COURTESY PHOTO
The missing dog, Maizie, pictured here in July 2001
is a black-and-gray terrier mix.

Pet Therapy dog
lost since June 28
has rehab residents
‘brokenhearted’

Maizie, a terrier mix, was with
a pet sitter when she vanished

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

Residents of Maunalani Nursing & Rehabilitation Center looked forward to the twice-monthly visits from Maizie, a 4-year-old black-and-gray terrier mix.

Every other Sunday as part of the Hawaiian Humane Society's pet therapy program, Maizie allows residents to pet her for as long as they want while sitting on their laps. Many of the roughly 100 residents line up for their turn.

When Maizie missed last Sunday's visit, residents were devastated to learn she was lost.

"We're all brokenhearted. We're all sad," said Ray Helbig, who visits his wife, Delta, at the center every day. "Everybody's all smiles when Maizie is here. They just wait in anticipation."

While Maizie's owner, Virginia "Missy" Rose, was on the mainland, a pet sitter looked after the dog in Rose's Waialae Iki home.

Maizie walked out a door left open on June 28 and has not been seen since.

Rose discovered Maizie was missing when she returned on July 1.

"If I had been home, she wouldn't have left," Rose said.

Maizie and Rose have been volunteers in the Hawaiian Humane Society's pet therapy program since they arrived in Hawaii three years ago.

Rose said Maizie's temperament makes her perfect for the program.

"She lets them do anything. Some patients may have limited motor skills; they'll pull her hair or pet her by banging on her," she said.

Helbig drives around the Waialae Iki neighborhood behind Kalani High School, along Kalanianaole Highway and around the Waialae Country Club looking for Maizie every day.

"We think somebody has her and doesn't know she belongs to somebody," he said.

Rose does not believe Maizie could survive on her own.

"She loves everybody. I know her -- the first thing she did when she walked out the door is look for people," she said.

Rose has circulated fliers with Maizie's picture in the Waialae Iki-Kalanianaole-Kahala area and is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to her return.

Anyone with information can call Rose at 373-7496.