Resident dog missing from nursing home

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Residents and staff at St. Benedict’s Health Center in Dickinson are missing one of their friends. Grizzly, a Golden Retriever and Chocolate Lab mix has run away, said Dani Russell, activities director at St. Benedict’s.

It is unclear how Grizzly got out, but Russell said it’s likely someone let him outside and he jumped the fence. He has been missing since Saturday.

Grizzly is dark brown with honey-colored eyes.

“He had the most beautiful eyes,” said Betty Holzemer, a resident at the St. Benedict’s. “I had never seen a dog with that color of eyes.”

Many people were attached to the dog, Holzemer said.

Grizzly was last seen wearing a blue collar with St. Benedict’s Health Center and Killdeer Vet tags.

“He was very well-mannered and he obeyed. He had been well-trained,” Holzemer said. “He was so friendly. He seemed to care for people.”

Grizzly is one of several pets that reside at St. Benedict’s. He has lived there since January, Russell said.

“I think that the animals really provide people with that level of love that you don’t always receive from human beings. It’s that unconditional, genuine compassion,” Russell said. “We have residents that will just sit and pet an animal and you can just be in a room with one and not say a word and still receive the same kind of love in return that you would if you were having a conversation with some people sometimes.”

Ann Marie Neurohr, a resident at St. Benedict’s, said she liked petting Grizzly. He reminded her of the dogs she had growing up.

“He’s a smart dog,” Neurohr said. “He liked to be outside.”

St. Benedicts has another smaller dog that Grizzly liked to play with, Holzemer said.

“When that little one and Grizzly play together, it’s just so funny because Grizzly is so much bigger then her,” Holzemer said.

Residents and staff have been asking about Grizzly constantly, wondering if he has been found, Russell said.

“For the majority of the people, it was nice to have a big dog that they could pet without having to bend way over in their wheelchair,” Russell said.

Fliers have been posted, the center has advertised the situation and staff has spent numerous hours searching for Grizzly.

“We just don’t know what else to do,” Russell said. “We received a phone call on Saturday from somebody saying they saw them, but they weren’t able to catch him.”

Anyone who has seen Grizzly can contact Russell or Jon Frantsvog at 701-456-7242.

Tags: st. benedicts, news, local, dog, missing, seniors