By Tammy Obermeier, For the Marshfield News-Herald
December 17, 2010
WESTON -- Christmas miracles are rare. But for a Weston family, one came just in time.
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| Ted Sanders and his 2-year-old daughter, Bria, hold Riley, the family’s 4-year-old miniature Shar-Pei, on Thursday. Riley was returned to the family Thursday after going missing for more than a week in the village of Weston. |
Sanders -- who suffers from limited mobility, partial sight in his left eye and constant, debilitating pain after a stroke in 2003 -- panicked. He relied upon Riley as his "therapy dog," best friend and confidant
-- a source of emotional support he has difficulty putting into words.
For more than a week, Sanders feared Riley might be gone forever, hit by a car or frozen to death in the snow.
But just after 11 a.m. Thursday, Everest Metro Police called to say Riley had been spotted on D.J. Lane in Weston. A neighbor there, Dr. Nancy Puetz, found Riley wandering in her backyard, just a block from the Sanders' home.
"I can't even remember what I said to them. To say I was in shock would be an understatement," Sanders said shortly after his dog was returned Thursday, tears streaming down his cheeks as he clutched Riley.
Since the stroke, which left Sanders unable to work or drive, he has relied immensely upon Riley.
"It's hard to describe. He was very depressed and felt like he lost a lot of what makes a man," his wife, LuAnn, said of the stroke.
She said she feels that getting Riley and having their youngest daughter, Bria, two years ago has given Ted a purpose -- a reason to get out of bed on the days depression overwhelmed him.
"The physical recovery was the easy part; it was what he was going through emotionally that Riley in particular helped him with. I don't particularly get it," LuAnn said.
This year has been another rough one for the family. Ted had his chest cracked open three times, twice in April and once in May, resulting in two surgeries, one to replace his aortic valve.
Riley's disappearance threatened to set Ted back. The family was relentless in its search, contacting the Humane Society of Marathon County, police departments, veterinarians and the news media. They hung up fliers and started a Facebook page for Riley.
Throughout the ordeal, the entire family stayed hopeful. Their middle daughter, Molly, 12, even built a fort in a snowbank off the driveway, put a pink blanket inside and wrote in the snow, "Riley's home," sure the dog would find her way back.
"I never thought she was dead. My gut told me she wasn't. None of us gave up," LuAnn said.
Riley somehow survived -- for 10 days in freezing temperatures. When she was found, she was just skin and bones, had numerous cuts and scratches, and many of her paw pads were ripped open. A few hours after her return, she started eating and drinking a little water. She will be treated at Weston Veterinary Hospital by Dr. Tom Jatnecks.
Jatnecks said the biggest risk the dog faced was frostbite on her ears, feet and paws. He said she must have found someplace out of the wind to hide, such as a barn or shed. The snow probably was a blessing because Riley most likely ate it for water, he said.
"I would have been fearful for my dog's life if she would have been outside that long. Animals are amazing, but I would consider myself incredibly lucky to have her alive if she was my dog," Jatnecks said.
LuAnn said getting Riley home has put the entire family back in the Christmas spirit.
"We were supposed to get our tree last weekend, but nobody felt like it, so we are getting it this weekend," she said Thursday.
"Other than my family and surviving my stroke, this is the best Christmas gift I have ever received," Ted said.
Source: http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20101217/MNH0101/12170635/1732&located=rss
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