November 7, 2001 – Not many missing dog cases have happy endings, but the search for a Dalmatian puppy taken from Back Street on Saturday ended happily Monday morning when pet owner Bob Butler tracked down his 8-week-old puppy, Trekker, in the Hospital Ground area.
"I didn't think we were going to see him again," Butler said, despite his wife Ruth's feeling that there was still some hope.
Shortly after Trekker disappeared in front of their home (witnesses saw two men pick him up and drive away), Ruth, who is in public relations, started making flyers to post around the island. She then sat down to write an emotional letter addressed to the people of St. Thomas. It spoke of the tragic loss of her son in the World Trade Center attacks, a recent home burglary and acts of vandalism to both her and her husband's cars.
"After all, in these terrible times," she wrote, the puppy "made us laugh."
Her letter, which was published in the Source and read by Addie Ottley on WSTA Radio the following morning, must have touched many — and prompted one good Samaritan to act. After hearing the Butlers' story on the radio, St. Clair Henry, who owns a grocery store on Seventh Street, called Ottley's "Morning Show" to say he had just seen the puppy in the neighborhood.
Almost immediately, Bob started receiving phone calls from friends who heard the tip. He rushed into town to meet Henry. With the help of one of Henry's patrons, the men spent the next hour going door-to-door around the neighborhood until finally they knocked on the right door. A woman handed over the puppy.
Trekker is now back home recovering from his "adventure".
"I think he was a little traumatized," Bob said, explaining that the puppy would always cry when Bob left for work in the morning.
The Butlers say they are very thankful to everyone who helped get Trekker home safely.
