McLean Family Seeks Help in Finding Lost Dog
Theo, a yorkie mix with diabetes, has been missing since Sunday.
Update 8/22: Carmen and Mike Zapata have mapped the locations where Theo was last seen.
They've also created a Facebook page for those that might have seen him.
As of 10:22 p.m. Tuesday, Carmen said the couple has been unable to locate Theo but "we are still optimistic."
"We spent hours today putting flyers up in Mclean Hamlet and speaking with a variety of organizations," she said in an email.
Original 8/21: It was a puppy named Theo that helped Carmen Zapata recover from an emergency procedure in December 2006.
Zapata's husband, Mike, gifted his wife the puppy with hopes the 12-pound yorkie mix would serve as a therapy dog — and it worked.
"Theo has been a great member of our family since," Zapata wrote in an email to Patch.
This week, it is Theo that needs help after he went missing Sunday during a walk in the Colonies of McLean. The dog, who turns 6 this October, is diabetic and has missed more than four shots of insulin.
Zapata said Theo escaped from his collar in the neighborhood around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Calls to the family have indicated he "managed to run up Chain Bridge and enter McLean Hamlet."
He was spotted there around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, but "nobody has seen him since," Zapata said.
Without insulin, the couple, who has lived in McLean since 2007, is "afraid that if he is not found immediately his chances of survival are slim to none."
If you have seen Theo, call 917-637-0562 or 917-528-4587 or click here for more information.
Margi Vanderhye
8:45 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
It was a year ago this week that we received help to find our lost puppy Quechee who took off in search of our daughter. We credit McLean Patch with helping us locate Quechee with all the calls, notices and updates that the Patch helped facilitate. Let's work together to reunite this family with their dog. Thanks again, McLean Patch!
Margi Vanderhye
8:46 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
happy to help and glad to be part of the patch community.
Carmen Zapata
11:29 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Thank you Margi. I also thank the McLean Patch for working with us to expedite getting our story out. I am very thankful also for our close knit community that has been calling and offering their support.
As of this morning 8/22/12 11:30 AM, Theo is still missing. Please keep spreading the word and keeping an eye out for him. He is very scared and may run (if he still can) when approached. If at all possible, approach him calmly and call him by name. He is trained to come on the commands "come" and "come here."
Thank again to all of you!
Chuck Mayhew
9:30 pm on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
I'll be out there looking for the little guy!
Carmen Zapata
10:18 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Thank you Chuck.
We found Theo Thursday morning around 12:30 /12:45 AM. Unfortunately, it was too late. We rushed him to the Hope Center where he was declared dead at around 1 AM. Michael and I are now working through the grieving and making sure we take good care of his baby brother Ares who is clearly confused and disoriented.
Thank you again
Chuck Mayhew
10:37 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
I don't know anything I could say to ease the sorrow except to say I looked for him as if he were my own. I lost my Molly for a short time and was absolutely frantic. It's weird but I'm grieving with you and your family. Yorkies rule and I'm sure Theo is in good company in the special Yorkie spot in dog heaven.
Margi Vanderhye
1:17 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Our sympathies are with you all. Hug little Ares and keep him safe. Those of us who have had and loved our pet family members grieve with you.
Mariane Herndon
7:37 am on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Having my own beloved Yorkie decades ago under similar circumstances, my heart aches for your family. My little one was never found. How fortunate we are to be part of this very caring community.