The Facebook post showed up at 2:32 pm last Saturday.
My dads dog Lulu got out. She’s a 15 lb black havanese. If anyone sees her if you can grab her we would greatly appreciate it. She’s super people friendly.
The plea about a missing dog was posted on our Highland Haven neighborhood’s Facebook page. Right away we knew that Joe was the “dad” whose pet was loose. Joe and Jeanie have been Highland Lake neighbors for almost as many years as we have.
So we rallied all the Singley’s at Camp Singley to form a puppy posse to join the hunt for Lulu.
“Lulu!” Rebecca chirped in her pretty sing-song voice.
“Lulu!” came Ryan’s deepening teenage call.
Pete and Melissa headed north on Highland Haven Rd. while Sandy and I went South. We whistled, clicked our tongues and peered into the thick woods on either side of the dirt road.
No luck.
By now, we could hear other people whistling and calling Lulu’s name. We met one fellow who told us Lulu had actually gone missing about noontime. “She’s an “indoor” dog,” he told us. “Eleven years years old. Never been outside on her own.”
Our hearts sank. Highland Haven is a remote lakefront community nestled among tall pine trees and thick woods a full mile down a dirt road. The area is teeming with wildlife, including some predators. Just a few weeks ago we saw three coyote pups foraging along the roadside. Several of our neighbors have encountered black bears on their property. Not long ago, one woman was surprised in her backyard by a big mama bear and a couple of cubs.
Our woods are not a safe place for pets. Especially 11 year old dogs who’ve never been outside.
“Lulu!”
“Here girl!”
Whistle, whistle!
All around the neighborhood people were joining the search. And Facebook was lighting up with posts expressing their support for Joe and Jeannie and – of course – for Lulu.
Oh no. On our way home now … will go out and search.Awe thank you so so much, hopefully we find her before it gets darkOh goodness.. please let us know when you find her and she is home safe.I came down the road a little while ago. No dog but saw two fawns up by Loretta’s house.Still no luluHave you found her???🙏🏻
No. No lulu yet.It’s dark but everyone is still out lookingOh no….Ok gang. One of us needs help. Sooooo….leave your light on all night, in the AM open your door slowly, if the little pup is outside, call Jeannie or Joe. The little pup was heading east towards Joanne and Monica…Still no lulu it’s raining out so hopefully she is hunkered down somewhere. I can’t express how grateful our family is that everyone has been out searching for her all day and all night walking the woods and trails with us. We pray tomorrow we’ll get her home.
Rain. Lightning. Thunder. Strong wind gusts. Not a night for anyone to be outside.
Not a night for a little dog who’s never been outside in her life.
Alone.
Sunday dawned bright and clear.
Sandy and I got ready for church, deciding to first drive a circuit around the neighborhood in hopes of spotting Lulu.
“Lulu!”
“Here girl!”
Whistle! Whistle!
Nothing.
Other neighbors were already out too. Facebook was already showing new Lulu posts but no one could report good news. No sightings since noontime Saturday.
Noontime Sunday came.
And went.
A grim realization started settling upon all of us in Highland Haven.
Lulu might never be found.
Still, neighbors searched. No one was giving up.
Sunday, mid-afternoon…Facebook…
We think we just found Lulu. Can you let me know your address? Or your phone number.
Thank goodness for amazing neighbors. Lulu was found on Point Rd. Thank you everyone for pitching in and searching with us for the last 24 hours!!
Wow great news!
So very happy for you!
Aww- Lulu- we love you!!!!
Good news Jeanie. So glad you found her!!!
Wonderful!
Now that’s a Happy ending!
Thank you to the wonderful neighbors in Highland Haven Lulu is home safe and sound and we are so very grateful to all of You for searching for her tirelessly hour after hour for two days.when we went out after dark with the car to search the roads there were so many of you driving up and down the road with search lights calling and looking You gave our family hope that Lulu would be found with so many kind neighbors looking for her And for everyone keeping their lights on all night long and listening and checking all night .Our hearts were broken and we were so scared that lulu was hurt lost all alone and frightened she was spotted Three times once on the road when she first got out. Then twice deep in the woods. She was found by the Higgins family in the lake freezing and so tired she must have fallen into the lake and she was trying to climb up onto their pontoon boat. Thank you Thank you Thank you all you wonderful friends and neighbors!!