3 Years, still tears.....

On the eve of another catrastoversary (hate the word anniversary, its highly inappropriate to use here) we find ourselves sitting reminiscing about the times we had with Jacob, our very first Bracco Italiano.

Boy we had some good times, and never a cuter puppy was seen than him. He could melt your heart he was totally beautiful both inside and out. A real jack the lad, Daddy's boy, Mummy's boy (depending on best offers!) he was chief fire hogger, and sofa warmer extraordinaire!

We know that now this much time has

passed, chances of us all being reunited, well we're honest enough to realise it's pretty slim, that said, these things do, and have happened, and with that in mind we will never give up hope, not ever.

We talk of you often, wonder if you are still alive, who knows your story, who you are with each and every day, just how your life has panned out.

Most of all, we wonder if you are out there, somewhere, anywhere, but most of all we hope you're safe, and loved. It really is all we can wish for and we wish for that every day for you Jakey, stay safe. We're here whenever it's time to come home again.

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Thought's of course go out to dear Ffion and Tim, 3 years already reached for Sky.
Our thoughts are with you both, and we still hope Jacob and Sky are still out partying, not quite ready for domesticity quite yet, playing away, somewhere midway distance between us, boys on tour. Just when will they hang up their party paws eh !?
Xx

I love this photo, I know it's not a photographic masterpiece, but the joy in Jacob's eyes says everything -
He was loving being with us in the studio, he was there for a shoot for Johnson & Johnson, it was for the packaging for a new pet drug for arthritic animals.

We had a wonderful time just throwing a dummy about the green paper much to Jacob's excitement !

On this his 2 year anniversary, we sit and think about how we miss him, every single day.

Yesterday was a hard day - you kind of torment yourselves with what if's and why's, knowing full well that it will remedy absolutely nothing.

There's just that one word left in Jacob's name now - HOPE, hope that one day, no matter how long into the future (but please make it soon) we'll be reunited with him.

We keep that thought in our mind, how can you not.

Keep safe everyone.

New Year - New Hope ?

Well the time of year for Christmas and New Year has been and gone, and we see ourselves into yet another year.
The whole Jacob being missing has shown us just how time can fly by and seasons come and go without hardly a breath being taken.

We have had a number of sightings later into the winter months, Bracco being walked in the Surrey area, of which turned out to be dogs that are known to respected Bracco Breeders we know of, and another 'Bracco' looking dog that was seen roaming in the depths of all the bad snow and rain, that turned out to be a Pointer who is known local to that area for being a wanderer, and had on occasion been chauffeured home by locals to where it begins it's plans of the next great escape ! - sadly for us, it meant that those heart jiggers, the hope was gone and accounted for, but it also meant that a dog we initially thought was out surviving the snow and cold was actually accounted for and safe.

It was at the time of the dogs being reported to us a possible 'Jacob's' that we sat and discussed how to go forward, and what else we could physically do to lift the search and re-ignite it, but it was upon this discussion that Jon and I sat and queried the whole media hype that we and friends built back in 2009.

Was that hype and press coverage the downfall for Jacob ?

Did the overload of him being exposed as being missing mean that anyone who had him, would have a lot of questions to be answered and explaining to do no matter what the circumstances arising out of them finding or knowing about him were ?

It's reasonable to say that a lot of folks would not want that intrusion for just finding a missing dog. We after all live in a society now that means many would much rather walk past scenario's where they could get involved, but they don't for fear of what that 'involvement' could perhaps cost.

I wonder actually if we had just gone through the motions of alerting people 'quietly', and through the normal channels about him being missing, it might have ended differently.

Maybe if someone did find him, it would have been much easier for him to be given back without question ? Many disagree that the hype did wonders of getting his profile out there and therefore if anyone did have him, it would mean he couldn't be kept without questions and I agree I guess, but I am not sure about that we would go that route now. Purely because I still meet people with dogs of their own, who read papers and own computers who have never heard of Jacob's plight. In my eyes that just goes to show that no matter how hard you try, all that hype, well it doesn't necessarily reach everyone. Proof in that being my neighbour in a barn a stones throw from us, hadn't known about Jacob, even though there were posters everywhere here. She was shocked a few months ago to hear of his story.

Most of all moving into the new year, there certainly are lessons we can look back on and learn from. Milo the 6 month old Italian Spinone puppy was thankfully found safely after almost a week of being lost in the woods in Nottinghamshire. The way that we all rallied immediately hearing his news has shown that the people who have been through this can and do react at a moments notice, and action plans put into place. That's comforting for us in case (we hope) it happens for us in a big way with Jacob.

Thankfully little Milo was found safe and well, and notoriously very casually hopped into the owners car when the boot was opened one morning as she sat putting her boots on in the car park - we laugh about it now, but the pain for the owners of him being lost through those long days and nights was unbearable to see. It's true to say that you can only know that feeling of dread and worry having actually lived it yourselves.

The very same week Milo was lost another Spinone Oscar was also lost in a park in the heart of Cambridge city. We spent countless hours walking and postering for his return, only for him to be returned by a call from gypsies a week later, them having said they 'bought' him from a bloke in a pub. It amazed me how quickly dogs can change hands and how they can become a target of a total money making exercise. Shocking, but true. How gypsies were in the right place at the right time again amazes me.

Makes it very conceivable that Jacob perhaps found his way into their hands, and who knows what and where he ended up from there. If Oscar could change into their hands in a day, where does that leave Jacob in years ?

Hopefully he will, if alive, soon become past his sell by date if used for breeding, and having served his purpose we might well get a call saying he's been found. It's a long shot by any means, but we have to keep that hope burning, we've read the stories of people being reunited under all sorts of circumstances, some a good many years later, so there's always hope........ they'll always be hope.

Always Wondering

Another month goes by since the last blog, where does all the time go to?
Before long i'll be pulling out the Christmas tree from it's dusty box, the fire will be alight day and night, and it'll be dark at 4pm every day (groan!)

I thought I would just add some words of Thanks to many of you who regularly drop by and say "Hi" and that you are thinking of us, and still keeping vigilant about Jacob.
To hear he is still set in people's minds and that there is a definite vigilance out there really means a lot.
As much as we would love to have time to scour the globe for Jacob - well truth is we can;t, which is why we always rely upon our friends near and far to be our eyes.

There have been a few stories about dogs who have been missing for a few years and that they have been reunited with their owners.
Seeing those stories and the fact that sometimes there is a happy ending makes us hanker after that for our own piece of good luck, but maybe just have to be patient......
VERY patient.

I guess we'll wait out as long as it takes. We wonder every day what and if, but have to be happy knowing hopefully somewhere maybe (MAYBE) he is happy and well fed.
He probably doesn't remember us now, which in itself is sad, but hey, one day that may just change.
We just need to remain positive, always positive.
We can do no more than we already have, even if it feels like it, what more can we possibly do.

I always wonder too about these dogs that go missing, and are never seen or spotted again, just where are they ? Spare a thought for them, the Jacob's and the Sky's of the missing dog world, the absolute wonder at what and if, and WHY is excruciatingly painful, the not knowing being the worse evil of them all. It's painful to wonder.

THANK YOU to everyone, for your support, care and concern, but most of all for sharing and making everyone around you aware of Jacob (and Sky) still being missing.
We can't THANK YOU enough

Happy summer to you all, keep your dogs safe at all times

Waiting....just waiting.....

Sometimes it seems life is just bloody unfair.

In this past month, we have seen 3 Bracco go missing, and 3 Bracco returned safely to their owners.
To say I am utterly jealous of that would be an understatement.

The first Bracco to go off was probably stolen to order, and was found strangely nearby across the county it lived in a week or so later. Thankfully she was none the worse for her ordeal, and her owner happy to have her home safely.

The second 2 Bracchi were lost by the person who was supposedly dog sitting them whilst their owners were away. Thankfully they were both found and reunited, again safe and fine from their ordeal.
All good, but it just makes me want to be the 3rd in line for that reunion.

Jon and I were drivng around at weekend and were thinking about Jacob and the whole situation he's left us in.
We just don't know where he is, if he's alive or if someone has him, loves him, and he's safe.
I just wish we knew.

Hard as it is, we do have to get on with life, and look back on the time we all shared, and think we were lucky to have him for those 3 years. Positive thinking that he is alive and well, enjoying life, but not enjoying it with his family. I can live with that. I just want to know he is okay, or not okay. either one of those choices I can deal with.

I guess those of you reading that might figure it to be a bit harsh us moving on, bit I cannot honestly say that we can't shed any more tears, because we do, and often Jacob will come into the conversation for a reason, and a lump will form in our throats at the mere mention of his name.
Sigh.....

That said, we now are enjoying our 3 Spinoni, and of course the hilarious antics that only a Bracco like Pascha can provide !

Pascha is lots of fun, goofy, a major clown, uber intelligent, and does go a really long way to filling the huge paw prints left behind by our boy. His bounding energy is so catching and no matter how fed up you might be, a swift right hook from a Bracco paw soon sorts you out !

We still get lots of lovely emails, just saying that people are out there looking still, thinking of us, and hoping, just hoping that one day our hard work will pay off and we'll be re-united with Jacob. To read them is so uplifting, people taking time out of their busy lives to check in our blog, just to see if the news has changed, have we got lucky.....

I do imagine that day, a day where we get that call....and also on the flip side of that joy there is a nagging ache of worry as to what dog we could be getting back. Would he still be 'our' Jacob ?
No matter, he would always (and will always) remain to be our boy, regardless of his name, or new address, he belongs to us.

Hmmmm....I was hoping as I wrote this new post that it would be uplifiting !
Sorry about that, sometimes the moment passes and you just feel cheated.

I know as you sit at your pc and have your dogs safely near to you, you will know how hard it would be if one of them were taken away from you without word nor warning.
No chance to say goodbye or the direct ability to change the circumstances.
I am sure you will agree that it would be very difficult for you to comprehend them being gone, so I hope with that thought in your mind you'll forgive me for the perhaps sombre mood swings on this blog. Sometimes you just want things to be right, and it is out of your control to do so.
Oh hell that is annoying !

Most of all I hope that all of your dogs remain safe, there are some very nasty, and truly calculating people out there only happy to relieve you of your lovely fur bundles, so please take care, ensure they are within your sight at all times, but most of all enjoy them, really enjoy them.
These dogs, well, they love us all unconditionally, give us such joy at owning them (mostly !!!) and as such we should always be able to give the same back.
We are their lives and what makes their lives special, we have their whole destiny in our hands, the ability to give them a happy contented life....we should always, always remember that.

One year on....

I love the above photo of Jacob.

It's very special.

Not in a photographically perfect way you understand, it's far from 'pin sharp' or clear, but it's perfect because it's the very last photo I ever took of him.

It captures everything about him in one single shot. Friendly, happy, ever the accomplished hunter, constantly always looking to please.

That was Jacob. This photo is him.

A year has passed, and we have arrived to his one year missing anniversary.

I hate that word, an anniversary makes one think of a joyous occasion, a day of marked celebratory cheer, so can someone please tell me, how can a language so brilliantly complex as the the English language not have another word to mark the date of something that isn't necessarily a day of celebration I will never know.

All said and done, we are finding it harder to actually believe that we haven't seen our boy for that length of time.

I don't wish the months that we've just endured back don;t get me wrong, not ever will I wish for that, but I do wish I could rewind time enough to the 21st Jan 09 and allow us to make the things that happened that fateful day disappear in a puff of smoke.

(If that is the case, then I would also like to take a look at what did occur to him after he went off that fateful day..... but just so long as we can still rewind you understand)

I wish too that I knew he was safe, that he didn't perish to death or die at the hands of a reckless sharp shooter out on a days hunting thinking he was a deer.

I just wish I knew his fete, whatever it was or is.

Sadly there is no way of knowing, and no matter how much it torments us (and believe me it does) we still to this day will not let it rest, and still continue to alert people to him being missing .

I guess actually we always will live out some hope of us being reunited. It can and does happen to some fortunate souls.

As for marking the occasion, what can we do other than light the day with hope.

There's no box of ashes, no little marble stone to say 'he is here'.

Sometimes we feel that would be easier, but then we think that by putting him a wooden box (so to speak) we thoroughly extinguish the hopes of a phone call saying he has been found one day.

These renowned 'rose tinted glasses' that I wear sometimes give rise to thoughts (and hopes) that someone, somewhere finally has a conscious, finds his home address, and sits him on the doorstep overnight saying they have had him for a year, "Thank You very much, but here he is back, we're done".

That would be the best way to mark a year long "anniversary" and then at least we could happily use the word as it surely should have been intended for....for a celebration of life.

Wherever you are Jacob, stay safe, behave yourself, and know we think of you each and every day without fail.

We miss you more than you'll ever know.

Brotherly love

Jacob

Gerrard

The last few months have reared some strange happenings.

Not necessarily Jacob orientated sadly, but related to him in other ways, quite literally.

We were advised about a Bracco needing rescue through a posting on a rescue co-ordinaters forum, someone asking for help in how to rehome a dog, and through a few weeks of contacting necessary parties we found ourselves collecting Gerrard another Bracco from a park in Croydon.

The first week of correspondance, we found ourselves wondering if this dog could actually be Jacob, our excitement was heightened, so you can only imagine the intensity of feelings....

but no, this was not him, but as fete has a hand in making things emotionally driven, it was found that the Bracco in question was actually Jacob's litter Brother, who we knew as Dennis back 4 years earlier. How coincidental, it was like he was sent to us, for help and for love, of which he was offered both with open arms.

A wonderful boy whose presence was charming and for what he had been through, he was as solid as a rock, with a heart that just wanted to give and receive loving.

A testament to his breed (and breeding) he is a lovely boy, and definitely has the 'woof factor' in bucket loads.

Sadly as hard as we tried, a testosterone fueled house of 4 entire males was not to work, and we had to resign ourselves that Gerrard was not to stay with us here in Essex.

As broken hearted as we were to have to let him go on to pastures new, we knew were relieved to know he has gone to a wonderful loving and caring home with friends of ours who already have a Bracco girl. Already we know he is settled and is absolutely loved to pieces.

He has well and truly landed on his feet and found his forever home.

A happy ending for Gerrard, yes, a sad for one for us, but we revel happy knowing he is safe and warm, and much doted on. He will truly flourish now.

As for us, we are finding the winter months a hefty reminder of the past year, back in January when Jacob went missing.

I don't know why, but the spring and summer months meant that you were thinking in a different environment, maybe it's one that you feel a dog out there alone could survive in, whereas harsh winter evenings, and frost, and rain means a whole different ending altogether.

I still won't believe he could be roaming the woods and fields, that wouldn't be happening now and probably didn't occur a year ago almost, but your mind does know how to play tricks, and thought processes are mixed on what you actually believe happened.

I have a different view every day.

We have had some wonderful coverage in the Telegraph, along with the great work that Doglost have done and still do on behalf of us owners with dogs that are missing.

We had a photo of Jacob and some of his plight mentioned by their reporter.

A great accomplishment, and we are ever Thankful to Chris, but this article is one which sadly has not bared any fruit as far as phone calls are concerned.

Kind of leaves the avenues to explore a little thinner, what we can do now I really don't know.

We of course never stop wondering where our boy can be, but I guess that will always, always haunt us.

We feel for Ffion and Tim, they have come back from a wonderful trip to South Africa, only to stumble upon Skys missing anniversary a day or two later. I am so sad for them, I wish (WISH) I could right this wrong for us both, but I don't know how or what else I can do. I can only always be there for them as they have for us, and offer Ffion a comfy couch for her (our) 'therapy'.

Ffion is right in saying that there are do-gooders who 'rescue' missing dogs, and feel they have done a wonderful thing taking them into their homes, and not reporting the fact.

I'm torn as to how I feel about the part they play in this situation, as much as i'm happy that they feel they can offer some warmth, food and a cuddle, i'm upset that we as their owners suffer as a result of their kidnap, albeit they are hopefully not coming to any harm.

We are the ones coming to harm by mentally suffering the anguish and the worry.

When I look at Pascha our Bracco puppy, see him playing with his toys and being, well puppyish, devilish, cute beyond words, it's a gentle reminder of what is lost and what was had in Jacob.

Once he was here and just the same as Pascha, growing up loved and cherished, enjoying being part of our lives. Then wham, he is gone.

People have told us to let go of him now, set him free, and I guess this far on you have to quietly move on and have him on your mind but not at the forefront, it's true it's essential to somewhat move on, otherwise you would suffer.

But there is that little fire burning still, a flame that flickers that is there in hope that one day we can be reunited, there will be a phone call, or a knock at the door, someone knowing what has happened, or better still our boy, on the end of a lead with a waggy tail and shoulder hug ready to give.

I know what I will be wishing for......

Happy Christmas to everyone who has followed Jacob's blog, and a huge Thank You also to everyone who has offered help, both physically and mentally. You know who you all are.

Without you we wouldn't have had half the media coverage, support and searches.

To everyone who called us in hope they had seen Jacob, Thank You also.

To the person who knows something or has Jacob, but is holding back, well, if only you know the hurt and the pain you have caused, HOWEVER, for the chance of being reunited, we would forgive anything, not a question asked .... it's never to late to right a wrong.