Doggone....and back

By Michael Brooks Staff Writer

    The nightmare started July 18th. Danielle Koonce of Edna talked about one of the biggest fears for a pet owner when she talked about her nightmare, losing a pet.     

For 10 days, Koonce lived her nightmare, hoping to find her 10-year-old female Schnauzer, Emerie, after the dog disappeared from Koonce’s house.     “

We had a great start to the day, visiting my mom with Emerie, and picking the garden” Koonce said. “Later in the day my son hit his head and we were concerned about him, so we didn’t notice Emerie gone until 10 p.m. I got into bed and I immediately noticed her gone from her normal position by my feet.”     

Emerie wasn’t in her normal hiding spot and that is when Koonce started worrying.   

 “She’s an inside dog and when the kids get too loud she hides under the beds, so that’s where I looked first when she didn’t come when called,” Koonce continued. “I had an ugly feeling she was gone.     

“She’s very skittish like a cat. She was no where to be found. We woke the neighbors and my husband drove around until midnight.”     

As the days went by, Koonce became more worried about her lost furbaby.     

“The next few days felt like a blur. I couldn’t sleep, I cried all the time.   

 “I had Emerie before my family of four. I got her from Dorothy O’Connor Pet Adoption Center after I just graduated high school and was getting my own apartment. I worked full time and went to school and she ate better then I did.     

“Now she’s a senior dog. My husband jokes because we found the groomer Pom Pom Poodle here in Edna, that she’s a little old lady going to get her hair done and she comes home so happy.”     

After a few days had gone by, Koonce started fearing the worst.      

“She’s been with me through school, jobs, getting married and having four kids,” Koonce continued. “I couldn’t imagine not being here for her when she was here for me. While she was gone I thought about all the times I was too busy to give her a second and I regretted every moment. I knew she was a senior pup and her time would come I just wanted to be there with her.”   

 The Edna Police Department and City of Edna Animal Control were helpful, and patient with Koonce as she called multiple times hoping for a sighting or that she had been found. Signs were made and posted throughout town. Koonce and volunteers and friends drove around looking for her on multiple occasions.     

Finally, Koonce had to tell her kids that Emerie may be in Heaven.     

“Telling my boys was the hardest part. For the first few days my oldest said that he would just ask Santa to bring her back on Christmas. After the first few days, he began telling me that maybe Jesus needed her more.”     

And then, with an unexpected knock, Emerie was home again.     

“On the 28th, I’d gotten the kids bathed and we are having a movie night when we got a knock on the door. My son ran to the window and screamed that Emerie is home. In my pajamas and a towel on my head I opened the door to see a man and a woman and my Emerie. I was overwhelmed with emotions and began sweating.”     

After welcoming Emerie back home, Koonce realized how much of a part of her life her beloved furbaby plays.     

“I didn’t actually understand what she meant to me until she was gone. She is truly my best friend.   

 “I gave the people that returned her the ($1,000) reward money and then I received Emerie. No matter what that situation was, I’m just happy she’s home. She seems to be in perfect health and the people said that she was sleeping in the bed with him every night and that they knew she had to have a family.”     

The Koonce family spent Emerie’s first night back showing her how much they love her.     

“My oldest son began to cry and he said he knew Santa would bring her back.     

“We spent the evening giving her a bath and cuddling her on the couch. Then we let everyone in Jackson County know that she made it home safe because of them sharing the post, and the posters, and animal control and the police department and all the concerned citizens that helped me. I will forever be grateful for everyone’s help. There was such an outpouring of support once I posted it on social media. I’ve only lived in Edna for a year and was amazed at how the community pulled together to help me.”