Woman Searches for Lost Dog After Neighbor Gives Her Away

Can you imagine someone else adopting your pet after it got loose?

That's what happened to one Loganville resident last weekend. Megan Safran told Loganville Patch that her black labrador-poodle mix, River, went missing from her home in the Fox Chase subdivision near Old Loganville Highway and Highway 78 around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. 

She searched and went door-to-door around her neighborhood, and continued in the neighborhood next to hers. There, she spoke with two boys who claimed their neighborhood friend had her, so they directed her to their friend's house. No one was home, so Safran left a message on the door around 5:30 p.m. 

The neighbor called Safran 45 minutes later explaining that she had given River away. She had taken the dog around the neighborhood for a while to find the owner, then took her to PetSmart in Loganville since the pound was closed. The adoption center at the pet store told the neighbor that they couldn't take River, so, while standing in front of the store, she gave River away to a woman who wanted a dog. 

"It was not a malice thing done," said Emily Goldstein, who is helping find River. "The woman could not take the dog home and did not know what to do. When an animal is not microchipped or has tags, not many folks know what to do."

The mix-up gets worst: The neighbor didn't get any information at all about the woman, but assured that she was a dog lover and was going to see if she could find River's true owner. 

"I don't even know if I would believe this story if it weren't literally happening to me," Safran said. "I'm so completely heartbroken." 

Like many pets, River is very near and dear to Safran. She rescued the pup, now 2 years old, at a pound in Columbus, Ga., last year right before she was to be euthanized.  

"She's just the sweetest dog," Safran continued. "That's why I think someone was so willing to take her from PetSmart. Everyone who's ever met my dog loves her. She's just a little bundle of joy."

Goldstein, a local woman dedicated to helping pet owners find their lost pets, posted about the lost dog only Monday (Nov. 25). As of late afternoon Tuesday (Nov. 26), the post has received more than 650 shares on Facebook, and tips have been coming in from all over. 

One of those tips could lead Safran right to River, but she won't know until later this week. A woman texted her Monday with photos of a dog whom Safran firmly believes is her pup. The woman, who saw the Patch post about River, had gone to a surprise party Saturday and saw a friend with a similar-looking dog. 

But the woman's friend is currently out of town and can't be reached until Wednesday or Thursday. 

"She sent me a picture of my dog, and I can just tell it's her," said Safran. "I'm hoping within the next 24 to 48 hours that I will have my dog back."

Until she can speak with the woman's friend, Safran has been searching like crazy. She's posted flyers at PetSmart, the surrounding stores and the local veterinarian offices around the area, and she's keeping her eyes open.

River being gone isn't just hard on Safran, though. She also has two other little dogs who miss her dearly.

"Every time I walk through the door without River, they're like, 'Where is she? Bring her back,'" she said. "They're very mad at me." 

If you believe you've seen River, contact Megan Safran at 404-468-0959.