Just before the start of 2015, a family was reunited when Rocky Rudin, a black and white Dhih Tzu and Bichon mix, was found and secured by his owner.
A three-day search that had involved hundreds of people in the community, many of them kind strangers, finally came to an end once the lost dog was secured with a leash and in the arms of owner Debbie Rudin of Deerfield.
The family dog was staying with Ellen Stamler of Buffalo Grove, who had agreed to pet sit for her sister Debbie Rudin. On December 27, a door at her residence became ajar, allowing Rocky to escape into the nearby park.
Immediately, a community rescue effort was organized, with volunteers searching 24/7, while leaflets and a Facebook page spread the word of the missing dog and how to contact his owners.
It was through these efforts that Shannon McKenzie, a Woodstock resident working in an office building along Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove, spotted the lost dog in a ditch and, having recognized him from the various notices around town, was able to contact his owners. Both Rudin and McKenzie praised the power of social media and the kindness of their community, as people came together to offer help and comfort.
Missing pets are often reunited with their owners with the help of flyer and poster printing services.
