Christmas Saved: Patch Blogger Helps Reunite Boy with 'Doggie'

A 5-year-old was reunited with his stuffed animal thanks to the efforts of a mother, her children and the power of social networking.

Penni Lynne Day, a Patch blogger, was out with her family at the Westfield Annapolis Mall Wednesday when her daughter found a child's stuffed, white dog. 

Day said the dog had apparently been well-loved, given its raggedy condition.

"They can be a lot more important than people think," Day said.

Her daughter has her own toy—Bob—a Teddy bear, and from experience, Day said she knew exactly what the parents and the child must have been going through. Finding the owner became top priority.

Day asked for help on the Annapolis Patch Facebook page, and within a few hours, the owner was found. 

The owner, a 5-year-old boy, had named the stuffed toy "Doggie." The mother was alerted to the toy's whereabouts by friends on Facebook, who had heard of her child's woes.

As it turns out, the owner of the dog was aquainted with Day. Their children had even danced together at Coconut Joe's, she said.

"I'm just glad he was able to find it. I can't imagine a Christmas with my daughter if she didn't have her Bob," Day said. 

Day thanked everyone online who shared the post and made the reunion possible. 

Day writes the Annapolis Patch blog You Don't Look SICK, "A local Mom's mis-adventures, and ins and outs of trying to live a normal life, with a chronic, progressive (not the cool kind), and debilitating neuromuscular illness. "

Read more about Day's adventures here.