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Laddy's return pulls boy out of funk
By KENT FISCHER, Times Staff Writer HUDSON -- Laddy's back. The 6-year-old sheltie, missing since Oct. 2, was returned Wednesday to his owner, a Hudson boy with cerebral palsy. A Spring Hill couple found Laddy in Hernando County late Tuesday. The Times published a story Wednesday about the missing dog and how its owner, Anthony Garton, 13, had fallen into a funk since Laddy ran off. Anthony had even stopped eating. Wednesday morning, Yvonne Rupert called the Gartons to say she and her husband had found Laddy the night before. "(Laddy) was a little skinny and a little nervous," said Anthony's mom, Shelley Garton. "But he jumped up into the car and just started slobbering all over Anthony." Anthony must use a wheelchair. He doesn't speak and can't care for himself. Laddy has been the boy's best friend since Shelley Garton brought him home as a puppy. Laddy has even alerted the Gartons to Anthony's seizures. Anthony cried when he realized Laddy was back, his mom said. Laddy ran off while the Gartons were moving into a new home on Nicks Road in Shady Hills. Neighbors saw the dog several times over the following few days but were unable to catch him. The Ruperts live only about a mile and a half from the Gartons' new home. Coincidentally, the Ruperts breed shelties at their home on Spring Time Street in Spring Hill. About 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Yvonne Rupert went downstairs to check on a litter of 2-week-old pups. She opened her laundry room door and there was Laddy staring back at her, she said. "I was out there in my nightgown trying to corner this dog," Rupert said. She saw the collar and knew he belonged to somebody. At first Laddy ran off, but Rupert sweet talked him, calmed him down and got a leash on him. She took him inside and examined him to see if he was hurt. "I could tell that he had been well cared for," she said. "I brushed all the stickers out of his coat. He was covered in thistles." In the morning, Rupert called the Animal Control number on Laddy's tag. Animal Control gave her Garton's phone number. When Shelley Garton and her children arrived, Laddy "began jumping up and down and the little girl just burst into tears," Rupert said. "I'm glad that it was me who found him." Shelley Garton is, too. "It's a nice day to know that Anthony is happy and smiling again," she said. "Laddy's not going out any more."
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From today's Hernando Times Letters |
