Peter Arendt, who lives near Luxemburg-Casco High School, lost his Yorkie, Emma, last July before the Kewaunee County Fair.
He had received Emma as a birthday present from a friend in Indiana in 2008 and was particularly attached to her as his wife had died a few years earlier.
He had let her out in his fenced backyard right before the fair, he said. She was wearing a gray jacket and a red harness. She weighs about 7 pounds and has silver and blond hair. When he went to bring her back in the house, she was gone.
When she didn't return, he went out to look for her during the fair's parade. When she still had not been found, he put an ad in the Kewaunee County Star-News offering a $200 reward for her return.
When former Kewaunee County sheriff Lee Ledvina saw the ad, he wanted to help. He also has a Yorkie, Zoi, who looks almost identical to Emma.
"We used to have only German shepherds, and I told my wife I would never get a lap dog," said Ledvina. But after his mother had a stroke and was in assisted living, a friend brought a Yorkie to visit and it cheered his mother so much he decided to buy her a dog.
"Of course, Zoi couldn't stay with my mom, " said Ledvina, so he brought her home to his house and business on Wisconsin 29 in Kewaunee and he and his wife, Joanne, became attached to her and kept her after his mother's death a few years ago.
After seeing the ad, he went to visit Arendt who has had a stroke.
"When I walked in the house with Zoi, he thought it was Emma," Ledvina said. "Emma made everything easier for him."
Ledvina vowed to help him find Emma.
"If someone has Emma, we hope they will have the heart to return her," he said. "They can drop her off at my house, no questions asked."
In the meantime, Ledvina asked Arendt if they are unable to find Emma, would he take another Yorkie. Arendt said he would.
"He was so excited we wanted to help," said Ledvina.
Ledvina said that he is offering a $500 reward for Emma's return or will use the money to help buy Arendt a new Yorkie.
He has been checking with breeders in Green Bay who say they have new litters on the way and a puppy will cost about $1,200. He said that a new puppy could be weaned by February. If Emma is found, he will return any donations or donate the money to an animal shelter or humane society, he said.
Anyone who is interested in making a donation can send it to "A New Yorkie for Peter" c/o Kewaunee Small Engines, E2068 Highway 29, Kewaunee, WI 54216.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Luxemburg man seeks lost Yorkie
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here