It was with dirt blackened, broken, mud, and blood spattered feet that I returned to my boat this afternoon a little after 5:30 p.m.  In the wee hours of Wednesday night, Thursday morning a large squall rolled through Cartagena.  According to the security guard at Club Nautico, Georgia, my 12 year old Siberian Husky somehow fell off the boat and into the water.  Later reports confirmed that she was seen walking along the malecon, the seawall that surrounds this part of the city, alone.

After a rare night out in Cartagena with some new friends I returned home just after three in the morning to find it eerily empty.  Immediately I began searching, but to no avail.  For better or worse I couldn’t believe Georgia had simply fallen into the bay.  My thoughts ran black and with the full force of my broken Spanish I began assailing the two security guards for answers.

I looked around the neighborhood my marina and I reside in until the sun was well up at almost 10:00 a.m. when my mechanic found me walking back into the marina for water.  He didn’t hesitate and immediately he proofed my Perro Perdido fliers and began posting them all over town.  As word spread the outpouring of support had me on the edge of losing it throughout the day.  Especially the fact that this man who only gets paid when he is fixing engines took the morning off to help me find my dog.

A 200.000 peso reward, $100 USD, has everyone in the street looking for Georgia, the lobo siberiano.  One of Elvis’ assistants has spent the last day and half pounding the pavement with me everywhere the dog could have wondered.  The trick to finding a dog here isn’t to ask the shop keepers or professionals, but to spend time in the street with the ones who live there.  Talking to the ones laying on the street or sleeping under an overpass is the only place we found useful leads on her whereabouts.  Sadly, the leads have all gone to dead ends so far.

For those who know and love the dog as well rest assured every possible measure is being undertaken.  Daily updates go out to the cruising fleet of 50+ boats who are all actively watching for the dog.  My local friend and I have posted over 250 fliers around town with my cell number and the reward information.  Three police substations have her picture and lost dog posters up and are actively looking for the dog.  Two radio news stations have sent out notices on air to be on the lookout for the dog and to return her to the marina to claim the reward.  With local help I’ve walked every barrio in Cartagena from the best to the worst asking every person on the street if they have seen the dog and directing them to the posters and my phone number should they stumble across her.

Now, I’ll sleep. 

Tomorrow, the remainder of the news outlets.  Georgia, come on buddy.  Come home.

Lee Winters
Skype: lee_winters

www.SailingForSOS.com