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 On July 16th Cooper and Magda made the great escape leaving behind a distraught family. As Mrs. Dickerson recounts, the next 25 days were exhausting as they diligently searched near and far.
Then 26 days after Cooper and Magda went missing Mrs. Dickerson received a call from her husband, “The Humane Society just called. They said they just got in two dogs that match Cooper and Magda’s description."
Read the full-story as told by Mrs. Dickerson...
"Losing a pet is like losing one of your limbs. Your body no longer feels whole. You walk around knowing something is missing. You can’t sleep, can’t eat and can’t think straight. The house just doesn’t feel the same.
Our two dogs, Cooper and Magda, got out of the front door Thursday, July 16. My husband had been getting ready for work and didn’t know they got out for about 15 minutes. He immediately called me and then he set out on foot to search. I rushed home from work to wait at the house in case they came right back. They didn’t come back.
We walked the parks and the streets. We put signs up all over town. We missed work. We slept on the couch with the front door open. We came home every day hoping they found their way home. We prayed, we cursed, we called all the vets and shelters. We searched every time we left the house, we followed leads and we visited the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and Birmingham Animal Control every 48 hours.
After 7 days we were exhausted. We did not stop though. We checked Craigslist, posted on Facebook, we sent out hundreds of emails. Kind people came out of the woodwork to help us call vets and post signs. We never lost hope although we were beginning to accept that they were either dead or someone kind had taken them in (we hoped). I cried a whole lot. The grief is so real and so painful.
26 days after they went missing (which is 19 days after the average lost pet is found), I got a call from my husband. "The Humane Society just called. They said they just got in two dogs that match Cooper and Magda’s description."
Not daring to get my hopes up, I drove to Snow Drive as fast as I could, alternately praying and telling myself it probably wasn’t them. We had had so many dead-end leads that only ended in us feeling more loss. When I arrived at the Receiving Office, I was shaking like a leaf. They led me back to the holding cages … and I saw them. The faces we had searched for and dreamed about and thought about for 26 days. I think I actually dropped to my knees. I know I was sobbing, “It’s them, it’s them”. When I looked up I was surrounded by staff, all wearing big smiles, and a few faces showing tears too. Our dogs were healthy and happy and strong.
Turns out a nice lady had picked up our dogs on a street near our house. She took care of them, loved on them and treated them as we would any wandering animal. She brought them to GBHS because she could no longer take care of them.
What amazes me is this: within the same time frame that our dogs were dropped off, Jerett New, the Director of Operations, was setting up a new bulletin board to showcase the lost pets. Right after the lady left, he saw the flyer I had left with them weeks before. He knew it was them.
The call was made and our dogs were returned all under an hour! I don’t know what would have happened if the GBHS staff hadn’t been so caring, so diligent, so passionate about what they do. I owe them so much, but I know they do this because they love each and every animal they come in contact with.
I’m writing this the same night we got our babies back. Cooper is snoozing on the couch and Magda is curled up on our bed. We are sitting in our recliners, feeling complete. Our house is whole again." | 
Imagine losing your best friend because you’re having trouble making ends meet. Though heartbreaking, this scenario happens every day in our community.
Are you looking for a playful, entertaining, and all around loving pup? If so, 
It’s time for “Dog Days of Summer” Giving Grille at the Mtn. Brook Whole Foods Market! There will be a Blues band playing for a couple of hours, great food, a dog wash, and various product demonstrations. The Giving Grille is $5 per person and you get a sandwich of choice - burger, hot dog, or Portobello sandwich - plus chips, & a drink. 