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From Daphne's Mom:
Hi Nicole,
I wanted to reach out to you to thank you again for your time, dedication, professionalism, and endurance while looking for Daphne. I can't believe she has been gone for almost two months now, and I still grieve for her immensely. I was so incredibly touched that you put a little note on your website with the poem about Daphne in the "found" section. When I first learned about you and your team, I was so hopeful and excited, and I thought about the message I would write and how Daphne's picture / happy ending story would maybe make it up on your website. Before I spoke with you, I had a dream that Daphne was found on June 7th. The next day I called you, and you had told me the only day you were available that week for a search would be on Tuesday (June 7th). While I'm not very superstitious, I took it as a sign that Daphne was coming home - to the point I was almost sure of it. That partially adds to the shock and devastation when I learned about what really happened to her :(
Even though the grieving and healing has been a very difficult, emotional time, I am starting to come to peace with the situation. My husband and I really did not behave any differently with our doors the day she escaped, so I have been able to stop blaming myself and him - it was an ordinary Saturday, just with a terrible accident that we could not predict. I had blamed myself for not locking the garage door, yet I later learned that my husband never locks that particular door when he is doing yard work, and she has never pawed/swung it open before - so I really couldn't blame myself for that (plus, when he came home that afternoon, the door was still closed, so it couldn't have been that which allowed her to escape).
I have also been so incredibly grateful that I found YOU -- the work that you do is amazing and you were able to bring me the closure that I need. I cannot put into words the gratitude I have for having worked with you and knowing the truth about Daphne's passing. I guarantee that I would still be putting out cat food every night, going door to door in the neighborhood, and be consumed with worry and anxiety about where Daphne might be and what might have happened to her. I would be sick and unhealthy, which would cause extra stress and not be good for me during my pregnancy. Given how far she went, and no signs of remains/no sightings by neighbors, I am 100% confident I would never, ever have known what happened to her and would forever have a deep pain of not knowing. I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to not know where your beloved pet is for an extended period of time - 10 days for me was brutal, God bless you for having survived 9 months of your cat missing! - and if you, Spencer and Ranger were not doing what you do so incredibly well, I would forever have a cloud of despair and anxiety over me that I would not wish upon anyone. As sad as I am, I am also extremely grateful and appreciative for having found you!
In a way, seeing Daphne's name on your found site gave me a sense of closure that I needed. I was so very touched that you thought of her and posted a message, even though it was not the happy ending that is usually there. Even though we did not physically find her, we really did find out what her story was. It is a little strange, she loved to look outside so much - more than I imagine may be the case for other cats - and in the last 6 months or so, I had thought to myself that if I ever found out she were sick or terminally ill, I would let her go out (on a leash, probably) outside to explore and live her dream. Little did I know how soon going outdoors would happen, and while under different circumstances, she did get to go out and have the adventure of her life, which had an untimely ending yet she did not suffer. When I think of what I would want for her in life, that would be just it - to be happy, get to explore, have fun/play, and ultimately feel good and not suffer. My daughter has recently started opening the front door, and I take this as a sign to be more cautious than ever before - especially with another baby on the way (she will have a little sister soon!).
I wish I could fully express in words the gratitude that I feel for working with you. What you do for pet owners is a true gift - I am completely confident that knowing the story and travel path of your beloved pets is completely worth it, even if the outcome is not what you expect. I am sure your work must get physically and emotionally exhausting, so I hope knowing that gratitude and sincere appreciation that I and so many others feel gives you the strength to endure during difficult times. You are an amazing individual, and your dogs are superb - and should I have the unfortunate encounter with someone who has a lost pet, I will highly recommend that they contact you immediately! Thank you so, so much, Nicole, and all the best to you ---
Christine
I want to tell you now that I've been extremely impressed with your timeliness and attention to detail. If everyone would run a business the way you do, the world would be a much happier place.
S.J. from N.C.
Nicole,
I just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am for the honest broker advise you provided as I searched for my lost Westie. Your extraordinary knowledge, insight and kindness were enormously comforting during a very stressful time. After the shelter, you are the first person I'd call if ever in a lost pet situation again.
Best,
Cliff P (VA)
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Review of Lost Pet Investigations By Lisa N. Ha Like many clients of professional pet detectives, we were desperate by the time we contacted Lost Pet Investigations. Our five-year-old Boston Terrier, Thor, ran away from the dog sitter and had been missing for days by the time we we able to return home. The minute we got back, we littered the streets with fliers. We started a Facebook page. We called area vets and shelters. My husband spent every waking moment of every day scouring the streets for our little guy. None of it was working, and as days passed we began to feel the freezing nights of autumn closing in like a cold fist around our hearts. Where was Thor? Then we found Nicole Mabrey of LPI. Within the space of a few emails and a one-hour phone consultation, we felt dread and helplessness ebb and give way to a feeling we had nearly forgotten in our protracted search: empowerment. We realized that like parents of missing children (albeit to a much lower degree), we had the drive to find our lost dog, but not the knowledge of how best to conduct a search. Following general advice works, but according to the American Humane Association, only 15 percent of the time for dogs and 2 percent for cats . Speaking to a professional in the missing pet industry gave us insight into our dog: Thor's movements, behavior and most importantly, his likely whereabouts based on reported sightings and his individual personality. No Internet advice column could provide that. After speaking with Nicole, we immediately re-tooled our search efforts, working just as hard, but exponentially smarter. I admit that before the consultation, I wanted Nicole to bring her team of search dogs to our city and perform an on-site search. As in, "right now would be ideal, but tomorrow will suffice, thanks." Nicole convinced us to give our new search strategy time to work. If in the space of one week Thor had not returned, she would willingly come on-site. In the end, there was no need. Thor was found that very weekend, in one of the two areas Nicole predicted he would be. Her expert knowledge allowed us to concentrate our resources within a 1/2 mile radius and stop casting our net wildly throughout the city. She helped reunite our family. To those of you reading this whose pet is missing, please know you have my heartfelt sympathy. I understand fully the anxiety and pain you are feeling knowing that your valued family member is lost in the world and doesn't know how to come home. My best advice to you is this: Pray. Consult with Lost Pet Investigations, and enlist the help of willing neighbors, friends and colleagues -- all in that order. Don't lose hope; your pet can come home to you, especially with Nicole's professional, caring advice just a phone call away. Best of luck to you. Lisa N. Ha lives in Harrisonburg, Va. with her husband Tim Smith, two dogs, a cat and a rabbit and a baby due in May, 2011. Her dog, Thor, was found after 8 days on the run as a result of a detailed behavioral profile and instructional consultation with Lost Pet Investigations. |
Nicole,
Thank you very much for your assistance during your time in Colorado.
Even though we never went on an official search, the documentation you provided me and conversation we had proved very useful.
Your compassion and understanding showed me that there is light at the end of the tunnel and helped me to understand my pet's
behavior. When I ran across your article, to me it was fate that we were connected. If I hadn't re-designed my flyers in preparation
for Thursday and handed those out on Tuesday evening after the rain.......Lucy may not have come home last night. I
think our casual, non-threatening conversation was heard by her and she was comfortable and ready to come out of hiding.
It was almost instantaneous from the minute we walked in the door to when we heard her first meows. I was overwhelmed with
joy and relief. God answered my prayers and I learned so much from this experience. I learned how to be patient, understanding,
and how to reach out for help. I met the most amazing people on this journey and am now acquainted with my neighbors. God
sent me angels in so may ways, it truly is a blessing all the way around.
I hope you had a safe trip home....
H.W.
Denver, CO
I just wanted to let you know I found Zeke last night! I so fully appreciate all the insight you gave to us during the harrowing 10 days that he was gone. It was our posters that lead us to recover him--but he was far, far out of our area--luckily, the woman who called me saw our poster over near us, and finally got a number for the little lost dog she had been seeing in her neighborhood. Thank you so much, Nicole for all your help. I admire you so much for what you do, so keep up the good work!
Sincerely,
Julie Hunt"