MISSING DOG FOUND NEAR MARBLE HILL

MARBLE HILL -- A mourning family's search for a missing dog ended Monday when a Southeast Missourian newspaper carrier discovered the malamute-chow pup.

The dog, 9-month-old Wheddo, had been missing since Dec. 27, when he sprang from the mangled wreckage of his owner's pickup truck. His owner, Scott Craig, 38, of Doniphan, was killed when he lost control of his truck on Highway 34 west of Burfordville.

The family began its search by contacting area humane societies and media organizations after a tow truck operator said he saw the dog flee the wreckage, apparently unharmed.

Lewis Buster, the newspaper carrier, said he spotted the dog Monday about 9 a.m. near his sister's farm east of Marble Hill.

"I saw his green eyes," he said, "and he had a purple collar on. But those eyes stuck in my mind."

Buster said he recognized Wheddo from a photo in the in the Marble Hill Banner Press newspaper. After taking the dog to his sister's house he called Scott Craig's family, he said.

Craig's widow, Lenda Craig, arrived from Doniphan Monday about 11:30 a.m.

"I knew I'd find him," she said.

Craig said she had travelled to the area where Wheddo was discovered to look at 40 other dogs in the last week. She said people in Kentucky, Tennessee and Illinois also had called her and her mother-in-law, Scotty Houdashelt, after learning of their search through newspapers and television.

"I knew this one was going to be him," Craig said. "There aren't too many green-eyed dogs with purple collars."

Wheddo seemed happy to be reunited with Lenda. But surprisingly he didn't appear any worse for the wear considering his three-week adventure in the woods of Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties.

"He looks like he's been well fed," Craig said.

Despite Wheddo's fit appearance, Craig said she was taking him to be examined by a veterinarian.

She said Wheddo was her husband's best friend.

"But I think he's going to stay with Scott's mom," she said. "I think she's going to fence in her backyard for him."