1 | | “I got Cujo 13 years ago as a | | | | patch was there all right. |
| | pup from my brother Mike,” says | | | | It was unmistakable! |
| | Noreen Barker, 41, from St. Louis. | | 4 | | Noreen immediately contacted |
| | “He was the most beautiful golden | | | | Bob Tillay, the president of |
| | retriever with a curly tail and a | | | | dirksfund. He told her that Cujo |
| | heart-shaped patch of white on his | | | | had somehow turned up in |
| | forehead. He also had a very | | | | Colombia, 150 miles from |
| | unusual manner of saying hello by | | | | St. Louis. He had been living in the |
| | rubbing against you cat-style.” The | | | | home of an elderly woman. When |
| | playful dog quickly captured the | | | | this woman entered a nursing |
| | heart of Noreen’s husband, David | | | | home, the dog was sent to the |
| | and their two children Kayla and | | | | Central Missouri Humane Society |
| | Jacob. | | | | in Colombia. There he was going |
2 | | But six years ago, tragedy | | | | to be put to death because of his |
| | struck. The Barkers were moving | | | | age. |
| | and the dog darted out through an | | 5 | | “When we heard about this |
| | open gate into a busy road. | | | | dog, we had him brought to |
| | Despite an extensive search, the | | | | St. Louis, where our vet fixed him |
| | heartbroken family failed to find | | | | up. He was in a sad state - with |
| | their pet. But they never forgot | | | | ears infected so badly that he |
| | him! For the next six years Kayla, | | | | could hardly hear. His coat was |
| | 12, put up a special Christmas | | | | matted and he had a broken toe. |
| | stocking for Cujo. “She always said | | | | We put him on our website so he |
| | he would come back to us,” says | | | | could be adopted into a good |
| | Noreen. | | | | home.” Bob Tillay says. |
3 | | On January 19, Noreen’s | | 6 | | A thrilled Noreen wasted no |
| | brother was looking at a special | | | | time. She says: “As soon as we |
| | website devoted to rescuing golden | | | | saw him, we knew we had our |
| | retrievers - | | | | baby back. He wagged his tail and |
| | www.dirksfund.com - and he was | | | | licked our hands like old times!” |
| | stunned by what he saw…. a | | | | Faithful Kayla, who had kept the |
| | picture of Cujo! He quickly alerted | | | | dream alive for years, reminded |
| | Noreen and she checked the website. | | | | the family. “I told you he’d come |
| | It was Cujo, the heart-shaped | | | | back!” |