Has anyone seen Teddy?

Editor,

I am asking the residents of Mission Valley to please help me find out what has happened to our lovable, affectionate and gentle friend, Teddy. He is an un-neutered, white malamute-shepherd, wearing a red collar. He has been missing for over two weeks. Teddy is a good dog. Not once in his lifetime has he run away or been gone for more than a few hours. He is playful, friendly, and loves people (especially babies and kids) does not bark or bite and is a friend to anyone who will pet him. Two former landlords will tell you that he doesn't bother livestock or neighbors.

If truth be told, many people in the Polson, Pablo and Ronan area have seen Teddy often riding on the tool box of my old teal colored Dodge pickup, or in the back of my beat-up Nissan pickup (white with "Bill's Superheat" on the doors), and in the driver's seat of our Ford Festiva. Several people have asked me over the years if he has a driver's license. You have probably seen us at the park, Teddy dragging me from tree to tree so that he can "mark his spot." Everywhere Teddy went people knew that he was friendly and had to pet him. At the drive-in he usually received a snack. He is the best dog we have ever had.

After two weeks of searching my family and I are lost, not knowing what else to do or where to look next. Since the day he disappeared my wife Linda has spent countless hours putting up fliers all over the valley, in every store and business that would let her, and in mailboxes everywhere. We have knocked on doors and called his name until our hands are sore and voices gone, searching for someone who may have seen Teddy and the puppy. We have contacted the animal shelter on a daily basis, the police and the radio station. After searching fields, ditches, roadsides, dump sites and everywhere else we can think of, we still cannot find anyone who has seen Teddy. It is as if both dogs just disappeared off the face of the earth. Can the people in this beautiful valley please help us?

After two weeks of searching, we have given up hope of finding Teddy alive. We know that there is a good chance he may have been shot for being near livestock, or another reason justified in the mind of the person responsible. Yet, knowing this is a possibility is not enough. We must find out what has happened to him. If possible we would like to retrieve his body so that we can say our good-byes.

Can the person(s) responsible for Teddy's disappearance give us that much? We do not want revenge — only closure. Nor will we hold hate in our hearts for those responsible. We do not need to know the name(s) of those involved, or the name of the person who helps us find Teddy. This information is of no concern to us. We are a forgiving family who needs to know what happened to our loving friend Teddy.

Please help us by calling local numbers 249-3822 or 249-7000, or by mailing us a note to P.O. Box 1238 Polson, MT 59860

I would also like to inform dog owners in the Forman Rd. area that I found a neighbor's dog shot a few hundred yards from its home. It was at the end of the road in the new subdivision at the top of Forman Rd. It was within the subdivision boundaries and looked to be a 30-caliber bullet. Whoever did this is lucky they didn't hit a child!

Our heartfelt thanks to the lady who called me in response to the radio ad on Sept. 23. Although it wasn't Teddy, you are the only person who responded and we appreciate the help.

Scott Mansfield

Polson