Sara Pascua and Joseba Espinosa didn’t stop looking Trackhis nine-year-old black Labrador, since his last disappearance July 30 in the mountains, in Lekeitio. That day, the dog ran away during a walk when he was afraid of a storm and got lost in the undergrowth.
Since then, this couple has used all the means at their disposal: they used drones, boats and posted hundreds of posters in the surrounding area, convinced they could bring him back. In addition, they turned to social networks, where thousands of people joined the search by sharing their story, as revealed by Diario Vasco.
However, this Monday, after more than three months of effort, they confirmed the most feared news: Senda was found dead. The announcement was made by Instagramin a message that moved him more than 14,500 subscribers: “Hello everyone, with all the pain and suffering, we are sorry to inform you that this morning we found Senda dead. We have no words to thank you for all the love and effort you have devoted to his research.” Although the outcome was not as expected, Sara and Joseba expressed comfort knowing that “Senda is now resting in peace.”
It all started with a family walk on Mount Otoio. During the excursion, Senda was frightened by a summer storm and ran away, be disoriented on the way home. Sara always thought the dog could have walked down to the beach parking lot. Ogéein Ispaster, and someone picked it up thinking it was abandoned. With this hypothesis, the couple expanded the search beyond the mountain, creating social media profiles to spread the story. His perseverance mobilized thousands of people who, from different corners, shared messages of support and offered their help.
The networks were filled with words of encouragement after learning of the tragic end. “We will never forget you”, “You did everything unimaginable to find him” or “Senda, we love you, we learned to love you day after day for your big family”, are some of the hundreds of comments that have flooded Instagram.
Senda came into Sara’s life by chance, after a difficult start. He was found as a puppy. in a box next to a container in the Sierra de Madrid. The person who rescued him was unable to take care of him and gave him to Sara when he was only one year old. Even though she had hesitated to get a dog again after the loss of her previous companion, Pelos, the bond was immediate: “It was love at first sight. As soon as she looked at me, I knew that our paths would not separate.”
For nine years, Senda became another member of the family. Athletic and affectionate, he was a dog who left his mark on those who knew him. Although the end of her story was bitter, the love she aroused and the tireless fight of her owners to find her are the best testimony to her legacy.
Sara and Joseba say goodbye to Walk with the certainty that it will always be in your heart. “We hope that wherever you are, there will be plenty of dry leaves to make kibble. We will always love you.”
