A Short Update

I know that some of you are wondering what happened with the possible sighting we had a couple of weeks ago.

First, let me say that the universe has terrible timing.  In this case, when the possible sighting arose we were in The Netherlands.  So, if you were wondering why we didn't jump, get out there, answer all the emails, etc., it was because we were 3,000 miles away.  In any case, the people who purported to see her never followed up with us, so that sighting was as solid as smoke.

We did, however, get a call the other day that lead us to call in Sam to do a track.  A woman in Sass' favorite Chevy Chase neighborhood called to say two beagles were running around her back yard, and while she couldn't get a picture, or close a gate, or any of the other actions at the top of our wish list, she was able to offer us the opportunity to bring Sam in and point to exactly where the dogs were - if Sass was there, then this was a great chance to try to pick up her scent.  We've heard off and on about two beagles running together, and we know of at least one instance where it was Sass.

Unfortunately, there was no Sass scent.  We did however, get a chance to reconnect with Sam, and with L., who we hadn't talked to in quite a while, and for that we are grateful.  Those two understand our search, and understand us after so many hours of following our Sassy girl's path.  They are old (new) friends.

We still miss Sass, and our daughter still asks when she's coming home.  To borrow from the Dixie Chicks:  They say time heals, but I'm still waiting.

A New Sighting?

Yvonne forwarded us a message through Facebook about a dog spotted at E. Beach Drive NW & Verbena St. NW..  We are trying to contact the people who saw the dog, and see if this could be our Sass.

Many thanks, Yvonne!

Suspending the Active Search

This is an impossible post, but it has to be done.

It is with extreme sadness and tears that we write what has been the reality for a few months, that we're suspending the active search for Sassafras. We simply cannot ask all the great volunteers and supporters to continue the search on our behalf. Your amazing support and time has been truly unbelievable and it is impossible to express our appreciation enough.

We will continue to monitor daily emails from Petharbor that features beagles and related breeds brought to local animal shelters, keep the cell phone minutes active, and think of our beloved Sass.

This week, we moved to a new house a few blocks away, and removed these bells from our front door:

When Sass was originally lost, we left the front gates open and these bells on our door. She had been trained to ring them to go in and out. In hopes that she might someday find her way to our house (5 miles from where the dogwalker lost her), we had kept that gate open and bells up, a daily reminder of our hope. Those doors and that gate no longer belong to us. We'll tell the new owners, but reality also needs to be considered.

As with all the changes in our life that should bring only happiness, there is always a bit of sadness for us not to be sharing it with Sassafras.

We'll continue to keep this blog active for awhile and if a miracle occurs, we'll have the biggest welcome home party we can imagine. (Sass still has that chip!)

Help Find Riley!

We were contacted last night by Riley's humans:  Please keep your eyes open and, if you can, volunteer on the ground to help find this little girl who was lost yesterday in Rock Creek Park!

A Tribute to Salsa

Salsa passed away on November 2nd.  I can't give a better tribute than Laura did, over here:  http://findlostmastiffolivia.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-tribute-to-sam-and-salsa.html

Mistaken ID: It's not Olivia!

We got the word on this a few days ago, but before I put it up here, I wanted Laura to have a chance to write about it.

The dog everyone thought was Olivia is not, in fact, Olivia.  Laura's blog post can be found here:  http://findlostmastiffolivia.blogspot.com/2012/10/mistaken-identity-its-not-olivia.html

I can't imagine the twist in the pit of Laura's stomach when she heard this.  I can't imagine.  I can't imagine.  I can't imagine... (I can, a little.)

The photographer (Stephen, of FidoJournalism) who took Salsa's pictures yesterday has a few up on his Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/fidojournalism