To the editor:

What an amazing city we live in. Fireworks after the Super Bowl spooked our 9-year-old shepherd malamute mix name Maddie. She broke the gate on our fenced back yard and was gone. Between social media, great neighbors and dog trappers Rusty Holliday and Patty Davis, the search was on. Signs went up around the neighborhood and businesses, and flyers were shown to dog-walkers everywhere. Maddie was only sighted twice in 10 days, but we couldn’t find her. It seems everyone was looking for her. The searching, encouragement, vigilance and prayers kept coming through multiple social media sites, messages and texts. People kept asking where they could look — so many people wanting to help. Delivery and service drivers, including Journal-World driver, had the flyer, all willing to keep their eyes open. It was overwhelming. Finally, 10 days later, she was spotted in Naismith Park, almost five miles from home. We finally caught her.

Once I posted Maddie’s safe return on social media, the outpouring continued; there was a huge collective sigh of relief from all the pet lovers in the area as they know fur-babies are part of the family. There are now over 2,000 likes and hundreds of comments on social media about Maddie’s return. With all the tension in the world today, it really confirms faith in humanity. Thank you Lawrence, you rock!

Peggy and Felix Smalley and Maddie,

Lawrence