Sadness...

It is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this post at 2:00 in the morning... Just about 5 hours ago, Shawn & I realized that the house was "too quiet" and I finally asked where Jax was. After looking outside, we saw that the piece of wood we usually put up against the front gate was down and that Jax had gotten out. Frantically, we both got in our cars and scoured the neighborhood and surrounding areas for over an hour. In Odessa, there aren't just streets with houses on there - there are also the allies behind the houses where the trash dumpsters are. So, not only did we have to go up and down each street, but every narrow alley way as well. To make things worse, it was already pretty dark outside at that point which made it very hard to spot a tiny dog running around - even a white one!

Once Shawn & I came back home to re-group, we began to realize that Jax was not gone long enough to be able to make that much distance in a short amount of time. The only thing we could come up with was that someone had already found him and taken him home. But, if that was the case, why hadn't anyone called the phone numbers on his tag?? Normally, I would be working around the clock to put up posters and keep doing searches of the area - but Shawn & I are leaving for south Texas at 6:00 am tomorrow for his sister's graduation ceremony that evening. I am hoping and praying that we get a call from someone while we're on the road that they have found Jax so we can call our dogsitter to go and claim him for us! (Go figure Odessa-Midland does not have a single 24 copy place like Kinko's for me to make posters or I would be there right now instead of typing this!!!)

Honestly, I have not been able to stop crying tonight since we had to "call off the search" (at least for the evening). It's so hard to think of that vulnerable little 13 week old puppy out there all alone. If someone finds him, will they give him as good a home as we did? Or will they abuse and neglect him, just using him for backyard security? Is he in physical danger, like street traffic or predators?? SOOOooo many thoughts are running rampid through my mind right now. It's not as much for the selfishness of it, like that I miss him and want him to come home - but don't get me wrong, I do more than anything!! It's more of an overall concern for him, not knowing where he is or if he's safe. As doggy parents, we have sworn to keep our pups safe and healthy and as happy as possible at all times. But what if that opportunity is snatched away from us in the blink of an eye, like it did for us tonight? I just pray that my little guy is safe right now, wherever he is. Sleep tight, little Jax. Mommy, Daddy, Tomi, & Sadie love you!! :-)

Here are some pictures of Jax that I took earlier today. Who would have thought they might be the last I would ever take of him... let's hope that's not the case. :-(

And my favorite shot of the day: "The 3 Muskateers" :-)