It is with mixed feelings that I think back of Storm, "our" white German Shepherd Dog. He came to us on November 3, 2007 and we did not suspect back then how he would come to change many people's lives. Still today he is a special dog and forever in our hearts!

My husband and I agreed to foster Storm for an unknown period of time until his mom Carina would be able to take care of him again. She was having a very difficult time but in her heart she did not want to give Storm up. So a friend of hers, Glenda, at Virginia German Shepherd Rescue sent out a plea through the listserv of the rescue and that is how we came into the picture. We did not know what we were getting into but my husband and I felt strongly about helping. When we met Storm at our front door there was an instant connection. Often shy and aloof with strangers, Storm took an instant liking to me. From that moment on Storm had a new home and his mom would come to visit as much as she could. We also met her at dog parks for happy reunions with Storm. She was committed to bringing her life back on track and having her special boy Storm back with her. Until that moment, she knew Storm would be safe and happy with us while she stayed at a friend's home.

Storm is a wonderful shepherd, loved to "talk" and play with my dogs but also loved his one-on-one moments with his new humans. I particularly recall how he would sit with me, hum and kiss me on the cheek. I remember him as the best dog kisser ever...! Storm had totally won over our hearts.

We spent the Holidays together; we vetted Storm; he was healthy and he saw his mom from time to time. He could not be happier.

Then came that dreaded day- how can I ever totally forgive myself? I sent Storm away to another foster home while I was going on a vacation for a week with my husband. I will never totally forgive myself for doing that - I should have had him stay with my dogs at home with the housesitter. Or maybe not? He was in great hands with Glenda for just that week. Anyway, tragedy occurred and it was no one's fault: Storm always had a runaway instinct in him. He had shown his desire to escape a few times at my home too in the early beginning but after he had settled in that instinct had subsided. At Glenda's home it came back and I should have realized that it might. Storm got out while his foster dad was opening the back door to put the garbage out and he was gone. Storm was seen and pursued that same night but the environment was new to him and the night came quickly...Storm was lost on January 27, 2008. And I was in Florida on vacation.

Fortunately, when we had Storm vetted and his teeth cleaned the previous fall, we also had him micro chipped. Carina and Glenda started the search, spread posters and alerted the microchip company who also distributed lost dog notices. I came home a few days later and immediately participated in the search. With the help of a new friend Debbie we hung up posters in the whole neighborhood, followed up on leads and calls, called vets and shelters and even had a pet tracking team come out to follow his tracks. Debbie and I made time whenever we could to go down to the area where Storm had been lost to look for him. I could not believe he was missing and every time I went down the area I strongly hoped to find him. We were wondering which home he would be trying to find: Glenda's or mine (too far away?). We got several leads and calls but followed up in vain. The months passed and our hope to ever find him slipped...

Carina moved to Florida where she lives with family and found work. Ernie and I started fostering other dogs for Virginia German Shepherd Rescue. Storm was always somewhere on our minds, never fully forgotten...

Who would have thought that 1 year and two months after he disappeared we would finally get a call from animal control saying that they had found Storm: his microchip confirmed it. He was found in the woods close to one of Carina's former residences. I cannot describe what I felt. I did not know what to say or do. I was frightened, relieved, happy, confronted with grief that I had locked up deep inside of me. Now I felt scared to be confronted with it all over again. I could not face Storm or Carina. I probably still felt guilty, but I knew he was safe. His mom picked him up driving all the way back from Florida. We talked over the phone and she was beside herself with happiness. Together we cried. Storm was found and he was going home with his mom. He now had a home to go to and it was no longer mine. Storm now lives with his mom and her family in Florida having the time of his life!

My family will always remember the happy times we shared with Storm and at the same time we will miss him, because once - not long ago- he was "our" special white shepherd foster boy... And he will always be... Stormpy.

For Storm and Carina. From: Karen Rosenberg, McLean, VA