I'll let Tammy's post on Global Pet Family do the explaining.
Needless to say we are all heartbroken for Elvis, Colonel Barker and especially Tammy and her dear hubby (I've never known his name, I believe Tammy keeps it private). Anyway, Tammy's post:
TW: Pet loss/disappearance
I'm not even sure how to start this post. It's a post I never imagined myself making. I've not wanted to say a word about this, because I don't want to ever make my Global Pet Family sad, bring negative vibes to this group, and because I always believe in hope. But I do have to let you all know our two beloved dogs, Elvis and Colonel Barker have gone missing, and have been so since October 8. I know in my gut and my heart that we will never see them again, even though I have held out hope with all my being for over a month now.
Hubby and I have searched, EVERY DAY we have searched, called shelters, talked to neighbors, offered rewards. Understand that these are two VERY big dogs, not little animals, but there are even bigger predators around our rural area here. We have tried our best to keep them fenced in, fortified our fencing around the area, and they are largely inside dogs, and when outside, tend to stay in the yard with an occasional jaunt down the road (if they find an escape route, which we have tried our best to seal all those off). They went out that night to use the potty, and as usual I waited in the library, puttering on the computer waiting for the scratch at the door to let them in. I waited. And waited. Went out, called... no dogs. I gave them awhile, repeated... no dogs. Come daylight... no dogs. Well, no need repeating myself here. To our disbelief, our dogs simply - VANISHED. As if they were never here. We have nothing to bury, no closure, no... anything. Just emptiness. And a heart that doesn't want to accept. I don't post this to depress anyone, or to ask for help, but to just remind everyone to LOVE your babies, hug them TODAY and EVERY DAY, and keep an eye on them. Our hearts are broken and we are barely functioning day by day. Things seem so unreal right now. I don't know how we will ever come to terms with this. Our babies deserved to be laid to rest here at home. They should be here. They simply are not. We haven't even been able to grieve yet because reality seems to refuse to set in. And Elvis' favorite squeaky toy (pictured) still awaits his return.
I don't even know how much sense this post makes, as it seems nothing much makes sense any more. I just wanted our GPF to know what has happened and know that I'm not ignoring any other posts about dogs because I'm not responding to them, it's just that I can't bear to see them right now. Everybody else, it seems, has their dogs, including others in our area. It's just not fair that ours are not here. And it will never be fair. And the only saving grace in all this would be to know that they didn't suffer. But of course we will never know that either. We can only - HOPE. 💔😭
...we would like to make a small but fitting memorial for the benefit of Tammy. Possibly a wooden plaque (wording to be confirmed) or maybe a canvas picture of Elvis and Colonel Barker being happy in the garden.