Rudy, an 11-month-old Shih-Tzu, returned home safely Sunday after going missing Sept. 12.
Rudy went missing when his owner, Nancy Zolman, Winona Lake, went on vacation to Florida. She received a phone call from Animal Medical Center, where it was being boarded, saying the dog went missing while it was on a leash in a Marsh’s Supermarket parking lot.
Zolman said she received a phone call from a Warsaw woman who lives by Warsaw Community High School Sunday morning that they had seen the story in the Times-Union about a missing dog and thought it was Rudy.
Zolman went to the woman’s home and knew immediately it was Rudy.
“She brought it out and it was my baby and he still had his red collar on, but his fur was matted with burs,” Zolman said. “She was ecstatic and she was glad she could help and I was so excited.”
Zolman took the dog home and fed him Sunday because he was malnourished.
Zolman took Rudy to Underground Hound this morning to get his fur shaved and then to Animal Medical Center where he received a free thorough exam, and put him on antibiotics.
She gave him a bath at home today as well.
“It’s amazing to have him home and my heart is happy and I have my baby back and I can’t thank the lady enough who found my dog,” Zolman said.
She thanked the community for their concern. Zolman said there were strangers who came to the home with notes and gifts after learning Rudy had been missing. She also received e-mails, notes and phone calls.
“I have a stepping stone some lady had brought that said ‘Dogs Leave Paw Prints On Your Heart,’” Zolman said.
Zolman had offered a $1,500 reward for Rudy’s return. She said today she is working toward providing the reward. The woman who found the dog asked to remain anonymous.
(Story By The Times Union)
