After a year, family hopes missing dog will be found

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Prancer, a sable and black/brown female German Shepherd, now 5 years old, is a beloved pet of the Barclay family of New Lenox. The family is offering a reward for her safe return. Call (815) 530-7370 if you have any information. | Supplied Photo

Updated: February 10, 2012 8:10AM

Dec. 9, 2011, marked the one-year anniversary of the disappearance of a New Lenox family’s beloved dog, Prancer. If Ceil Barclay could ask for just one thing to help recover their dog, she would say, “Keep your eyes open.”

The Barclays believe there is a good chance someone has their beautiful sable and black-brown, 5-year-old German shepherd. Perhaps someone found her last year and doesn’t realize her owners desperately are searching for her.

Prancer has been microchipped, but Barclay said the brand of microchip may “float” in the body, making it difficult to scan. Still, if someone has Prancer, they may soon update her shots — a chance for her to be scanned.

“She also has some identifying marks that only the family would know,” Barclay said, noting that those marks have made the difference in a correct identification when groups and people have contacted her.

And, that’s been a pretty good number. The Barclays enlisted the help of almost every agency, online resource, animal-rescue group and person who can help.

“The rescues across the United States have been phenomenal,” Barclay said. “They have a constant awareness. Every time a German shepherd comes in, they contact me.”

Barclay said through the tears that flow often when she talks about Prancer that the “beautiful stories” of other dogs being returned to their owners keep her going.

Illinois Lost Dogs (www.lostdogsillinois.org), Pitter Patter Animal Rescue in the northern suburbs (www.pitterpatteranimalrescueinc.org), Til Mar Kennels in Homer Glen (www.tilmarkennels.com), and PetSmart, veterinarians, law enforcement agencies and business owners who continue displaying fliers abut Prancer’s disappearance have been the family’s “guardian angels.”

Barclay said she has even enlisted the help of Lorrie the Pet Psychic (www.lorriethepetpsychic.com), who was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Lorrie “is determined,” Barclay said, that Prancer is alive and waiting to come home.

The Barclays lost Prancer when she and Dasher, a younger male shepherd, got out of the yard during a blizzard. Perhaps the saddest part of this story was the difference of doing the right thing versus doing nothing.

When Prancer and Dasher went missing, the Barclays called police and animal control. Dasher was returned within 14 hours, when Nancy Lach called local authorities after finding and rescuing Dasher under difficult circumstances.

Nearby, a family who said they had Prancer in their yard and garage within days of her disappearance did not call authorities. The disappointment merely strengthened Barclay’s resolve.

“This isn’t just a lost dog to us,” she said. “This is a lost family member.”

Barclay said she has formed relationships and learned much about animal rescue, which she intends to put to good use for others once Prancer is recovered.

In the meantime, she wants those who have read misinformation about Prancer or who no longer see fliers where they were posted previously to know the family has had no credible information suggesting Prancer is not alive.

In fact, the Illinois Department of Transportation has worked with them to identify remains of any German shepherds found killed along the roadways.

None has been Prancer.

Barclay will be out again, replacing fliers, reminding people that Prancer still is missing and that the family still is offering a reward.

To those who wonder why the Barclays keep up their search, Ceil said: “How would you feel if it were your pet? Would you give up? We’re a determined family; we’re not going to give up.”