Reward Offered For Missing Oklahoma Service Dog

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA -- An Oklahoma woman is asking people in the northeastern part of the state to be on the lookout for a special service dog. The 18-month-old dog escape from a kennel in Missouri, and her owner is hoping for a storybook ending.

Gabby is a seizure response assistance dog, she notifies her owner of an upcoming seizure. She's been missing since Sunday, but those who have taken care of the dog think she might try to come home.

The 18-month-old Gabby is a purebred Dutch Shepherd with a long tail and floppy ears. She's also missing.

"This dog isn't just a dog; this dog is truly a medical necessity for this woman," said Ellen Kelley, a Muskogee resident.

Ellen Kelley has known Gabby since the dog was a puppy. She's also friends with the woman who Gabby looks after. Gabby is trained to respond to seizures. She can even help stimulate an implant in her owner's heart to help get the woman's body back to normal.

9/9/2010 Related Story: Oklahoma Service Dog Escapes From Missouri Kennel

Kelley said that in the first two weeks Gabby was placed with her owner, the dog was able to respond to the woman's seizures and stimulate the heart implant, helping her owner survive the seizure.

Gabby was in Versailles, Missouri, about 115 miles north of Springfield. She was getting additional training when she escaped out of her kennel.

Kelley and friends have established a Facebook page to help coordinate the search for Gabby and they've put out the word to most of northeastern Oklahoma.

"I'm trying to be helpful, I'm trying to be positive, but it's scary," Kelley said.

Gabby's been missing nearly a week now and, as impossible as it may seem, the family believes that because of her training and unique abilities she may be trying to make her way back home to Oklahoma.

"But you hear about it, even for just a pet and, when you think about it, this dog's relationship with this woman was unique because they were together 24 hours a day," said Muskogee resident Ellen Kelley, who is leading a search to find Gabby the service dog.

Kelley wants the public to know that Gabby is more than just a pet, she's a specially trained service dog who can make the difference between life or death for her owner.

"This is a medical necessity for this woman and probably an irreplaceable dog," she said.

Gabby has a micro-chip and a collar with Oklahoma dog tags, and there is a $1,000 reward on the table for anyone who finds Gabby.