Man finds, returns lost dog with community’s help

During a visit to Bend, a Christmas Valley man lost his dog. With the help of Bend Spay and Neuter and concerned citizens, he was able to reunite with his dog after just one day.

Last Wednesday, Michael Stettler was doing some grocery shopping at Safeway in northeast Bend. Before he went in the store, he left the window of his pickup truck open. That’s when Volffie jumped out and started to roam.

Volffie is a five-year-old “Heinz 57” breed. When he jumped out of his truck, he started to roam around the Safeway parking lot.

That’s when Brek Paul noticed Volffie, and decided to take action.

“I just kind of patted my leg and had him come back over to my truck, where I opened the door — and he just hopped right in and laid down,” Paul said. “It was clear to me that he kind of needed a little bit of help.”

Paul took Volffie in and went home, then posted to Craigslist to see if anyone was looking for the dog.

“Concern, care and action for somebody else’s dog, animal or pet — it touched me,” Stettler said. “It let me know that there’s still good people out there.”

Stettler also notified Bend Spay and Neuter, who passed the word on to their Furry Friend Finder group.

“When he was missing, he was just so distraught when I talked to him, and then just to hear the joy in his voice was just really cool,” said Megan Wellinghoff, executive director of Bend Spay and Neuter.

As an owner of two dogs, Paul said he couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to lose your dog with no hope of finding it.

“Sometimes it’s the little things that we do for other people (that) makes the biggest difference in their lives, and it was just a nice opportunity to help someone out,” Paul said.

Paul said Volffie seemed depressed without his owner, and it was a joy to see the two reunite — something Stettler is thankful for.

“For the concern that he demonstrated in the rain, in a parking lot, dog roaming around,” Stettler said. “He loves animals, and had a genuine concern for my dog being a complete stranger.”

Bend Spay and Neuter Project say if you lose your pet, visit http://www.bendsnip.org/ to notify the Furry Friend Finder group.