I really hope you will consider printing this because I have so many people to thank and I feel this is probably the best way to reach the whole community.

It is important that I get this letter out there to all of those involved. They need and deserve a public thank you.

It has now been more than a month since that Saturday night on May 12 when the neighbors’ constantly loose bird dog dug a hole under my fence in Foley. I was out of town and left my dogs under the watch of my husband.

That night a very special little Sheltie (Mini-Collie) named Mya got out of that hole. Mya was special not only to me, but to the nursing home. Mya was due to replace her 15 1/2 year old grandmother as the therapy dog there within the week.

I would not know that Mya was missing until I got home late Saturday night. From the moment I found out until now all I have done is search for Mya and so many wonderful people, businesses, and other organizations have assisted me.

It had truly been a community effort to find one special little dog. Signs went up everywhere, flyers went out, the staff at South Baldwin Hospital, which is near my home, kept an eye out starting late Sunday night (I also want to publicly thank their nighttime security guard). WHEP 1310 AM carried the word on the airwaves the Monday after Mya went missing. WKRG, TV-5 did a wonderful story on Mya. Workers from the city of Foley, Riviera Utilities, GulfTel, and many other businesses have kept an eye out for Mya as they travel about town.

Mya’s story has spread like wildfire over the Internet. Rescue groups and humane organizations are all on the lookout. Members from Jacksonville, Fla., Sheltie Rescue drove over to assist me. People in prayer groups have prayed for Mya’s safe return.

Many people who live or work in Foley have kept an eye out. The entire community had looked for Mya. People have called in sightings and I hope that they continue to do so just in case Mya is still out there.

Sadly, three weeks into the search a lady stopped me while I was nailing up yet another sign and told me that she had seen a black SUV with a Stone Mountain, Ga., tag holder and Tennessee plates lure a Sheltie from the side of Highway 59 just south of the hospital some three weeks ago.

Why did this woman not call me and waited three weeks to run into me to tell me this I do not know. I do not know if her story is 100 percent accurate, either. But Mya’s story didn’t end there.

Word went out over the internet all over the Southeast. Humane Societies, rescue groups, and dog lovers are assisting me by taking flyers to their local vets or providing me with addresses of their local vets in the state of Tennessee as well as the Stone Mountain, Ga., area.

On the local level people are still looking. Someone called from Fairhope who had seen a black SUV with a Stone Mountain, Ga., tag holder a few days ago.

I am in awe of the response from both the local community and those who are part of the dog/rescue community nationwide. When this happened I had no idea how much the community was willing to help. I figured that most people would just say, “It’s just a dog. Go get another.” I didn’t really know my community, but I do now.

I appreciate everyone so much. During my search I have met way more good people than bad and I have made friends I know will last a lifetime. I wanted to write this thank you with a happy ending to the story of Mya, but so far this has not been the case.

Because Mya was supposed to be safe in our secure privacy fenced in yard she was not wearing a collar or tags, but she was microchipped. It is my hope and prayer now that whoever has Mya will take her to the vet and the vet will scan her and I will get the phone call I have been waiting on for over a month now.

If that day never comes, I hope that whoever has Mya will take care of her in the world. It is so hard for me to imagine someone picking up a dog like Mya and not at least looking in a newspaper knowing that a dog like her must belong to someone and they must be looking for her.

I know that time will pass and the hurt will ease, but it will never go away. I hope that I will have the courage and heart to train another dog for the nursing home. I feel so bad that Mya will not be there now.

But without all the help from everyone in this community and beyond I would never have known if Mya could have been found or not. I would never know about that black SUV.

I would never know or appreciate what a great community I live in. To everyone I say thank you from the bottom of my heart and if Mya is ever found it will be because of all of you.

Emily Langley,

Foley