Steffi situationer... (http://readlarrypowell.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/steffimug_2.jpg) From Spencer and Candi Sanders, two of the helpers in the search for missing German Shepherd Steffi, report that there will be a search Saturday. There's a meeting scheduled at 6:30 a.m. at the Central Baptist Church on Old Bynum Road in Hillsboro. If Steffi isn't found, there'll be a meeting at 11 a.m. Sunday on a school campus at 1014 Old Bynum Road. The Sanderses report that Channel 8 News from Dallas will be there at that time "so we need as many searchers there as possible and any tracking dogs that can come." (Travel directions: Take I-35 south to exit # 368B in Hillsboro. Exit there, follow service road to Old Bynum Road and turn right. The school and the church are just down the road from that point.) Scroll down to see previous posts about Steffi and how to contact Mark and Nancy Malone if you have foundor seen their dog. August 03, 2005 A Steffi spotting.... There's a nationwide effort to find a missing dog. It's nationwide, but it is focused near Hillsboro. The seach has nationwide support because this dog is known nationally and has been honored for her work. You may have seen the flyers, may have gotten an e-mail. The missing dog is Steffi, a German Shepherd therapy dog. Around noon, there was a sighting at a park in Hillsboro. Volunteers are there as this is being written (1:53 p.m.). We'll let you know as soon as we know. Here's how she came to be lost: She was riding in a northbound SUV on I-35 at Exit 367 near (http://readlarrypowell.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/steffimug.jpg) Hillsboro about 3:30 p.m. Sunday when there was a blowout and the vehicle overturned, according to Stella Moore, a friend of the family and a stalwart of the Dog Training Club of Dallas County. Sasha, also a German shepherd, was thrown from the vehicle and died. The driver, their devoted human, Mark Malone, was injured. After being Careflighted to Baylor-Ennis, he was treated for "a broken clavicle and ribs" and he returned that evening to the scene to hunt for Steffi, who had survived the crash and bolted from the area. He has been there day and night since Sunday. The search for Steffi soon grew to include other Therapy Dog people, Agility Dog people, firefighters, and volunteers from all over. One man has volunteered his airplane for a search, Stella says. Calls have come in from across the nation offering money for the reward and help of any kind. If you are traveling in the area or live in the area or have people who are in the area, here is the dog you should look for: Steffi is a long-haired, more black-than-tan German Shepherd. She weighs 70 pounds, is spayed and microchipped. She has been honored by Therapy Dogs International for her work. She was wearing collar tags and Therapy Dog International ID when last seen. When someone finds Steffi, they should call Stella at 214-943-6277 or e-mail _stella@xxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:stella@xxxxxxxxxxx) . Remember, this is a dog that has helped humans. It is time for humans to help this frightened dog. Here is a roundup from Stella regarding the massive team of people searching for this dog (this is mostly from her letter to Therapy Dog International thanking TDI for the help and updating the group): She has arranged a meeting with the Malones and Waco's KXXV-TV (Channel 25) and there are other publicity pushes underway. Therapy Dog International and the folks at the Baylor Medical Center Animal Assisted Therapy Dog Program are also involved in this. And Stella writes, "We just now received a pro-bono offer from U.S. Tactical K-9 Inc. -- a professional SAR corporation out of Abilene, Texas, that we are in process of accepting. We have had about 15-20 people down there yesterday and today and a tracking dog --but the SAR team is a HUGE offer ....We have an offer from a person to do an aerial search from a small airplane that we are in the middle of trying to put in place. We have involved police and fire departments in the area, as well as all shelters, all veterinarians, all human societies. People I don't know and have never met have sent me lists of place with contact information. People are notifying industrial offices and several contacted me to see what they can do to help. A group from Austin went yesterday to a Hillsboro office supply store and the store insisted they accept 100 free color copies of a flyer. The same Austin group went to Starbucks and there were 3 firemen there having coffee and as soon as they realized the group were searchers for Steffi (they were aware of the search) they came over and asked for copies of the flyer. "We have posted the word on the following internet lists: agility lists, flyball lists (Sasha was a Flyball Champion), obedience lists, all GSD lists, Belgian Shepherd dog lists, the Texas Stock dog Association, Herding lists, All breed kennel clubs, Mix-breed organizations, and many more. "I got an email from a woman I do not know in Florida who will be back in Texas today or tomorrow and grew up in that area that will join the search as soon as she is back. "People are taking off from work to join us in searching for Steffi. "We have a large Hillsboro Reporter advertisement coming out tomorrow. The Malones placed an advertisement, then I added to it and sent in a picture and then the wife of their veterinarian, "Dr. Mike" Athon, Cathy Athon, went there and paid for the entire greatly enlarged advertisement. Mrs. Athon also brought pictures of Steffi and contacted all the local veterinarians of the area. She and Dr. Mike continue to be involved in the search and in getting the word out. "Mark's dog club, The Dog Training Club of Dallas County, took up a collection last night and we have raised a substantial amount towards the reward .... "Mark is in great pain and he and his wife, Nancy, are exhausted. We are not giving up hope -- we MUST find Steffi and get her back to Mark and Nancy. mark is a prince and his two dogs were his angels." ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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