Prayers for safe return
 

I just got off the phone with my parents and their dog, Copper, has gone missing. She is 17 years old and has mobility issues. They let her out in the yard this morning and she just vanished. She has been experiencing dementia lately (sitting in the closet and barking, coming to windows and wanting to be let in, not realizing they are not doors). She is a Welsh Terrier. This is very upsetting for me as I grew up with this dog. She was my dog too. I knew that I probably wouldn't see her again, as she was very sick when I was visiting them in December, but her new medication was working well and she was doing ok. She is suffering from adrenal cancer and we were told over a year ago that she had 3 months to live. We knew the end was coming, but not like this.

Also, we lost a dog when I was 12 who ran away and drown in a pool, so this brings back a lot of bad memories.

I just want to ask everyone to pray that someone has found her and taken her into their home. It will go down below freezing where my parents live tonight, so I am just hoping she has a warm place to be right now. My parents think she may have gone off because it was her time. If so, I hope she went quickly and wasn't scared or confused. I am just so upset, I feel helpless. I can't help look for her as I am on a different continent. But I can ask this community, who have supported me and my dog in the past, to send positive thoughts and prayers to my parents. I just want her back and safe. It wasn't supposed to be this way. Send prayers, positive thoughts, anything!

Sending prayers this baby is found.

Many many prayers for Copper and you!

Prayers being sent

My heart is with you, your parents, and poor Copper. Sometimes, particularly with dementia, no matter how much we try to protect our babies, things happen that we can't prevent. I feel the sadness and fear, and I pray that you find your little girl safe and unharmed.

Sending prayers

Poor old girl, I hope someone has found her and is keeping her safe to be returned soon.

Oh dear, I hope your parents find sweet Copper soon. I cannot even begin the imagine how worried they are... Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your parents for a safe return for Copper.

Praying Cooper is found safe and sound.

Praying for coppers safe return

Praying that this old gal is found safe & sound. Please update when she is found.

Praying Copper will be found or that someone has taken her in so she will not be out in the cold weather. Bless her heart, dementia is a terrible thing for them to go through.

Sending prayers that Copper is found safe and quickly.

I am praying they find Copper soon and she is returned to her loving family.

Good thoughts go out to you and your family for his safe return

Found!
 

At 2am this morning, my parent's other dog, Gibson, woke up and starting barking. My dad refused to let him out in the yard alone and followed him to the edge of our 2 acre yard, afraid that the coyotes would get him (he thought maybe they got Copper). Everything was quiet when he heard barking off in the distance. He took Gibson in the house and got in the car. He drove around near where the barking was. He got out of the car and followed the barking. In the bushes and branches, stuck in a bramble, was Copper, who had been outside for almost 48 hours. It was 28ºF Saturday night and it snowed yesterday. She was still alive and barking.

He took her home and they warmed her up. She is eating and drinking fine. Unfortunately, she hasn't walked yet and she has a large bruise on her hip. She also has a lot of pus in her one eye. They were at the vet this morning and she is there now. She has an IV drip and will be xrayed. She is running a fever (probably from the infection in her eye) and is quite dehydrated. We are all hoping she will be able to walk, but it is uncertain as of now. The vet says the snow may have saved her life, as she was able to eat it and keep her fluids up somewhat. Also, her high blood pressure condition and the lack of medicine for this may have actually helped her, as the cold didn't low her blood pressure dangerously low, since it was already higher than normal.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and prayers. I am just so happy that she was found by my dad and not the coyotes.

Wonderful news that she was found! Way to go Gibson! So glad the baby is at the vet. Hopefully they will get her back up and around soon. So glad she is home!

Praying that she will make a complete recovery... what a miracle that she was found!

Wonderful news!!

Oh my goodness, such wonderful news! :)

And what a complete hero Gibson is!!! :thumbup: :D

All good thoughts and prayers coming your way, Sally + Harry x

What wonderful news to wake up on a Monday morning too!!! Way to go Gibson....so glad she has been found and is at the vet. Prayers for a full recovery.

Good job Gibson!!! What wonderful news! Praying they get this precious senior back to baseline and she continues to do well....I am sure she was thrilled y'all found her!

Great news!! I am so happy, Gibson is a hero and Cooper is a tough little one. Praying she makes a full recovery.

Thank Goodness!

What a Happy ending to a terrifying situation . . . I am so happy he made it home safe.

How wonderful she was found so she can live out her time in a warm loving home. I couldn't help but think about how dogs will often times go off to die away from their pack. Hope she has a speedy recovery and can get back to her home.

Thanks for all the lovely responses. @Yorkiedaze: We were also thinking that she may have went away because it was her time, but I really do think she got confused and lost her way. She is home now from the vet and has a minor infection in her eye and some dehydration, but otherwise she is fine. No new issue with her blood work or x-rays. Just some love and rest, and she will be back to herself in the next few days. The vet did warn us not to get completely comfortable until 48 hours after she is treated, as things can still go downhill, but it is not very likely as long as she stays on the antibiotic drip for the night tonight.

I am just now seeing this thread. My heart ached for you and your family. I am so very happy to read that Copper was found!!

Please give your baby some extra hugs and kisses from me. I pray that she gets better and am so grateful that she was found.

Oh my goodness, I am so glad to hear Cooper is home! My heart sank when I read your original post... I hope she starts to get better soon. Poor girl was probably so confused :(