Dulcie's Page

This is Dulcie. She was three years old when she was stolen,and is now five (as of March '99.) She is spayed. She was stolen from in front of our house on March 31, 1997. We live in Cle Elum, Washington, which is in central Washington State, and lies along I-90. Dulcie could be anywhere, and I am heartbroken over her loss.

Dulcie is very shy. I got her when she was 5 months old, and she had originally been sold to someone who somehow abused her or put her through some kind of trauma. (This man only had her for three days, and eventually ended up in jail.) She was scared to death of everything when her breeder got her back, and was a difficult dog to place. I got her because I work well with abused animals.

Dulcie loved me, my boyfriend, and my eight year old son. But it took her two years before she would allow my two teenaged boys to pet her. She loved my other dogs and my cats, but did kill some of my chickens. She was around my son's pony, liked my birds, and seems to do well around most animals, but she is just extremely shy around people. She will just tuck her tail and move off. She will sometimes give a very low growl, just to emphasize she wants to be left alone.

I don't think Dulcie is going to adapt to another family or person. I can't see her bonding to anyone else. I know she is still scared and confused, and I know she wants to come home. I worry about her constantly, and she is always on my mind. She is not "just a dog", she is my baby and I want her home. I cannot give up looking for her, nor can I stop my tears.

I have had over 1,500 flyers printed up, and they are all over the state of Washington,and now, all over the US and Canada. I give one to every Dalmatian-owned person I can, as well as anyone who loves dogs. They are in the hands of Dalmatian breeders, owners, rescue people, and club members, as well as shelters, veterinarians, pet shops, etc. I have given flyers to meter readers, UPS delivery men, postal carriers, telephone repair men, and the men who deliver oil and gas in the area. I will be getting more flyers printed, and will continue to pass them out. I cannot give up looking for my dog, anymore than if she were indeed one of my birth children. I encourage everyone to print out her flyer from this page, (click on the printable flyer link) and to please give copies to vets, groomers, and pet shops.

If you should see her, please notify me. Call Lisa at (509) 674-5625. Our e-mail address is dalmatia@eburg.com and our postal address is P.O.Box 770, Roslyn, WA 98941. If you see her, please me call collect, immediately. (I have been very far behind in answering the many emails I have gotten about Dulcie. I want to thank everyone for the kind thoughts and well wishes, but I have FibroMyalgia Syndrome very badly, and do not have the energy needed to keep up on all the email.

I appreciate good thoughts being sent her way, and prayers for her return and safety. I would also like to hear of any experiences others may have had with pets missing for long periods of time, and finding their way home. I have been asked many times how I know she was stolen, rather than just run way. She'd never run away, and the story of how it happened is below.

How It Happened:
She was stolen from in front of our house in broad daylight. I believe she was trapped between a vehicle and some very dense brush--no escape. I was in the house at the time, cleaning my lorikeet's cage in the bathroom, and did not even know she was out. With a noisy bird on my shoulder and water running, I heard nothing. My boyfriend, George, had let her out along with two of my other dogs. He was on the side of the house, sorting through some hay, when he heard some little dogs barking, but did not recognize them as ours. He is not really a dog person, as I have been all my life. I know now that it was PeeWee and Grizzly barking for help so frantically that he did not recognize their voices. (I would drop everything anytime a dog barks like that to see why--but he is not the "dog person" I am.) When he finally went to check about 15-20 seconds or so later, nothing was there. In the meantime, I had let the two in, and they shot through the door as though some monster was after them. They lay on the floor with a very worried, scared look on their faces, and I knew something was wrong.

George came in and then said Dulcie was still outside, and I went out to call her. No sign of her--and my blood turned to ice and my stomach knotted up and I KNEW she had been stolen! When I let my other dogs out to pee, they ALL went to that spot in the road, across from our mailbox, and sniffed and sniffed and sniffed--in a kind of urgent manner. They were telling me that this is where she was taken from. And there, in the gravel, was a small pile of soft dog poop--she excreted there in her moment of terror.

I immediately went to the police station, and then began calling shelters. I ended up with a phone bill of nearly $500 just on phone calls to shelters, rescue people, etc. I got a copy of the Seattle and Yakima papers, and called all the people selling Dal puppies, and got addresses and sent flyers out to them. (One of those was Marchal Irwin, a woman who was in tears during our phone conversation, who insisted I take one of her puppies. I'd told her I already been offered quite a few, and really did not want another, but she insisted I come down as she wanted to meet me. She insisted I take the pup she called Deva. I had no intentions of bringing home another Dal, but Deva "melted into" me that day, and I am grateful for Marchal's generosity. Deva is a real clown, and makes me laugh, but she cannot fill the empty spot in my heart and in my life. That spot is for Dulcie only. (Pictures of Deva are below.)

If other Dalmatian people would like to be linked to this site, please let me know. Please encourage others to spay and neuter their dogs, and to microchip. One woman in Lynnwood was reunited with her microchipped dog when after her dog escaped from her captors, she was hit by a car. She was taken to a vet who scanned her, and so she was reunited. I did not microchip Dulcie, as I thought she was far too shy to ever allow anyone close enough to grab her. Was I ever wrong! I have heard quite a few horror stories of Dals being stolen or nearly so. One couple at the Yakima dog show related how their Dalmatian was tied in their front yard. A car pulled up in their driveway, a woman got out, and reached out to unhook the dog. The woman who owned the dog was on her knees in the flower garden, and jumped up in time to scare them off. The man's only regret was that he did not see it happen, while holding a shotgun at the same time.

This sign is in front of our house by our mailbox. I hope the person(s) who stole Dulcie will return to the scene of the crime. I want so desperately for them to know how much I want her home, and that I am not going to give up on her. I ask people to send her the message that if she can get away, to run to a good person, that someone out there will help bring her home. (What is somewhat amazing to me about this sign is that any time I do artwork, it takes forever and I am never satisfied with the results. This sign was done in an hour--sketched and painted--and I am happy with how it looks. Upon close examination, there is a life-like quality in the eyes. I feel I had some kind of "help" in getting this sign done, from somewhere outside of myself. It is the best and most important work I have ever done.)

I continue to hand out flyers, and to try to meet other Dalmatian owners. I beg that if people own Dalmatians (or any breed) that they do not plan to show, to PLEASE spay and neuter their pets! If anyone wants or knows someone wanting a pet, please contact breed rescue groups or adopt from a shelter and save a life. Some of the larger cities have lower cost spay and neuter clinics, and some may even have financial aid for those who qualify.

I have have heard from some wonderful, very caring people who have seen Dulcie's page. I try to answer each of them, and for everyone who sees this and does send prayers and words of caring and comfort--THANK YOU! You all help me with your support, and that helps sustain my strength. I will not give up hope. I have met women who have lost their dogs for 14 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, and even as long as 9 months. I hope and pray I don't have to wait that long for our reunion.

In the past two years, I have heard of many stories where dogs are reunited after years of being gone, some as long as four to six years. One dog was reunited after nine years!

Update: July 25, 2001)
My sister's chihuahua mix was found after being gone for nearly sixteen months. I was called by a woman in Phoenix who had him picked up, and then checked some web sites where I had posted his photo and information. Read Chico's story here. I hope to have updated pics of him soon.

If any one has lost a dog or cat and would like to contact me for ideas on various ways to get the word out, please feel free to contact me. My heart breaks every time I see a new ad for yet another lost precious friend. I always encourage people to contact Last Chance for Animals.

Last Chance for Animals was founded in 1985 by Chris DeRose to fight pet theft, as so many of them end up in research. Please contact LCA and they will be happy to give you more information on the devastation of pet theft and what happens to our beloved stolen pets. You can also help fund this fight by checking out Animal Charity Fundraising Program

I would like to share some pictures of Deva, who gives me love and laughter through all of this. I hope soon I can post some happy pictures of my sweet baby Dulcie and Deva together. Thanks to all.

And so my search continues...
I would like to thank everyone who sends an email. I have received a lot of encouragement from you. I do try to answer them all individually, but there are so very many that sometimes I do not have enough time to get to them all. They are very important to me, though. Today is the 25th of December, 1998. Dulcie has been gone for nearly 21 months now, and this is my second Christmas without her. I am not giving up my search. Please keep her in your prayers.

I have added a few things today, March 6, 1999. The two year anniversary of Dulcie's theft is fast approaching. I hope and pray that she will be home soon.

Please be sure to check out my Fannie's story. I adopted this Dalmatian sight unseen from an overcrowded shelter in West Virginia, and the story of how she came to me is a heartwarming one. She had been in and out of the shelter adn foster homes for three months, and her time was up. Fannie was very nearly stolen (I think) by a dishonest truck driver during her transport out to me. Please be sure to read her story on her "Uncle Frank's" page at the Dalhouse...just click on the Rescues page at The Dalhouse.

If you would like to help rescue dalmatians, and/or other rescue dogs, get to their new homes, please check out the SPOTS page. (Spots 'n' Pals Overland Transport Service) We would love to have your help!

Click here for Links for Dalmatian Information

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Sierra

My Dog, Your Dog
-1997 by Jenny Adams

Click to subscribe to PetTheftSupport I have started a new list to help those who have also experienced pet loss through theft. Feel free to join if it will help you in coping.

Click to subscribe to DalRescue
DalRescue is my list at ONElist.com. This list is dedicated to helping Dals in need of new homes. We list Dals needing homes and homes looking to add a dal to the family. This is a great resource for those who are looking to add a Dalmatian to their families.

My Pages

Dulcie's Page
Dulcie's Legacy
A Printable Flyer
More on Dulcie's Disappearance
Dulcie's Songs, Poems and Inspirations
Update on Dulcie (rumor)
Banners for Dulcie

Lost, Missing, and Stolen Pets Information
Banners for My Stolen Pets Information Page

Last Chance for Animals
Animal Charity Fundraising Program

My Dalmatians (Deva is on Dulcie's Page)
Meet My Fannie...My Rescue Dalmatian (click on "Rescues")
Nell, my Dumped Dalmatian
Derby, my First Liver, First Male Dalmatian
Lazarus, my Second Liver Rescued Dal Boy
Phoebe, my Santa Ana Baby

Dalmatian Information and Links

Cinder, a Dal looking for a Home

My Ferret Links
My Bird Links

Duke and a Scam Alert
Humorous Song about a Back Yard Breeder

FibroMyalgia Links

Help find Rumble, Lost in Chester, VA

Links²Go Key Resource
Missing Pets Topic

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Last Updated on January 3, 2003