On Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 5:00 a.m., Phoenix and several small dogs were being walked when the group was attacked by a large, loose dog.
Phoenix slipped his collar and was chased by the intruder. It was a dark, rainy morning and Phoenix was soon out of sight, last seen running in fear.
Phoenix is dearly missed and a search, which includes door to door flyers, is actively in progress.
The Details:
What Happened:
Last Seen:
Thursday, January 12th at 5:00 a.m.
Intersection of Beverly and Madison in Everett, WA
Near Madison Elementary School and Evergreen Middle School (last seen here)
Details About Phoenix:
Male Papillon, intact
Brown and White Colored
9.75 inches, 6 lbs.
Loves people, except when scared
Contact Information:
Phoenix is owned and loved by Robin Kletke & Robin Cohen
Any information that will aid in bringing Phoenix home is appreciated!
Robin Kletke 206-718-1237
Robin Cohen 206-718-2083
Gwen McMillan - 425-319-7827 (assisting in search)
1/16/06 - No current sightings. Distributing flyers door to door. Local vets, shelters and pounds have been notified. Adds placed in local papers, and on Internet sights.
1/17/06 - Thank you for the e-mails with suggestion on what to do for this search - keep the information/suggestions coming!
We are organizing a door to door campaign for this weekend, January 21 & 22nd in the Everett area. If you can help, please e-mail ArgusRanch@aol.com immediately. If you can assist for just an hour or two, that would be great.
All volunteers will receive free ring rental at Argus Ranch as a Thank You for helping out.
*** New Flyers ***
Below is a copy of the Poster and Handout being used. Please feel free to download and distribute.
1/18/06 - The Everett Herald has run a story on Phoenix's situation. A picture ad is currently running in the local papers. Local TV & Radio stations are being contacted.
Volunteers are being coordinated for a mass flyer/information campaign for this weekend.
It has been confirmed that children at the local schools & school officials have been updated on Phoenix's plight and are on the look out for him.
Volunteers are being coordinated for a mass flyer/information campaign for this weekend. Please contact Robin Kletke at 206-718-1237 to assist.
1/20 - 22/06 - The next update will be on Monday, January 23rd as the web mistress will be in Portland, OR. We'll be praying for Phoenix and the success of this weekend's efforts.
1/23/06 - There was a tremendous response from the Agility/Canine-friendly community to the request for assistance in distributing flyers this past weekend. While the local neighborhoods are familiar with his story, there have been no solid leads on Phoenix as of yet.
1/24/06 - Some news to report: 2 calls came in about potential sightings of Phoenix. While neither party could accurately varify that it was him and there were no clues found, the good news is that the flyers are working and people are aware of Phoenix.
A few facts: Over 3,000 flyers/business cards with Phoenix's information have been handed out over the last week. Over 30 volunteers from all over the state of Washington came to distribute flyers this past weekend.
As time goes on, the Robins have been understandably feeling the weight of their missing Phoenix. The incredible show of support and caring from everyone has really touched them. I saw Mrs. Robin today and she looked more hopeful than she had prior to the weekend. Keep up the support, it is needed now more than ever.
1/27/06 - This weekend, a second mass distribution of flyers is being assembled. An additional 2,000 flyers are ready to be handed out.
Folks from every where are helping to spread the word by forwarding e-mails and flyers to friends, family, contacts and co-workers who live and/or work in or around the surrounding areas where Phoenix was last seen.
Many people have helped by contacting their local vets, breed rescues, shelters and pounds to inform them of the situation and to make them aware of Phoenix. Please keep this up. There are so many possible contacts out there that we need everyone to chip in and stay on top of these potential sources on our behalf.
1/29/06 - The Reward for Phoenix's safe return has been announced and the amount is $1,000.00.
Word of Phoenix is strong within the community and the search areas are once again being expanded.
There have been no sightings at this time.
1/31/06 - It is strongly believed that Phoenix is still alive and is either in "survival mode" or has been taken in by a well-intentioned individual.
The search process has not been easy and all leads are quickly being followed up on.
(Please note the following story did not produce missing Phoenix - he is still unaccounted for). Some leads have been tougher than others and this has been a challenging process.
For example, there was a report of a "small dog" by the road. The Robins rushed to investigate. The scene was difficult and required the cadaver to be taken to their vet for identification. Thanks go microchipping, the cadaver was found NOT to be Phoenix, but instead someone else's dog.
Hope is still very strong.
1/26/06 - A large add for Phoenix's safe return, which includes a large photgraph, has been running in the local paper. Click here to checkout this terrific ad. This ad can be e-mailed to anyone you think should be aware of lost Phoenix. Please send it to everyone in the Everett & surrounding areas that you know.
1/25/06 - TV coverage on Phoenix was given today by one of the local News Stations.
2/1/06 - The Robins are in the process of making Yard Signs. They will be lamenating pictures of Phoenix and attaching them to the pre-made signs with Phoenix's information.
***** If you would like to help put some of these signs together, the Robins will be at the Mt. Hood Doberman Pinscher Club Agility Trial in Ridegefield, WA this weekend (February 4 & 5th). Please stop by and give 15 minutes to help put a few signs together.
***** A few volunteers are needed to distribute the lawn signs next week (week of February 6th). Please e-mail r2agility@verizon.net if you can assist for 1 hour.
2/2/06 - Mrs. Robin has asked that everyone keep Phoenix in their thoughts and prayers. She is confident they'll bring Phoenix home.
What You Can Do to HELP:
E-Mail Flyers to everyone you know in the Everett & Surrounding Areas (scroll up to download a copy of the flyer)
Notify & keep in contact with your local rescues, shelters, vets, pounds, etc. (no matter where their location) on our behalf (feel free to forward a flyer, found at the top of this page)
Post a flyer in your workplace, favorite restaurants, gym and any where else it will be noticed - be creative, Phoenix needs the awareness!
Print off a flyer and carry a few in your vehicle. You never know when it will come in handy.
If you see someone with a dog that looks like Phoenix, nicely hand them a flyer. Dog people like to help each other and they would notice a dog that looks like theirs .
2/9/06 - During the past week the Robins have been putting out Yard Signs (see blow to view a picture). A Yard Sign prompted a call from a mother whose young son saw a dog like Phoenix on SuperBowl Sunday. Upon seeing a Yard Sign a few days later, he told his Mom and she immediately contacted the Robins who have been searching the area.
The Robins were also called to investigate another deceased dog, but it was not Phoenix.
Word is spreading through the community and folks have been very supportive. Remember, Phoenix is a small dog and can easily hide or be hidden. This presents a unique challenge, so keep your eyes and ears open - be alert for this little guy.
2/16/06 - No new updates or reported sightings. We're still searching!
2/19/06 - We Need Your Assistance!!!
We would like as much help as possible to attract the local news organizations attention. We are attempting an email campaign to the TV stations in the area to get Phoenix's search on the local news. We and others have already contacted these organizations individually with little response. What we're hoping is that a much larger flood of coverage requests would send the message that the viewing public would like to see Phoenix's story on the news.
Our thought and hope is that somebody picked Phoenix up shortly after he was attacked and that they either haven't received the word that we're looking for him, or decided to keep him for themselves. Hopefully, if they can see that we are actively looking for him, that we're willing to get them their own Pap puppy, and that there will be no questions asked, they will return him.
What you can do to help:
Please send an email to the TV stations listed below. It is important that you write the email yourself so that the TV stations realize that it is coming from a large number of individuals, not just the same email being forwarded around. A short note indicating that you would like to hear about Phoenix's story on the news and hopefully help bring him home would be great. There are many possible "reasons" that you might want to see the story on the news. We've listed a few here, but feel free to send your own instead.
Send an email to all the stations below. If you have other email address, please let us know so we can add them to the list.
Also email all of the people in your address book and ask them to write emails themselves. Emails can come from all over since an email address doesn't specify the location of the sender. This is a campaign of numbers, so try to get as many people involved as possible.
We hope to get several thousand emails to the news stations in the next few days. Maybe they will run Phoenix's story because they see how many people it is touching already.
Reasons Phoenix's story is noteworthy:
We have been tirelessly searching for Phoenix for 5 weeks.
If somebody has him, we are offering to purchase them their own Pap (or other) puppy to get Phoenix back.
We've been offering a $1000 reward for his return, or information leading to his return.
He was lost because of an aggressive dog that charged him while being walked in Everett which caused him to slip his collar.
Over 4000 flyers/cards have been hand distributed by over 50 people since he went missing.
People have personally come in from all over the state to help search (Yakima, Centralia, Puget Sound, Sequim for instance).
We've been running a non-stop picture ad in the Everett Herald for over a month. (Latest Herald ad in PDF format)
He is the nephew and protege of the 3-time AKC Agility National Champ and #1 AKC Agility dog in the country.
Dog people from all over the country have been following the search and offering help.
We've been working with pet detectives, pet psychics, pet communicators - all who have said that he is still alive and with someone.
Phoenix's loss and story strikes at the heart of most pet owner's worst fears: The sudden disappearance of your beloved pet.
We have personally spent over $3500 in the search efforts. Others have also spent their free time, gasoline, printing costs, time away from work, web space, phone charges and incalculable good thoughts and prayers.
Phoenix's loss and search have shown us just how close our dog/pet community is. When the safety of our pets is involved, other concerns and differences just don't seem to matter anymore.
Things that have already been done by us and many, many others:
Printed up hundreds of flyers in the first few hours he went missing. These were hand delivered and posted in the area he was lost.
Sent the flyers to the local vets, pet shops, shelters, rescue groups, etc in the first day(s).
Put flyers up in local businesses in the area he was lost and sighted.
Printed up 2000 business cards and handed them out to local people and stores (many people helped with this one).
Printed up 2000 glossy color flyers and went door-to-door to hand them out (many people helped here too).
Consulted with a professional pet detective, pet communicator, and psychics for help in the search.
Got a group of pet lovers together to attend an airing of Northwest Afternoon in order to get a public service announcement about Phoenix on the afternoon show.
Constantly been to the local shelters looking for Phoenix.
"Apparently, the news media isn't interested in Phoenix.
We appreciate all the time and effort that everybody has put into the search for Phoenix. This has obviously touched thousands of people who care. We're saddened at the negative response from the local TV media, but somehow not entirely surprised.
At this time, I'd suggest not sending more emails to the media outlets. If the two responses we received below are any indication of their attitude, more emails won't do any good.
Thanks again for all your help and support.
Robin and Robin."
2/21/06 - KIRO TV's response to the emails. Obviously, they want to report the news that is important to them, not necessarily the news that's important to their viewers. Their email address has been removed, please don't bother them further:
We lost interest in covering your story after the 50th email. Whoever told you a good way to get a story on tv is to mass email the station was gravely wrong. Please let those folks know they are to blame.
2/22/06 KING 5's response to the emails: They too are declining to run any story on Phoenix. Their email address has also been removed from the list at the bottom of the page:
Dear Robin and Robin,
I am sorry to hear that your dog, Phoenix, is lost. However, we will be
unable to do a story on his disappearance. If you wouldn't mind, please
consider removing our email address (Newstips@king5.com) from your webpage,
as we are having trouble wading through the hundreds of emails we are
receiving daily from people who are writing us.
I hope you have a safe and happy return of Phoenix.
Elizabeth Berman
Assignment Editor
KING 5 TV
Click here to find out what you can do to help RIGHT NOW! Be a part of our e-mail campaign - every note counts!
4/02/06 - Unfortunately, there have been no new leads on Phoenix.
The Robins have received a few extortion phone calls (i.e. "We have your dog, bring us the money or else..."), but have also received many more calls from folks sharing hope and support.
The Robins will never give up on Phoenix, but with nothing new to report, this will be the last entry on this page...
Phoenix, we love you.
12/27/07 - There has been no information on Phoenix....
