Submitted
An only child who shared his entire 7-year-old life with his dog is desperately missing his best friend.
Looska has frequently boarded at Dogwood Kennels in Eastwood near Valhalla Golf Club during family vacations. Nearly 18 hours after she was seen running down Shelbyville Road by multiple witnesses and photographed five miles away by a local dog search team member, the family received a call from the boarding facility they never expected: Looska was missing.
A connection was quickly made between the stray dog, caught on video Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6:15 p.m. at Old Henry and English Station Road in Jefferson County, and the 8-year-old female brindle pit mix belonging to Patt and Yulia Comley, who are connected to the dog search group. “We never believed this could happen,” say the grieving parents, whose son James still puts food out for his four-legged sibling each night at the open gate to their Glenview yard. “We trusted them to take care of her.”
Dozens of volunteers immediately dispatched to search, hang thousands of LOST posters, hand out many more small flyers and spread the word on massive local social media platforms.
This effort has continued for nearly a month.
The confirmed, photographed sighting after Looska’s escape late on Feb. 29 is the last photo taken of the brindle female pit mix. Despite social and mainstream media coverage, coordinated door-knocking campaigns, hours of drone flights and boots on the ground efforts, and the retention of an expert tracker from the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Looska is still unaccounted for nearly a month later.
James and his parents actively pursue every reported sighting, which takes an emotional toll on the family when no resolution is found. Cryptic comments on Facebook posts are made without accompanying photographs, requiring immediate dispatch of volunteers to try to find and identify the reported loose animal. Calls of actual dog sightings are mixed with scam calls requesting “six-digit codes to prove ownership,” threats, and unimaginably vicious tales of the fate of this beloved 8-year-old companion pet.
City and state agencies tasked with the gruesome job of picking up deceased animals are on the lookout. Shelters, rescues, veterinarians and grooming facilities, pet supply stores and hundreds of businesses have been alerted to Looska’s loss. Louisville Metro Council representatives and social media influencers, rescues and shelters in several states have shared the heartbreaking story.
Looska has distinctive markings, including white on her entire chest, muzzle, all four paws, and full white fur ruff encircling her neck. Her body is a soft striped brown and tan, and she has a long tail and full ears.
With the enormous number of uncontained dogs in Jefferson County, pictures are essential to pinpoint search locations. Local animal advocate Tara Bassett, who leads #DogsOnTheRun502, maintains, “A picture is literally worth a thousand words, so please take a photo if you see any dog you believe might be Looska, and call our number on the flyer — 502-552-2605! Please DO NOT call her name or attempt to “catch” her, as she is in full flight mode. Call us and keep eyes on her until we can get to you. The last thing we wanted is for her to be driven to traffic and injured.”
Although her collar was removed for boarding, Looska has an up-to-date microchip, which requires only a free scan at any vet or shelter to bring her home. Yulia Comley asks everyone who sees their story, “Please help find Looska! Be on the lookout for any “new” dogs in your neighborhood, social media posts about found dogs, even unaccompanied dogs you see on the roadways. Take a picture and call us. James and Looska’s story isn’t over yet.”
Bassett adds, “#SnipChipTagContain is our hashtag. Alter and microchip your pets, put tags with your current phone number on their collars, and keep them on leashes and inside secure fences. We pick up way too many dead animals on the roadways, which is almost 100% preventable. Our heartfelt desire is to reunite this boy and his dog without further delay. Please help find Looska!”
Follow the search on Facebook @Help Find Looska and @Tara Bassett.
Tara’s pinned post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/BMW1S68ECzWT74FT/?mibextid=WC7FNe
WAVE:
Terry Meiners:
