By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Letting our pets outside is nothing new. People have been doing it for years. It gives our animals the chance to enjoy some fresh air, check out what's going on in the neighborhood and, well, do their deed. So it was no surprise when Niles resident Kellie Bella let her six-month-old Miniature Pinscher, Sydney, outside one evening, tied out on a chain.
"We have always let our pets outside. We tie them up, let them go to the bathroom or just let them enjoy the nice weather, like there was this night," Bella said.
However, Bella and her family had no idea that something they have always done would turn into a nightmare.
"I let her out at about 7:30 p.m. We were home at the time, and when I went back out to get her, she was gone," Bella said.
Bella and her family called for Sydney, but she didn't return. They even went out looking for her, but had no luck.
"There is no way she could have gotten lose on that chain. It is sometimes hard for me to get it undone," Bella said.
She recalls that first night was horrible for the family and it hasn't been much better since.
"None of us have been sleeping good. I've lost five pounds. My baby (Kalanie) has lost two pounds. We have been a mess because of this. Kalanie always looks inside the dog cage for Sydney. We just want our dog back," Bella said.
After just one day of her dog missing, Bella began calling local vets offices and animal shelters in hopes that someone found Sydney and turned her in.
"I call them every single day. I know they are sick of me calling, but I'm not giving up," Bella said.
She even made signs and posted them all over town asking anyone with any information to contact her.
"Well, I can't do that anymore. I was told by a police officer that I needed to stop wasting trees. So, I posted two big signs in my front yard. The first ones I had were ruined when the storm came through, so I made another one and oddly enough it disappeared from my front yard," she said.
With options running out, Bella posted signs in the windows of her car, on the front door of her house, placed an ad in the local newspaper and even turned to the post office for help.
"I asked them to be on the look out for her since they see every house everyday. They have been very nice about it and said they would do their best," Bella said.
The missing pet problem seems to be something that has become somewhat of a problem recently.
April Myers, receptionist at the Niles Animal Clinic, said they have had an unusual amount of animals reported missing just within the past few weeks.
"I have four regular clients who are missing their dogs right now, plus other people who have called in looking for their pets who are missing. Usually we only have one call here and there of missing animals, but something has been going on the past few weeks," Myers said.
She stated that the missing pets are mostly smaller dogs.
"People really need to start micro-chipping their animals. It's so easy to do now, it only cost $40, it's a one time visit and you are set for life," she added.
Bella said she was in contact with two other people whose pets also came up missing.
"One lady was fortunate to get her dog back, but Sydney is still gone and so is the other family's. It's sick that people would do something like this, especially to come in someone's yard and take an animal. You can't trust anyone anymore," Bella said.
In the meantime, Bella said she will continue to look for Sydney day in and day out until she hears something.
"I got two phone calls from people, but other than that I've had no luck. I'm not stopping until we find out where she is. She was so hyper and I loved just sitting on my front porch watching her. She would jump at the little butterflies, the kids loved her. We miss her and we just want her back," Bella added.
If anyone has any information on Sydney call 269-845-0276, or if anyone has found a missing animal, contact your local vet's office or the animal shelter in your community.