Few dogs have been the center of a rescue mission as far-reaching as the one aimed at reuniting Mel with his Enumclaw family.

From the posters plastered all over town to the hiring of professional search operations and plenty of personal appeals, the 11-year-old Papillion has been the subject of an active search since he disappeared New Year’s Day.

But it’s the added story lines that make Mel’s disappearance even more devastating to Jill Ranft and her family.

To fulfill her dying father’s wish, the Ranft family packed up and drove to Iowa, leaving three dogs in the care of a housesitter. On the way home, the family car suffered a punctured gas tank and was towed approximately 130 miles to Billings, Mont. While in Montana, the call came: a gate at home had been propped open, allowing Mel to escape.

Hearing the news, Ranft and her family hopped into a rental car and raced home.

Cruising into Enumclaw, the intense search was launched. Posters went up all over town and Ranft hired two professional search companies that telephone every home within a desired radius. In all, 1,525 homes were dialed – without turning up any word of the missing black-and-white pet.

There have been reported sightings, but nothing concrete.

“I don’t know if they’re real or not,” Ranft said.

Worse, some have made the unconscionable decision to toy with Ranft’s emotions, making crank calls, offering hope despite knowing  nothing of the pet’s whereabouts. One in particular resulted in perhaps two dozen text messages, leading Ranft on a wild goose chase before police determined it was simply a cruel prank.

Throughout the ordeal, Ranft has visited every pet shelter between Bellevue and Puyallup, all to no avail.

While convinced Mel was stolen, Ranft maintains hope that her aging companion might be in the possession of a well-meaning rescuer. By spreading the word far and wide, she’s hoping someone will make the connection between Ranft and Mel.

Hoping for cosmic intervention, Ranft said, “I’d love it if the universe could just give me Mel back.”

Anyone with information about Mel is urged to call Country Animal Hospital at 360-825-2061 or Ranft at 425-503-9512.