Gretchen, 13-Year-Old Dog, Recovers From Ordeal
by Barbara A. Besteni, Managing Editor, Local10.com
June 21, 2011
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Next time someone refers to one of our four-legged friends as "just a dog," you may want to share this with them.
Last week, Local10.com brought you the story of Terry Knight and Gloria Sajnaj, two women who had been searching for Sajnaj's 13-year-old dog, Gretchen, since she wandered off several days earlier.
When a neighbor claimed to have seen Gretchen, Knight and Sajnaj began papering the area with fliers.
That’s when Robert Creston, a supervisor of the city's Code Compliance Division, flagged down Knight's car and told her he was taking down all the signs because they were in violation of the city’s code.
When we posted the story on Local 10’s Facebook page, viewers were outraged at the city’s insensitivity, considering that Knight had provided Local 10 with dozens of photos of code violations the city had ignored while ripping down the lost dog signs.
Gretchen was lost in West Palm Beach last week week. After 12 days, she was reunited with her owner.
On Wednesday, animal advocates who had heard of Sajnaj’s plight attended the mayor’s monthly meeting and pleaded on her behalf.
On Thursday, Knight received the following note from Dianne Sauve, the director of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control:
“I spoke with the City and they have agreed to review their policies on flyers for lost dogs and/or cats. I believe you can safely post now!"
Meanwhile, the reward for Gretchen’s return increased to $600 from people who came forward and wanted to help.
With renewed faith and strength, Knight and Sajnaj resumed their search for Gretchen.
On Monday morning, Knight sent Local 10 a note saying that Gretchen had been found. And although she was in pretty bad shape after 12 days of being on her own, Gretchen was responding to treatment and was expected to go home after a couple of days of recuperating at a veterinary clinic.
“When Gloria found Gretchen, she was under a bush by the railroad tracks just about 50 feet from the street," Knight wrote. "It was evident that had she not been found, that is where she would die."
Knight also she received dozens of calls from people who wanted to help pay Gretchen’s veterinary bills.
On Tuesday morning, we received an e-mail with a new photo of Gretchen.
“I am so happy to share this picture with you of sweet little Gretchen - just home after her ordeal on the street and in the ER," Knight wrote.
Both Knight and Sajnaj thank everyone who came together to make this miracle happen.
“Gosh, and I guess we should thank Robert Creston -- the code compliance officer -- for taking down posters which got the publicity to begin with," she added.
And so this story has a happy ending.
I guess you could say it's just another miracle that started with just another dog.
Source: http://www.local10.com/furryfriends/28305700/detail.html
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