Kindlandia: The Kindness of Strangers: Lost Dog Returned!

My granddog, Curry, went missing Friday night. Curry was having a sleepover with a neighbor while my daughter Kizzie Marie was camping with friends and climbing Mt. St. Helens. Good news is that within a day Curry was found and reunited with her sleepover host family. I want to share the acts of generosity and kindness that brought about this reunion.

Thankfully, the host family noticed soon after Curry’s Houdini escape out of the fenced yard. A brisk combing of the neighborhood connected the family with a couple dog walkers who’d seen a man holding a dog with Curry’s description by the collar and appeared to be dialing the owner’s number from the dog tag. The walkers went on and had no further information.

Knowing that Kizzie Marie was out of cell range and the call would only go to voice mail, I wondered what the man would do with Curry when there was no response?

I’ve rescued pets before and held them until I could connect with their families. They have all been small dogs and cats easily coaxed into a carrier or into the back of my SUV. Curry, however, is the size of a golden lab, deaf, arthritic, and shy. I worried, that when the man did not reach my daughter, what would happen next? Was Curry too large, too cumbersome, or too fearful to rescue? Would she be left on the street? Would animal control be called? If he did take Curry home, was he an honorable person who would try to reunite Curry to her owner or keep her for himself? The hours dragged on.

I posted a plea on Facebook with her photo in hopes Curry might be spotted. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of concern and kindness from all over the world:

I am so sad that she is missing.

Fingers crossed that Curry will be back home very soon!

Oh no, hope Curry is soon reunited with her loving family! Prayers, love, and hugs to you all! ?????
 
After reading about Curry’s being missing, a friend from Renton, filled with compassion, rode his bike for over an hour in the middle of the night in hopes of finding our lost dog.

Finally, I received the text I’d hoped and prayed to read. My daughter drove out of the National Park to a coffee shop and checked her messages. She contacted the man who’d found Curry. This generous and kind man had indeed taken Curry home and cared for her through the night. The host family was notified and picked her up. Immediately, my daughter posted the good news:
 
FOUND! A wonderful man picked her up and took great care of her. Getting her back today!

Words of celebration and relief poured in:

??❤️❤️?  This is the most wonderful news! and has made my Saturday evening great across the pond in the UK Love & hugs to Curry and family xoxoxo

Fabulous! Welcome home Curry!  Bravo???

Thank goodness–especially the goodness of the man who found Curry and cared for her! I am so relieved and happy she will be at home with you, Kizzie Marie!

In my relief as I reviewed the Facebook thread, I was stunned to note the post had been shared 11 times, and there were 58 reactions and 57 comments. I had been comforted by the kindness of my Facebook community (family, friends, and many only known via FB posts across the miles) during the worrisome hours of waiting and rejoiced at the kindness of the community celebrating Curry’s safe return.
 
“Like thousands of others, we survived the storm and the many dark days that followed because of the kindness of strangers …” This quote from former US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy captures my feelings. This story had a happy ending due to the compassion and kindness of strangers. I am grateful not only for the one kind man who rescued Curry, but for the community of kind folk who reached out to us.