After 'Ruff' Week, Missing Dog Dobby Found in Plainfield

Following a week filled with worry for the family of Dobby, a chihuahua/pomeranian mix who went missing July 24, the lost dog tale has a happy, albeit strange, ending. 

For the past seven days, Patty Spinner Hudelson, Dobby's owner, has been circulating flyers throughout Westfield, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Garwood and Mountainside with the help of volunteers in the hope that her family's beloved pet would be found.

Her tenacity paid off this morning when a public safety officer from Union County College's Cranford campus called to say he had seen her flyer and believed he knew where her dog was. The man explained that his neighbors had a new dog whom they were calling 'Dobby' who was identical to the dog on Hudelson's flyer. The man offered to take Hudelson to the address after his work day ended at 4 p.m. 

"I didn't want to wait that long and was able to locate his address through other means," Hudelson explained. "A colleague from work drove me to Plainfield and I called him again to ask him which house it was. He told me which one and then he called the Plainfield police for me. An officer met me there in the pouring rain. After going around to the back yard and back step three kids came to the door with my dog, who was barking at the officer. He was still wearing his collar but his tags had been removed. The three kids said they found him walking down the street, which we know is not true since they knew his name."

Hudelson said she picked up Dobby and brought him home to be reunited with his family, who is overjoyed at his return.

"He is so happy and content to be home in his familiar environment with the people he loves," she said. "I don't think he was mistreated at all but he went a week without his medicine which he does need."

Hudelson said she feels as if "we found a needle in a haystack" and is extremely grateful to the "wonderful and supportive" community for their assistance and concern.

"I got dozens of calls from people who saw my flyers and Facebook posts and just wanted to know if we got him back and told me how they looked for him because they were worried about him," she said. "Also several people I don't know offered to help distribute flyers. It was really an amazing network. The Facebook posts over the last week were shared more than 1,000 times. Also, the Westfield vet sent an email to their entire list and so many people saw that."

Thanks to the efforts of many, Dobby is home safe with his family. 

"And it's just because this one wonderful person saw one flyer and decided to do the right thing that we got him back," she said.