AWS Alumni Saves Lost Dog
In August of 2006 Deborah and Jay Rubero of Kennebunkport let their dog of 14 years, Dylan, outside to do his business, just like they had every other night, but he never came back. They had adopted Dylan from MSPCA in Boston before moving to Maine and were heartsick when he “wandered away.” They searched, hung posters, called and visited animal shelters but after months of searching they lost hope for his safe return.
In October of 2006, Jay stopped at the Animal Welfare Society in West Kennebunk to see if Dylan was among the available dogs and set eyes on Jethro, a Treeing Walker Coonhound, who had come in with a litter of transfer dogs in the AWS Paws Across America program. He called Deborah and said, “You have to come here on your lunch break; you’re going to love this dog.” It was a match. In the Spring of 2007 a neighbor called to say that Dylan’s body had been found and though they were very sad, they had closure.
Labor Day weekend 2008 the Nesbit family gathered in Kennebunkport for a family reunion along with grandchildren and pets. Art and Heather from Pepperell, Massachusetts brought Luke, their 12 year old Black Lab. On Monday morning he wandered away from the reunion - a difficult task for him as he has arthritis and interdigital cysts on his feet. He had only been missing for about 10 minutes when Art became concerned. The terrain was rough and he was afraid the dog had fallen and gotten hurt or wedged between rocks. The family began a search that would encompass a two mile radius, involve 50 people including a tracker and his Beagle and span 16 days. They plastered “Lost Dog” signs offering a reward throughout Kennebunkport, they drove, walked and called neighbors. On September 17 those who were still looking expected to find Luke’s body and not Art and Heather’s beloved pet.
On September 17th, Deborah and Jethro went for their early morning walk. Deborah began it just as she had since Luke went missing, “Come on Jethro, let’s go find Luke.” She had lost sleep thinking of the pain that the Nesbit’s were feeling since she been through it herself. Jethro is a curious dog and has found animals on the paths before, including a dead deer. There are many paths through the woods in her neighborhood and on this day she let Jethro choose. As they approached the brook Jethro kept returning to the same area and circling a bush. Deborah followed wondering what had gotten his attention. A grizzled black and grey face appeared. It was Luke. Deborah was elated to and rushed home to get Jay, a blanket and some treats. Jay picked Luke up and carried him up the embankment. Back on the path, Luke was able to walk on his own, the sores on his feet had healed and he had lost 14 pounds. Art’s daughter Katie met them in the driveway and took Luke to the vet. Other than dehydrated, Luke was healthier than when he wandered off.
The reward for finding Luke was $200.00 and though Deborah’s protested, Art insisted on writing a check. Jay and Deborah agreed that the money should be a donation to Animal Welfare Society from Jethro. The dog they had saved had saved another.
On November 20th the Nesbits and Ruberos met on the path that Deborah and Jethro took the day they found Luke and reenacted the walk that saved his life. Emotions and gratitude for his return ran high as the group stopped at the very spot that Luke had made a nest in the marsh grass.
For more information about the Paws Across America Program and the Animal Welfare Society, go to www.animalwelfaresociety.org or call 207-985- 3244
