Help needed to locate missing service dog

William Vincent, who is called Vinnie by friends needs help finding his PSTD service dog “Sam” who was last seen near Burnett Mills Road in the Dixie Hills area of Bolivar at about 8 p.m., on Thursday, October 1.

            Sam is a mixed breed, with the markings of a beagle, and weighs about 20 pounds. According Vincent, Sam knows the area very well, and should have been able to find his way home. Vincent lives on Keller St., but was visiting friends in the Dixie Hills area when Sam went missing. He says Sam has wandered off from that area before, and has made his way back home.

            “He has done this before, and I wanted to give him some time to return, but now I am worried,” Vincent said.

            Sam's story began to get around social media after WMC TV5 heard about it through friend of Vincent on Wednesday, October 7 and did a story on it. It has now been shared several times on Facebook and other social media sites.

            Vincent is an Air Force Veteran, who has been on several combat tours of duty. He suffers from Post Stress Traumatic Disorder, and often has nightmares. He says Sam can sense this, and will wake him up.

            Vincent said that he is hoping that maybe someone picked Sam up and did not know he was a service dog, because he was not wearing his service dog vest when he went missing.

            “I am a realist, and know chances are I will not get Sam back, but I know that everybody is trying, and I am grateful,” Vincent said.

            Anybody with information on Sam can contact Vincent at 731-212-1319.