Debbie Harmer of Jacksonport pets her dog, Arnold, who was found outside by Debbie's husband, Ron Harmer. The couple was on vacation in Las Vegas when they learned Arnold was missing. The dog survived a week outdoors without food.
Dog, owners reunited
Arnold back home after week outside in cold
By Kristen J. Kubisiak
January 24, 2009
A Door County couple recently experienced what they believe to be a miracle. Ron and Debbie Harmer of Jacksonport were reunited with their beloved dog Arnold, who endured a week without food and harsh winter conditions.
Arnold went missing Jan. 6, when the Harmers were out of town visiting relatives in Las Vegas. Arnold and the Harmers' other dog, Bogart, were in the care of a dog sitter during their absence.
Arnold wandered off when the dog sitter slipped on a patch of ice. By the time she collected herself, he was nowhere to be found. After five hours searching for the dog with her friends and family, the dog sitter called the Harmers.
"We were at dinner when we got the call," Ron Harmer said. Shortly after she learned Arnold had gone missing, Debbie Harmer had a heart attack.
"I had a feeling when we were leaving in December that something bad was going to happen," Debbie Harmer said. Arnold, at 15 years old, was already past his prime, and he had an assortment of problems, including a recently diagnosed heart murmur and hearing loss.
"My worst fear was that Arnold would die cold and alone," Debbie Harmer said. Although friends and family were doing everything in their power to find the old dog, days went by with out a sign of him. After his wife was discharged from the hospital in Las Vegas, Ron Harmer decided to return to Jacksonport to look for Arnold himself.
His first day back home, Harmer spent three hours wandering out in the cold looking for Arnold. He searched until it was dark; then resumed searching the next day. On Jan. 13, he put on his snowshoes and headed out onto a trail he and the dogs frequently traversed in the warmer months.
"I didn't know where else to look," Harmer said. "I just prayed to God to let me find him." Harmer's prayers were answered. About 150 feet off of the trail was a dip in the snow, where Arnold lay, covered in ice and snow, unmoving. Harmer said he held his breath, then said the dog's name.
"I said to him, 'Arnold?'" Ron Harmer said. "He turned and looked up at me, and I knew he was alive."
Although Arnold couldn't stand, Harmer said he didn't appear to be injured. Harmer removed his coat and warmed the dog until help arrived. Friends loaded Arnold into a snow mobile-drawn sled and wrapped him in blankets. They drove him to the nearest road, where they moved into a vehicle bound for the Animal Clinic of Sturgeon Bay. Veterinarian Lois Kurschner met Harmer and Arnold at the door.
"Arnold is a remarkable dog," said Kurschner. "Somehow he was able to maintain himself until they found him."
When he arrived at the clinic, Arnold had a skin infection from laying on the cold wet ground, and he lost about 14 pounds, Kurschner said. "He couldn't stand for a couple of days, and we took some X-rays because we thought maybe he was bumped by a car, but we couldn't find anything medically wrong," Kurschner said. "We thought maybe he was just weak."
Arnold stood for the first time after his rescue the following day, when Ron Harmer and the family's other dog, Bogart, 10, came to visit.
"When Ron came back with Bogie, Arnold came to life," Kurschner said. "It was a magical moment. He absolutely needed that connection for things to turn around. His family had a real commitment to find him, and the reunion was sweet." Arnold's survival, Kurschner said, was nothing short of amazing.
"Any geriatric dog would have a hard time surviving out in the elements," Kurschner said. "It's truly amazing that he was able to fend for himself. Arnold is remarkable, and so are his owners." Debbie and Ron Harmer are happy to have their dog home and believe their story is a testament to the power of faith and friendship.
"You should never give up," Debbie Harmer said.
Source: Greenbay Press Gazette
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090124/ADV01/901240448/0/ADV&theme=ADVNEWS
Printer friendly version
January 24, 2009
A Door County couple recently experienced what they believe to be a miracle. Ron and Debbie Harmer of Jacksonport were reunited with their beloved dog Arnold, who endured a week without food and harsh winter conditions.
Arnold went missing Jan. 6, when the Harmers were out of town visiting relatives in Las Vegas. Arnold and the Harmers' other dog, Bogart, were in the care of a dog sitter during their absence.
Arnold wandered off when the dog sitter slipped on a patch of ice. By the time she collected herself, he was nowhere to be found. After five hours searching for the dog with her friends and family, the dog sitter called the Harmers.
"We were at dinner when we got the call," Ron Harmer said. Shortly after she learned Arnold had gone missing, Debbie Harmer had a heart attack.
"I had a feeling when we were leaving in December that something bad was going to happen," Debbie Harmer said. Arnold, at 15 years old, was already past his prime, and he had an assortment of problems, including a recently diagnosed heart murmur and hearing loss.
"My worst fear was that Arnold would die cold and alone," Debbie Harmer said. Although friends and family were doing everything in their power to find the old dog, days went by with out a sign of him. After his wife was discharged from the hospital in Las Vegas, Ron Harmer decided to return to Jacksonport to look for Arnold himself.
His first day back home, Harmer spent three hours wandering out in the cold looking for Arnold. He searched until it was dark; then resumed searching the next day. On Jan. 13, he put on his snowshoes and headed out onto a trail he and the dogs frequently traversed in the warmer months.
"I didn't know where else to look," Harmer said. "I just prayed to God to let me find him." Harmer's prayers were answered. About 150 feet off of the trail was a dip in the snow, where Arnold lay, covered in ice and snow, unmoving. Harmer said he held his breath, then said the dog's name.
"I said to him, 'Arnold?'" Ron Harmer said. "He turned and looked up at me, and I knew he was alive."
Although Arnold couldn't stand, Harmer said he didn't appear to be injured. Harmer removed his coat and warmed the dog until help arrived. Friends loaded Arnold into a snow mobile-drawn sled and wrapped him in blankets. They drove him to the nearest road, where they moved into a vehicle bound for the Animal Clinic of Sturgeon Bay. Veterinarian Lois Kurschner met Harmer and Arnold at the door.
"Arnold is a remarkable dog," said Kurschner. "Somehow he was able to maintain himself until they found him."
When he arrived at the clinic, Arnold had a skin infection from laying on the cold wet ground, and he lost about 14 pounds, Kurschner said. "He couldn't stand for a couple of days, and we took some X-rays because we thought maybe he was bumped by a car, but we couldn't find anything medically wrong," Kurschner said. "We thought maybe he was just weak."
Arnold stood for the first time after his rescue the following day, when Ron Harmer and the family's other dog, Bogart, 10, came to visit.
"When Ron came back with Bogie, Arnold came to life," Kurschner said. "It was a magical moment. He absolutely needed that connection for things to turn around. His family had a real commitment to find him, and the reunion was sweet." Arnold's survival, Kurschner said, was nothing short of amazing.
"Any geriatric dog would have a hard time surviving out in the elements," Kurschner said. "It's truly amazing that he was able to fend for himself. Arnold is remarkable, and so are his owners." Debbie and Ron Harmer are happy to have their dog home and believe their story is a testament to the power of faith and friendship.
"You should never give up," Debbie Harmer said.
Source: Greenbay Press Gazette
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090124/ADV01/901240448/0/ADV&theme=ADVNEWS
Printer friendly version
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