Veteran Comes Home to Front Door Wide Open, Realizes Dog is Missing
If you stop and think about it for a moment, Christmas is a time closely associated with someone sneaking into your home. Of course, the “someone” in question is Santa Claus — a jolly and generous presence, who always arrives bearing gifts.
When someone other than Santa sneaks into your home, they’re often up to no good. Many times, these devious strangers are thieves who only seek to take something away.
Military veteran Geoff Hoffman arrived home during the recent holiday season to find exactly this sort of unexpected entry.
The Oklahoma resident was dismayed to discover that no physical property was actually stolen, but that his beloved dog Bridget had been abducted.
The 3-year-old pit bull is Hoffman’s best buddy. So he and his friends took immediate action, hanging handmade signs and sounding the alarm all across social media.
“She is loved beyond definition,” read Hoffman’s desperate Facebook plea, calling Bridget his “ever-adventurous sidekick” and “eternal source of joy.”
He ended with the simple appeal, “Please help me find her.”
A concerned and canine-loving social media community answered the call. Hoffman’s original post was picked up and shared by acquaintances, fellow animal owners, and absolute strangers — even catching the attention of local news stations.
Thankfully, all this targeted teamwork paid measurable dividends.
A few days into the search — on Christmas Eve, no less — Hoffman’s girlfriend discovered his sweet pup lying on a lonely stretch of country road.
Bridget was injured and dehydrated, with deep gashes on her leg. It was evident that during her time away, she’d been cruelly abused.
“Bridget didn’t move a whole lot,” Hoffman told media outlets. “But as soon as she saw my girlfriend coming, she started wagging her tail.”
The ailing pooch was quickly transported to an Oklahoma City veterinary clinic for treatment. Hoffman mentioned that the phone number on Bridget’s collar had been scratched over, confirming the theory that she’d been forcibly stolen.
But thanks to all those who dedicated time and effort to this heartwarming holiday miracle, Bridget is now home safe and sound.
A GoFundMe page has even been set up to assist with ongoing medical expenses for this grateful and courageous girl.
“It’s been a heartwarming experience,” Hoffman told news outlets. “People have really been understanding of the pain that someone stealing your dog can inflict on a person.”
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