Hero Dog Missing | Video

Rich Wisniewski | 3/23/2012

It was an emotional scene Friday morning as the family who lived on 1405 Appoloosa Way returned to what is now ashes and debris. Richard and Katy Stanley, along with Katy`s son Adam Gauthier were there, but there was one family member missing, their dog Buddy.

"Buddy saved my life and he`s been missing since the fire," said Richard Stanley.

Wednesday afternoon, Richard came home from work, jumped in the shower and then was going to relax for the rest of the day. However, during his shower, he heard Buddy barking.

"Buddy only barks when something is wrong or somebody`s here," he said.

Something was wrong. The house was smoking and the fire was spreading. Richard and Buddy ran out of the house together. Rich then ran back into the house to grab the car keys. When he came out, Buddy was gone and has been missing since.

"He`s so a part of our lives, there`s no words to describe it," said Katy Stanley.

Family members say they`re confident he didn`t go back into the house. They believe he`s alive and roaming the prairie of Ward County and they`re asking for help in finding him.

"If you have a tracking dog or something, I mean we have a blanket with his scent on it," said Gauthier.

Since Wednesday they have received several phone calls from people who believe they may have seen Buddy. Katy believes Buddy is confused because the house that he knew is no longer there.

"All of a sudden there`s no porch for him to run up on and no door for him to go through," said an emotional Katy.

They say they`ll go any distance to find him.

"I don`t care if I have to drive to Timbuktu for this dog. I don`t care, he`s our family," said Gauthier.

The home can be rebuilt, new clothes can be bought, but the companionship of a pet is a bond that can`t be broken.

"I need my dog,” says Katy.

Buddy is an Australian Kelpie, with a white chest. He has pointy ears, and weighs about 55 pounds. If you see him, the family says he will not bite and you can easily warm up to him. There is a $500 dollar reward. You can reach Rich Stanley at 701-720-4310.

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