Dog gone
A man is reunited with his dog under unusual circumstances
Staff writer
The retired Army Command Sergeant Major and junior ROTC teacher believes everything happens for a reason.
A year ago, Dennis Burch of Lincolnville, was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Burch knew that in his weakened state he would be incapable of properly caring for his loyal basset hound, Mildred. Burch took Mildred, along with her kennel, food, and toys, to the Humane Society in Newton and gave her up for adoption on the condition that she would not be put to sleep.
After having a quarter of his lung removed, Burch’s cancer is in remission. He felt well enough early last year bring Mildred home. He found out that Mildred was in the process of being adopted.
“I knew I made a mistake,” Burch said. “It was a decision I made that I’m going to have to live with.”
He never expected to see Mildred again.
In late December, Burch got an unexpected phone call from a woman in Wichita whom he had never met.
“I have your dog,” Laura Gutierrez told Burch over the phone.
Gutierrez had found Mildred wandering the streets of Wichita with the original tags that Burch had turned into the Humane Society with Mildred still on her, tags with contact information for Burch.
Burch then called the Humane Society to tell them he had been contacted so they could tell the family who had adopted her. The family would not return the Humane Society’s calls.
“I would like to say that the Newton Humane Society did everything to help get her back (to the adopting family). The people who adopted her turned her loose,” Burch said.
Burch called Gutierrez back only to find that the dog was no longer residing with her. Burch figured that the family had come and picked up the dog.
Burch received another call, this time at 3 a.m., from a man on his way home from his night job in Wichita who had found Mildred wandering the streets again.
“She must have just gotten away from Ms. Gutierrez,” Burch said.
This time, Burch took matters into his own hands. He bought a kennel and drove to Wichita and picked up Mildred. He tried to contact the family who adopted Mildred but has given up, assuming they abandoned her.
“I’m a religious man. I believe that everything happens for a reason,” Burch said. “I think the good Lord was looking out for me. He knew that I didn’t want to get rid of (Mildred). She needed to come back home, where she belonged, in Linconville, Kansas.”
Since they have been reunited, Burch has pampered Mildred. Although Mildred is not allowed inside, she has a heated shed in the backyard.
“I’ve spent $30 a week on propane to keep her warm at night,” he said. “She’s got to be warm.”
Burch has provided Mildred a fresh batch of toys and the best dog food money can buy.
“The stuff is $50 a bag. To me, she’s worth every penny,” he said.