Mopeder's blog: "News"

By Roselee Papandrea / Times-News March 15, 2008 - 8:17PM SWEPSONVILLE NC - Eleven-year-old Nathan Stutts just wants his little dog back. His 3-pound chocolate Chihuahua, named Copper, has been missing since Thursday, and Copper's owners think someone took him. Copper, a 3-pound chocolate Chihuahua, has been missing since Thursday. Copper got out of Amanda Cantrell's house on East Main Street in Swepsonville at about 4:15 p.m. Thursday. Cantrell's boyfriend was cutting the grass in the back yard at the time. Copper followed Cantrell's 5-year-old son out the door. About an hour later, Cantrell, who was still at work, learned that the dog was missing. "When I got home, we started walking up and down the street calling him," Cantrell said. They searched everywhere for Copper and asked neighbors if they had seen the 6-month-old puppy. One neighbor said he saw someone in a "red, bus-type vehicle" stop and pick up the Chihuahua. "He said they stopped the vehicle, opened the door, called the dog over and he jumped in," Cantrell said. The neighbor assumed the driver of the vehicle was going to return Copper to his owners, but it never happened. Nathan is heartbroken about his dog and continues to worry about Copper's welfare. "That night he asked, ‘What if he's dead? What if they killed him?' I just tell him to think happy thoughts and pray someone cares enough to bring him home," Cantrell said. Copper already had an appointment to be neutered at the beginning of April. He was wearing a black nylon collar with little skulls on it. His collar had a bell on it, a heart-shaped rabies tag and a gold medallion with his name and Cantrell's phone number on one side and her address on the back. "My thought is that nobody is going to bring him home," Cantrell said. "I just wish someone would find it in their heart and think about this little boy. What makes me so mad is that he was properly tagged. I did what I needed to do to let people know this dog has a home." Cantrell reported Copper stolen to the Alamance County Sheriff's Department. She's put an ad in the Times-News and is making fliers to put up in area veterinary offices. Nathan continues to hope that someone will return the dog he's had since November. "That was his buddy. I tell him, ‘Keep praying,'" Cantrell said. "All you can do is pray and hope that someone will find it in their heart." Anyone with information about Copper can call ********. -------- * I saw this story in the paper this morning and thought my Internet friends would be interested. * That boy loves and misses his puppy. I hate it got stolen and feel sad for him. * Maybe the people who took it will return him, even though I am doubtful that will happen. * I don't think they want to kill it. Hopefully, they will take good care, love, and give that cute little puppy a good life.