To the editor:

On the weekend of Jan. 5, my daughter and I traveled from Oklahoma to Lawrence to adopt a dog from a local breeder. We acquired the dog (a retired show dog named “Vader”), and were getting ready to return home when he bolted from the hotel.

After about an hour of trying to track him down, my daughter posted about this runaway on local Facebook neighborhood and “Lost and Found” pet groups. Within minutes, the posts had not only been shared, but people were out in the neighborhoods looking. Some folks even took to their cars to search in the area where he had been last seen.

After nine hours and many conversations with people who had seen the posts, we and his breeder and “first mom” managed to get him back. We then decided that he was a one-mom dog and best suited to stay with her. All was not lost, however, as we were able to adopt another dog from the breeder’s sister.

This letter is a thanks to the local Humane Society, police, staff at the SpringHill Suites hotel as well as all of the caring neighbors and Lawrence citizens who helped. Your concern for strangers is to be commended. We hope if you ever make it to Oklahoma City that your kindness and hospitality to us can be returned.

Kay Lindsey,

Oklahoma City