Kari Wilkes and her family are nearing a two-year anniversary, but there will be no celebrating. Instead there will be sadness because it will be the anniversary of the day their beloved American Bulldog, Hanah, went missing. On May 22, 2011, a tornado barreled towards Joplin, Mo. Kari Wilkes was in a closet, holding the door shut with one arm while her other arm was wrapped tightly around Hanah, her five- year- old American Bulldog.
The 200mph wind destroyed Kari’s house, ripping Hanah from her arms in the process. "It just blew the door right out of my hand and sucked Hanah right out with it," says Wilkes. Kari survived the devastating destruction, but did Hanah? The search for Hanah began immediately. Every tip or sighting was checked out thoroughly. Two days after the tornado, a picture surfaced. It was Hanah! She had been photographed looking a little scared and disoriented, standing near a pile of rubble, but she was alive. The Wilkes family had renewed hope that they would soon find their “fat gir” and bring her home.
The mystery of what happened to Hanah has continued for nearly two years now. A group of people deemed “Hanah’s Army” continues to search through shelter photos and to spread the word about Hanah in an attempt to reunite her with her family. A facebook page called “Bring Hanah Home” was started, and Kari and the page administrator monitor it carefully for any word or pictures that remotely resemble Hanah.
This is an email received from Kari Wilkes today:
“We continue to search for Hanah. We will never give up on our search for Hanah. Everyday people post pictures of dogs who look very similar to her. Unfortunately, none of them have been our girl. We appreciate everyone sending pictures and articles to us and we follow up on every single one. Our number one focus at Bring Hanah Home will always be trying to find Miss Hanah. Becoming a non-profit organization has been such a blessing. We are able to help others in so many ways while spreading the word that Hanah is still missing....and we won't give up our search. I have attached a photo of Hanah. If it is not clear enough to publish, please let me know and I will send another one. Again, thank you for sharing our beautiful girl!”
Over the past two years, Hanah’s Army has gathered information that leads them to believe that someone did indeed rescue Hanah. The man who photographed Hanah two days after the tornado called 911 for help and was told animal control would be sent. He states that a black SUV did in fact come for Hanah. It had lights and a logo, though he wasn’t sure what the logo said. The man in the dark colored SUV led Hanah to the car and she literally vanished.
Where is the now seven- year- old white American Bulldog? Wilkes has contacted nearly every shelter and rescue group in the country, but no one seems to know anything about the dark colored SUV that picked up the 65-pound white American Bulldog. Someone knows where Hanah is and there is a reward for her safe return, no questions asked. Hanah is very recognizable if you look carefully at her photo. Hanah’s right eye is blue and her left eye is a hazel/brown color. She also has a dark spot under her left eye. Have you seen Hanah?
For more information on Hanah please go to the page “Bring Hanah Home” on facebook. If you have any information to share about Hanah, leave a comment on her page or contact this writer at alternativepethealth@gmail.com and the information will be passed on to Kari Wilkes. You may also subscribe above for any updated information on Hanah and other pet news.
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