Milly’s Journey – A happy ending to dog’s tale

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
She was wandering alone for three nights. The frigid temperatures of winter in Aroostook County were not kind to the Southern gal. A frantic search began. People’s emotions were stirred. Could she survive the Arctic cold front that swept into The County? Lots of kind words and prayers were offered through this unsettling time.    On Thursday, it was a grand meeting. A happy ending, as dog and owners were reunited.
Denise and Danny Geiger had “adopted” Milly “The Destroyer” from their son and despite the upheaval she caused, a bond was formed.
“She chewed everything in our house,” said Denise. “But, we love her anyway.”
Milly, an 8-month-old Catahoula leopard dog, was outside last Monday when in a split-second, she was gone.
“We had been trying to get her to not leave our driveway by using a training collar,” said Denise. “Danny took his eyes off her for just a second. As far as we know, she chased another dog that had been running loose in the neighborhood. We searched and searched.”
With each day, Danny and Denise grew more disheartened as they wondered the fate of their small animal.
“Milly has a very thin coat and she is not really well-adapted to our cold climate,” Denise said. “She is a unique breed of dog. The Catahoula leopard dog is the first North American bred dog in the United States. They were originally bred to herd wild boars and pigs in the Catahoula region of Louisiana.”
The weather is a far cry from our typically frosty winters. So, with each passing day, the owners’ hopes were dimming.
“We plastered her picture all over Facebook on every page we could think of,” Denise explained. “On Wednesday, we made up over 100 flyers and distributed them to area bus drivers, fuel truck delivery guys, UPS drivers, postal workers, Pine Tree Waste drivers and every business we could get to, as well.”
Still, no word. Everyone who saw the Facebook post was looking and hoping for the best, although it seemed futile that a young pup could survive the bitter winds and freezing weather conditions.
“Everyone was so great with all of the words of encouragement and prayers,” said Denise. “We just can’t thank everyone enough.”
Last Thursday around 2:30 p.m., there was an awesome sighting by Denise’s sister on the B Road, just before the Back Ridge Road, she spotted Milly on the side of the road.
“She stopped and called to Milly, but she ran,” Denise said. “She tried several times until she had followed her to the Front Ridge Road.”
Several people drove by, paying no attention to the loose dog.
“Finally, people started stopping,” Denise said. “Charlene McGary was one of those people.”
McGary and Geiger’s sister, Roxana Mooers, tried to entice Milly with a cookie thinking she was probably quite hungry. But, she was also very scared and she kept her distance. Without giving up, the ladies gently “boxed her in” and McGary was able to take hold of her collar, escorting her to Mooers’ warm, inviting car.
“The first thing she did was eat three protein bars that she found in the back seat of my sister’s car,” said Densie. “My sister brought her home and called me at work. I then called Danny, who was out delivering flyers to area businesses. I told him that Milly was home waiting for him. He didn’t even let me finish. He hung up and was on his way.”
Upon arriving, Mooers said it “was quite a sight” when Danny arrived to get Milly.
“The tears were just a flowing, as Milly was so happy to see him,” Denise added.
Milly may be a bit thinner and is still a little weak from her ordeal, but overall, she is happy to be home again. Warm and safe.
“Danny has just be so distraught since she disappeared,” Denise said. “We are so happy to have her home.”
When the Geigers look into Milly’s eyes, they notice something has changed. The situation was as tramatic for Milly as her owners.
“We would love to know how she spent those three nights out in the freezing cold,” said Denise. “We probably will never get that answer. The thought of never knowing where she was the absolute worst [feeling]. It really doesn’t matter now.
“We just want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone,” said Denise. “It just goes to prove what a great community we have. One very nice lady even took her lunch hour to drive around our neighborhood looking for her. Another friend came from Linneus to look for her. So many people told me that they were constantly watching the side of the road everywhere.”
It will take a few days for Milly to start acting like herself, but the Geigers welcome “The Destroyer” back — right where she belongs — in a loving home — as she nestled near a blanket for some sleep.