By Billy Patterson
A Montgomery, Texas family traveling through Fairfield will forever remember an unexpected challenge they faced during a December 31st stop at a local convenience store that afternoon.
Lisa and Ariel Austin (mother and daughter) were returning from Dallas where they adopted a one-year-old German Shepherd from Dallas Animal Services. Expecting just a short break at the Chevron facility at Interstate 45 and Highway 84, things quickly escalated when ‘Stevie’ pulled out of her collar and darted across Highway 84. After searching for two hours in the dark and falling temperatures, they headed back to Montgomery.
All the businesses around that intersection were asked to keep an eye out for the lost German shepherd. Phone calls were made, businesses were visited and postings on Facebook alerted folks to help in the search. Law enforcement and the local radio station were notified. Stevie was spotted numerous times around the Metal Mart and Texas Towing area but always seemed to vanish in seconds.
Chris Armstrong of Fairfield, who is well known in this area for having assisted in transporting and rescuing lost animals, joined in the search for the next week. On January 5th, the Austin’s, Armstrong and others joined together again to try and locate the lost dog. A drone was also used in the search after reports continued to come in about Stevie being spotted in the same general area. Several hours later, the search was once again called off and the Austins headed back to Montgomery.
On the afternoon of January 6th, Stevie was once again spotted in the same area. Armstrong decided to take her blue heeler ‘Punky’ to assist in the search. Armstrong eventually found what appeared to be a regular path the shepherd was using consistently and it led to a building behind Texas Towing. When Armstrong could still not find the shepherd, she decided to head back to her truck.
As Armstrong headed to her truck, the blue heeler stopped behind her. Wondering why the dog paused, she started walking back toward her dog and ‘Punky’ went back to the small building. Armstrong eventually noticed a small opening that went under the building. Getting down on the ground, she spotted the lost dog under the building.
A great amount of coaching with food failed to entice the shepherd out from until the structure. Armstrong would eventually dig her way under the building to the point that she could get a harness and leash on the shepherd and then pulled herself and the dog out.
The owners were called and returned to Fairfield later that night and Stevie was reunited with her new owners. “I just don’t have enough words to adequately tell the people of this community how much we appreciate the willingness of their time and effort to help us find Stevie,” stated Lisa Austin. “So many people were involved from the beginning of this search and we will forever remember the amazing people of Fairfield. This story would not have ended if it hadn’t been for so many like Chris Armstrong. She worked every day trying to find Stevie. God Bless her and this entire community.”
Pictured above: CITIZENS OF FAIRFIELD PLAYED A BIG PART in making a happy ending for this family. Lisa Austin (left) and her daughter Ariel of Montgomery lost a newly adopted German shepherd on December 31st and volunteers helped recover their pet. Pictured are Lisa Austin (left) and daughter Ariel (right) and Chris Armstrong who was able to find ‘Stevie’ with the assistance of her blue heeler ‘Punky’. (Photo by Billy Patterson)
