When her Little Dog Cried and Said Good-Bye
Harry Oakes, International K Search and Rescue

On August 6, 1996 Mountain Wilderness Search Dog (MWSD) Teams responded with two K-9 teams to try and find a kidnapping victim in Tennessee. Handler, Harry Oakes with Search and Rescue (SAR) Dog “Valorie" and Handler, Orlando Gomez with SAR Dog “Buddy” took time off work to assist on the case. National Missing Children's Locate Center out of Portland, Oregon donated the money to pay for two plane tickets on Delta Airlines. The teams, once there, were put in a donated room Travel Lodge. A van was also donated. We flew to the scene to try and help.

When we arrived at the little girl's home where she was abducted from, we found a little brown pregnant Dachshund named 'Mudpuddle". The sadness in her eyes said it all. Her heart was aching and broken and if you looked deep into her sad eyes you could see the tears. You could feel the emptiness and loneliness in her heart as her best friend, Jackie, was gone, taken by a monster, forever.

This criminal had stolen her 9 year old partner named "Jackie' from the front yard. After killing her, he had buried the little girl. But, the next day he unburied her and threw her body into the cold, dirty. waters of the nearby river.

When we started our search for the little girl, our hearts were filled with sadness when our dogs tracked the victim to the suspect's car, and then to where he performed his terror. When our dogs gave the death alerts in the suspect's vehicle, we knew that Jackie would never return to "Mudpuddle' or her family alive. When we were all done with our search, I was sitting down with my dog, Valerie, wiping the tears from my eyes. I was looking into the sky trying to find some answers and comfort in what we do, from G-d above. I felt a nudge. A soft gentle nudge of a little scared dog with a broken heart. She was asking me if she could share her pain.

In my heart as I looked deep into her big, brown, sad eyes, I could feel that she was asking me if her best friend was coming home. I pulled her close, gave her a long hug and kissed her gently on her head. I sadly told her that her best friend would never be coming home again and that 'It wasn't her fault at all." Her best friend, Jackie, was dead and I reassured 'Mudpuddle' that we shared in her loss and sorrow.'

You see, when l talked to Jackie's mother, I was told that 'Mudpuddle" never left Jackie's side. It Jackie got a both, so did "Mudpuddle'. If Jackie went to school, 'Mudpuddle' was there waiting to walk her home. When Jackie went to bed. "Mudpuddle" was lying there asleep next to Jackie on the bed protecting her from the night. They were inseparable. When Jackie disappeared that day, 'Mudpuddle' had been at her side and was forced by 'R' (the monster) to be separated from Jackie.

"Mudpuddle' was found by the family, police and searchers laying right at the spot where "R" abducted little Jackie, and where he had driven off with Jackie, leaving poor little 'Mudpuddle' alone in the rain, shivering and cold, crying for her Jackie.

"Mudpuddle" wouldn't leave the spot where her partner, Jackie, was taken from. "Mudpuddle' was never to see her friend alive again. When I saw the sadness in her heart and in her eyes, I held her close and reassured her that she did everything she could, and "this wasn't her fault." As I held "Mudpuddle' gently in my arms and talked with her, a peace seemed to come over her heart and "Mudpuddle' gently licked my chin and laid her head on my shoulder and whined. As the tears streamed down my face, I could feel a little broken heart next to mine.

I had to go, and as I walked my own SAR Dog 'Valorie' to the van, I looked back at "Mudpuddle” and bent down one more time and gave her a hug and a kiss and told her "she was a good girl.' 'Mudpuddle' walked towards the house, paused and looked back towards me as if to say: "Thank you for doing what you did for Jackie and me.' She then walked to Jackie's bedroom, lay at the entrance of the door and looked out to the woods and roads where Jackie disappeared, never to return again. She only moves to go to the bathroom and then she returns to Jackie's room, waiting.

My Letter to Jackie
Dear Jackie,
We did our best to find you, Orlando and I, along with your dog 'Mudpuddle' and our dogs "Valorie" and "Buddy". Your mom and dad searched day and night along with Billy Hale, an NMCLC Investigator, and a lot of good people from your home town. We were able to find enough evidence to put the monster that hurt you away forever. I just want you to know that though we never met you, you're a very lucky and special girl. You have a very special friend waiting for you. Ask G-d if you can come say good-bye to 'Mudpuddle’. She is pregnant and when she has puppies, this will give her someone else to love and hold dear, Jackie. "Mudpuddle" wanted me to say "she loves you and misses you and she just wanted to GOOD-BYE."

Your friends from Search and Rescue,
Harry, Valorie, Orlando and Buddy