A reward of $1,000 has been offered in the search for an emotional support dog missing in Mansfield since July 18.
Jessica Burks desperately reached out to her community for help when Tiki Boom Boom, a 4-pound pup sporting a tuft of pink hair and a pearl necklace, unexpectedly went missing.
Burks, who was away on vacation, left Tiki Boom Boom in the care of a friend. Yet the 10-year-old canine managed to slip from her temporary home in the 1400 block of Brittany Lane one fateful Tuesday morning.
“There’s not a trail of her leaving the neighborhood,” Burks said, according to NBC 5 DFW. “Which means that hopefully she’s in a house somewhere or somebody in this neighborhood knows … where she’s at.”
The 10-day search has been focused on the Walnut Creek area near Debbie Lane, with community members and professionals lending a hand.
Tracker dogs from Lone Star’s K-9 Pet Trackers, based in Grand Prairie, have been on the scene trying to get a lead on Tiki Boom Boom’s whereabouts.
“Praying she’s safe and someone sees a post!! Thank you again for all the continued prayers, shares, compassion and support!” Burks wrote on a Facebook post.
There is an ongoing national debate surrounding emotional support animals since they differ from service animals, which are trained to serve a specific purpose for their owners.
Although emotional support animals aren’t officially recognized in some states, including in Texas, people with PTSD or anxiety can benefit from the companionship such a pet provides, according to the nonprofit SPCA International.
Pet therapy programs have even been added to various institutions, including hospitals, as reported in The Dallas Express.
For Burks, the absence of her canine companion has left a hole in her heart.
“She came into my life — I adopted her — I changed her life and she changed mine,” said Burks, according to NBC 5. “She means everything to me and my girls, my family, my friends, and apparently the entire community of Mansfield and I appreciate it.”
Anyone in the area who might have seen Tiki Boom Boom is encouraged to call her owner at 817-899-4547.