| From Martha Freeman, St. Louis, MO: Friday night, our worst nightmare happened. Tucker, our cat, was on our outside deck and suddenly got spooked. We frantically searched for him until dark, scouring the neighborhood and calling his name. Losing Tucker was most difficult for us, as just six months ago we lost three other cats, as well as our home, in a horrific fire. The thought of losing another pet was unbearable. At first light we began searching again Saturday morning. After a fruitless search, my husband came in and searched the internet for information on finding lost cats. I was ecstatic to find Bonnie Hale, a pet detective, in the St. Louis area. I immediately called Bonnie, who said that she and Murphy would drop what they were doing and come help us look for Tucker. When Bonnie arrived she asked about Tucker's behavior, told us how scent detection dogs work, and did a great job of not raising our expectations too high. We discussed what to do if Murphy was unsuccessful. Then the search began. Bonnie gave Murphy Tucker's scent from one of the cat's toys and told him "Find the Kitty!" Murphy was incredible. From the beginning, it was very obvious that he could smell the cat where we could see nothing. [About 2 hours later,] came a magical moment--Murphy gave a convincing signal that he had found his mark...it was indeed Tucker! It was the happiest day of my life. I write this in my excitement and enthusiasm for what I witnessed, and will never forget. I feel passionate and hope to spread the word of Bonnie and her wonderful dog Murphy throughout our community so others too can benefit from the service they provide. |
| From Brittany Aethranis, Knoxville, TN: When I lost my dog, I had no idea what to do. We had looked for him, but I had reached a point where I was just crying and waiting for him to come home. When I spoke to Bonnie, she gave me the tools and the tips I needed to get into action. My attitude changed from a person waiting for her dog into a person working to find her dog. My family and I were in such a frantic state, and Bonnie's calm voice telling me where to get started and where to go next put me in a better frame of mind to find Tank. Sure enough, we did get him back after 3 days, healthy and doing great. I will forever be thankful to Bonnie for helping me and empowering me in a time when I felt so helpless. In the future, I will recommend that the first step for anyone with a lost pet is to call Bonnie. |
| From The Garrett Family, St. Charles, MO: Pepe is our very typical outdoor access cat who had followed the same pattern for 12 years. When he went outside on Saturday, April 26, and did not return within 1 hour, we knew something was wrong. My husband and I were [traveling] in Mexico, so our children were in charge of the search for Pepe. With the help of neighbors, they combed the area and placed 12 professionally made signs around a mile radius of our home. After four days of prayers, I decided to search the internet for help and found Bonnie Hale. Bonnie and Murphy came to our home and calmed our teens, providing resources and expertise in locating lost pets. When I returned from Mexico, I immediately continued the search following Bonnie's expert advice. We were persistent and not afraid to get dirty! We walked through mud and crawled through pipes and came up with an area we believed Pepe was hiding. We set a trail home and after 11 days and 17 hours, Pepe got home safe, wet and muddy...and two pounds lighter! If your cat is missing, there is hope. Her name is Bonnie Hale. |
| Lost Pet Specialist...helping people get their lost pets home!! |