by Nadia Crow/SourceMedia Group News
Posted March 19, 2011 12:27 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS-After four years, an Eastern Iowa family finally reunites with a lost relative, the family dog. The Hodson family eagerly awaited their four-year-old Labrador mix Gretchen’s arrival from Washington state at The Eastern Iowa Airport. It’s the story of the missing piece to the Hodson family puzzle.
“Nervous, well beyond nervous,” said Margaret Hodson who reunited with the family dog Saturday.
Margaret Hodson with Gretchen
Back in 2007, the Hodsons learned terrible news; their Labrador mix Gretchen was stolen.
“We knocked on people’s doors we posted signs everywhere. I called all the veterinary clinics and we continued to do this for at least a year, a year and a half if not more,” said Hodson.
“I remembered her I didn’t forget her I still remembered that she got stolen,” said Meghan Case who reunited with the family dog Saturday.
The Hodsons were stationed in Washington while husband, Travis was in the US Army. Since his deployment to Afghanistan, the family has since moved back to Iowa. But there was one missing link.
Travis Hodson gets a doggie kiss from long lost family pet Gretchen.
“I thought for sure we lost her I thought for sure I wasn’t going to see her again,” said Hodson.
After waiting four years, their stolen puppy was found safe and sound wandering near a lake in Fort Lewis, Washington. She arrived at The Eastern Iowa Airport on an American Airlines flight Saturday morning to open arms.
“It was pretty neat, I love to see her back,” said Case.
Four-year-old Blaine Hodson (right) looks at the family's long lost dog Gretchen while Maggie Hodson (center) talks to her daughter Meghan, 9, (second from right) after the family picked up the dog at The Eastern Iowa Airport on Saturday, March 19, 2011, in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Also pictured is Travis Hodson (left). Gretchen was stolen from the Hodson's home in Washington state nearly four years ago. The dog was identified through a microchip after she was turned into an animal shelter after someone found her wandering the streets.
The kids have grown up and Gretchen has too.
“She wasn’t as big as this now,” said Case.
But she fits right in.
“She’s been a protector, she’s been loyal, a good family member,” said Hodson.
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| Two-year-old Corbin Hodson (left) stands with his mother Maggie Hodson of Wayland, Iowa, as she holds the tail of her long lost dog Gretchen after she and her family picked up the dog at The Eastern Iowa Airport on Saturday, March 19, 2011, in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Gretchen was stolen from the Hodson's home in Washington state nearly four years ago. The dog was identified through a microchip after she was turned into an animal shelter after someone found her wandering the streets. Travis Hodson said the family looked for the dog for two years by going door-to-door, putting signs up and placing notices on Craigslist |
“I’m really glad we had her chipped because if we hadn’t we wouldn’t of been able to ever find her,” said Hodson.
After a long flight from the west coast, Gretchen and the Hodsons can now move on to the next chapter, together again.
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