It's been really, like you said, an emotional rollercoaster that didn't really seem to have an end point.''

It all started in the early morning hours of January 2nd. Surveillance video from Shaker Veterinary Hospital where Luna was boarding shows not only did Luna manage to escape from her crate, she opened the front door, setting off the building's alarm.

Ken Wolfe of Shaker Veterinary Hospital said, ''Police officers arrived on the scene within five minutes, actually saw her and tried to get her. We've come close many times in the last week.''

Close, but no cigar, until just after noon on Monday. A couple living in the Springwood Manor area near Siena College noticed the dog in their backyard. Luna had apparently smelled some bacon that had been cooking. Rataul came right away to get his four-year-old American bulldog mix.

Rataul said, ''It looked like she was going to bolt at any moment. I was so anxious. Then I said ok, let's try kneeling, lets trying being less of an intimidating figure and within another minute, she came over very slowly, started barking and started jumping all over me!''

It was a group effort to bring Luna home safe and sound. This past weekend, dozens of volunteers gathered at the Crossings Park in Colonie. Some hung missing posters with Luna's picture on it. Others used their own dogs to try to sniff out Luna.

Rataul said, ''It's been awesome. If only we could muster up this type of response for every lost pet.''

Luna's a hungry girl after vets say she lost 12 pounds while missing. Otherwise, she appears to be healthy and that's all an owner can ask for.

Rataul said, ''I'm just so happy to have her back. This is awesome.''

Luna had been boarding at the hospital while the Rataul's were away over the holidays, but now they say they're not taking any more chances. Luna is coming back home. As for the hospital, they've added a deadbolt lock to the doors to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Source:
http://capitalnews9.com/capital-region-news-12-content/top_stories/492769/missing-deaf-dog--luna--found-safe