Missing pet

I was a victim of a crime, a silent one. I couldn't call 911, or ask for Amber Alert as I would have been told "We're not here for that, are you insane? Get over it!" Well, getting over it is not easy for me.

On May 23, my Yorkie dog got out of my home on Aston Marin Drive, near Corvette. Someone opened the door and didn't tell me they were leaving it opened so that I could have put her in a room with the doggie gate. She was gone for maybe 10 minutes. At first I checked the back yard, no Annie. Panic set in. My family searched everywhere, knocking on doors. She disappeared in a heartbeat.

I know someone took her. If they were concerned about the welfare of the animal they would have searched for her family or turned her into the SPCA; instead they took something that doesn't belong to them and that scares me. What will happen to my Annie? Is she eating, getting water or are they selling her or abusing her?

I have my suspicions from what a neighbor said and where the search dog took us to, and also someone who heard something, but I can't prove anything. I'm not getting over this any time soon. I will forever miss my Annie. It took me years of savings to get her. I can't afford another and even if I could, she cannot be replaced.

To the person who took Annie, I hope you feel good about yourself, you could have been my hero but you are a thief. You turned my life upside down more than you will ever know. When Annie was eight weeks old she chose me, she didn't choose you. You took her against her will and if she had the right to choose now, she would come back to me. That makes me question what kind of a person you are.

All I have now is her blanket, box of toys, a strand of her hair from her first hair cut and pictures I can't bring myself to look at. she wasn't just a dog, she was the center of my life, my companion and my friend. I hope that wherever she is, she is being cared for. Time won't be healing my pain any time soon. I'll continue to look for her but I know deep down she's never coming back to me.

Barbara Theado
Sebring