ASCHAE’s DogBlog

Source: kaaltv.com, Feb 3, 2010

The search is on for a Rochester dog that went missing during a 40-car pile-up in Iowa.

The Johnson family is now hanging missing posters across the area, hoping to bring their little Pomeranian home.

Condolence cards are mixed with wanted posters in the Johnson household.

“We’d really love to have him back. He’s a part of the family. They’re just like kids you know,” said Kathy Johnson.

Johnson is talking about her dog “Bear”.

He’s been missing since January 25th; the day Kathy and her husband Craig got into a 40-car pile-up on I-35.

Kathy, and her other Pomeranian “Boo” survived.  Craig did not.

“I’d rather have Craig, but second best would be everybody’s safety, and having the family whole again, and that would be Bear,” said Johnson.

There have been alleged sightings.  Farmers saying they’ve seen Bear on their land, or perhaps the most promising story…

“We’ve also heard where a trucker stopped and told the state trooper that he found a little dog,” said Johnson.

ABC 6 NEWS tracked down that trooper, who confirmed that a man came up to him at the accident scene with a dog that he found running around.

“We’re just hoping that maybe he has bear,” said Johnson.

The trooper needed to focus on the accident, so the man offered to take the dog with him on a work trip to Oklahoma, saying he’d check back in when he got back to Albert Lea in a few weeks.

“We’re not absolutely certain it’s Bear, but he described it as a small dog with a tag,” said Johnson.

The problem is no one knows who the trucker is, or if the dog he found is even Bear and the Johnsons are hoping someone in Albert Lea will see this story and make the connection.

“It’s just heartbreaking to think of them in the cold, or wandering around, so I’m just hopeful that someone has him and is taking good care of him,” said Johnson.

Bear is a larger copper-colored Pomeranian.

He’s between the ages of 2 and 4, with long hair and white spots.

Johnson says he’s extremely timid and afraid of loud noises.

If you have any information, please call the ABC 6 NEWS tip line at 1-866-6-NEWSTIP.

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UPDATE:  Since the airing of this story, the Iowa State Patrol has confirmed that the dog the trucker picked up is not Bear.  So the search for continues.