Family asks for help in finding lost dog for Marine veteran
GRAVETTE — Members of the Van Noy family in Gravette have issued a plea for help to find their missing dog, Hank. Hank is a 4-year-old black and tan coonhound, weighing about 110 pounds and neutered. He was last seen on Highway 59 north of Gravette on Sunday evening, June 9.
The Van Noy family is desperate to bring Hank back home because of his close relationship with the head of the family, a 70-year-old Marine veteran. Even though he has never had training as a service dog, Hank is an emotional support dog for Van Noy. He has been a member of the family since he was 6 weeks old. Marvin has been fighting a hard battle with esophageal cancer. After surgery, he was placed in a rehab center in April. Visits from Hank helped get him through his stay there.
“He picked my dad,” says Randi Van Noy, Marvin’s daughter. “To someone else, he’s useless. He doesn’t hunt, he’s fixed and he’s stubborn; but to us, he’s part of the reason my dad came out of delirium at the rehabilitation center. We kept bringing Hank, and my dad would light up. Hank is the reason my dad tries to walk every day out to the front porch to sit. Hank is a big baby. He loves to cuddle and be held.
“We love Hank more than anything and need him back!” Randi continued. “Without him, my dad has lost his appetite again and doesn’t want to go outside. We need Hank back so badly. We will never stop looking for him!”
The family has placed lost and found posters all around town, put pleas on the radio, contacted the police in Gravette and neighboring towns and contacted shelters — so far with no results. “We have talked to as many
people as we can think of,” Randi said. “I know it’s a long shot, but I thought I’d try,” she said when requesting an article appear in the Westside Eagle Observer.
A $500 reward is being offered for Hank’s return. The posters read, “Return him with no questions asked!”
Anyone having any information about this much-loved dog is asked to call or text any of the following numbers, 479866-7297, 909-519-3215 or 479-866-1911.