Dog-gone story has a happy ending

By LISA LOSASSO BELL

‘IT’S JUST A MIRACLE

An area couple’s lost dog shows up in Pennsylvania, minus his tags but safe and sound.

YOUNGSTOWN — Chubs, a 12-year-old black male Cocker Spaniel, disappeared from his home in Mahoning County on Sept. 13 and was found only one day later sleeping in a child’s car seat on the front porch of a Mercer, Pa., home.

So, how does an old dog with arthritis and failing eye sight travel 28 miles in one day? That’s a good question. Unfortunately it will likely remain a mystery.

But, unlike most, this story has a fairy tale ending, thanks to two women who did everything they could to get Chubs back home.

In the beginning

Cecelia Louttit and her husband, Henry, of Youngstown took Chubs in about three years ago when a neighbor found him but was unable to find his original owner.

“They have really bonded,” Cecelia said of Henry and Chubs. “Every evening they sit in the La-Z-Boy together and sleep.”

Like any good family would do, the Louttits provided him with a sturdy collar, a dog license and proper identification, as well as a warm and loving home.

On Sept. 13, Cecelia was preparing to leave the house for a few hours but was unable to locate Chubs. When Henry returned home from an outing that evening, Chubs was still nowhere to be found.

Panicked, the Louttits searched the woods and roadside ditches and checked with neighbors. They placed an ad in The Vindicator, hoping someone would find him nearby and return him.

Meanwhile, less than 24 hours later, Kathy Grossman of Mercer, Pa., found Chubs curled up in a car seat on her front porch.

Grossman could tell that he was loved by someone because he was obviously well-cared for, although his collar was missing. She posted an ad on Craig’s List and posted signs around town in an attempt to find his family.

Grossman and her family provided Chubs with shelter, food and water, and took care of him, in hopes of returning him to his owners happy and unharmed.

Because the Louttits do not own a computer, they did not see the ad Grossman had posted.

Luckily, Marty Conklin, an animal rescue volunteer and Howland resident, had checked the ads in The Vindicator, the listings on Craig’s List and had made a phone call to the Trumbull County Dog Pound, as she does every day, to help people locate their missing pets.

Although it seemed like a long shot, having seen both ads for an “old black Cocker Spaniel,” Conklin notified the Louttits on Sept. 17 to inform them of the ad Grossman posted on Craig’s List.

Amazingly enough, it was Chubs.

Clocking their ride, the Louttits traveled 28 miles from their home on North Four Mile Run Road to the home of the Grossman family in Mercer.

“We were all crying,” Cecelia said. “It’s so great how Marty goes out of her way to help other people. It’s just a miracle story.”

Make sure your dog has a sturdy collar along with a current license and identification.

Stray dogs without identification are held up to 72 hours at most dog pounds. If the pound is full, these dogs are gassed in order to make room for the large number of dogs that come in daily.

An ID collar, which costs between $6 to $8 and can be purchased at most pet shops, should have the dogs name and the address and phone number of the owner(s).

Micro-chipping is a good measure, but it must also be kept current. Please note that a micro-chip does not replace an ID tag, because most people who find stray dogs do not own scanners.

Everything must be kept up-to-date.

It is illegal in Ohio to allow your dog to run loose.

If you find a lost or stray dog

Keep it safe until you can get it to a vet or a dog pound.

Place ads in local papers and on Craig’s List.

Post signs in local establishments.

Canvas your neighborhood with fliers.

Source: Marty Conklin of Howland Animal rescue volunteer