Katy Magazine News
November 26, 2018
by Sara G. Stephens
Edwin Robles of Katy will not stop searching for his best friend Milo after the dog was startled by fireworks and disappeared in July.
Life hasn’t been the same for Edwin Robles since July 5, 2018. Around 8:30 pm, a neighbor started popping fireworks. Robles’ pure-bred German Shepherd Milo, who has sensitive ears and a skittish nature, became scared and ran away from his home.
$1000 reward offered
Milo left the Westlake subdivision off North Fry Road in Katy and not been home since. Now Robles is offering a $1,000 reward for Milo’s return, no questions asked.
“When Milo left, he indeed took my smile, laughter, sleep and my appetite,” Robles says. “But little did he know that…I’m not a quitter, and I’m truly dedicated to finding him no matter what obstacle comes in front of me.”
Rescuing Milo The deep connection between Robles and Milo began when Robles, a 40-year-old master plumber, spotted an abandoned the dog on a street corner. The dog had been tied with a man-made “rope harness” that was cutting into his neck and rib cage.
Robles worked for three weeks to capture the dog so he could take him to the vet for medical attention. He finally succeeded, and gradually, under this care, the dog began to gain weight. He was still traumatized by his life experience and was very protective, skittish, and scared. He did not get along with other dogs until he got to know them. Robles knew a dog with these traits would be euthanized at a shelter, so he decided to keep him. He named the dog Milo.
“My daddy knew I wouldn’t make it at a shelter,” Robles wrote in a post “from Milo” on a Facebook page created to help get the dog home. “He gave me lots of love, kisses, hugs, attention, exercise, and I gave him and my family loyalty,” the post continues.
A new normal
Milo’s typical day in the Robles household began at 3:30 am when he and his owner woke up and the two took their morning walk around the block. They would return home, and Robles would feed the dog and then head out to work. His wife watched Milo during the workday.
“When I would arrive home around 3 pm, our daily bonding began,” Robles says. “He would wiggle his tail as soon as he would see my truck coming. We would go for a 3-mile walk every day. We would work on some commands daily.
“But he would enjoy the hours we spent together the most. I would teach him to respect cats [especially his stepsister, “Muchachita”] and traffic to make him safe. We would go to the dog parks and public parks to work on his skittish problem. He would enjoy his truck rides the most. Then we would come home and just let him relax for a little bit before his dinner.”
Robles’ social media accounts are stocked with heartwarming photos of Milo with his family and videos of the dog racing gleefully around the park, dashing through puddles and reveling in a landscape of rare, Texas snow.
“Milo was the happiest when we would let him loose,” Robles recalls. “He loved to run and to [retrieve] something for us. I enjoyed playing hide and seek with him. I would hide in the tall grass and he would smell his way back to me.”
“This is one of the most healthy and well-cared for animals that I have ever seen,” commented Charlotte Page, just one of hundreds of people following Robles’ search for Milo on social media. “I can tell he is one healthy boy. My heart breaks for you and your family. Best of luck to you in your search.”
A community is searching From Nextdoor to Facebook, social media users who read Milo’s story take it upon themselves to report possible sightings of the missing dog, whether at a shelter or a local dog park. Robles responds to every post with an explanation of why a particular dog could not be Milo, or, in other instances, a succinct and hopeful reply of, “I’m on my way.”
Robles remains as relentless in his search as he was the first day Milo went missing, searching for his dog every day on car, bike, and walking. Robles has explored alleys behind food businesses, bayous, under bridges, parks, wooded areas, and all surrounding Animal Control agencies and shelters. He has posted more than 1,000 flyers throughout a 10-mile radius, including all Animal Control locations.
Never giving up
On Halloween, Robles created mini flyers and taped them to the candy treats he handed out to trick-or-treaters. He’s posted ads on Craigslist and all Facebook lost-and-found pages, as well as on Finding Fido, Lost Pets of America, and PetHarbor, from which he receives a detailed Intake report daily of all animal shelters in a 200-mile radius.
For the last 5 months, Robles has paid a fee of $25 a week on PawBoost to spotlight Milo as a Featured Pet. He has also created a Facebook Page (Help Milo my German Shepherd come home) where people post leads.
Robles boosts his page and posts for a daily fee on Facebook and has placed ads on Nextdoor and many other social media community sites. He has also contacted SPCA and the Humane Society and visits them weekly. Finally, Robles has contacted the local German Shepherd rescue groups and the surrounding rescue groups all the way to Louisiana. “I’ve Networked his name and story far and wide.” I also have an ad on Nextdoor and many others.
A man’s new purpose
In all his grief, Robles manages to find meaning. “I truly believe God took Milo from me momentarily because he wanted me to save and help more unprivileged pets.”
In the course of searching for Milo, his owner has started performing rescues with Chip N Snip, and he is now a board member at Sauver Des Chiens German Shepherd Dog Rescue Group. Robles has held adoption events for dogs in boarding that the group has pulled from shelters before they are euthanized.
“I bathe them, feed them, transport them from boarding to vet,” Robles notes. “I’ve picked up dogs from Austin to Katy, and I work with their problems so that they could be adoptable pets.”
Robles also conducts home inspections for future adopters so that the group can make sure the dogs will end up in successful homes.
“I’ve joined this rescue group because they would be the ones Animal Control would call before they euthanize a German Shepherd with behavioral problems,” Robles explains. “In the process, I’ve helped lots of German Shepherd get pulled before being euthanized. If I see a lost and wandering [animal] I pick him up and find help for him/her.”
Robles has also paid bills out of pocket to help dogs he finds on the street that are sick or need shots. He even created the Facebook page “Deceased Pets of Harris County & Katy,” where visitors can post pictures of deceased animals to bring closure to their families.”
Milo’s plea
Robles’ post "from Milo” rings true as the likely voice and words this beloved dog would use to express his desire to go home.
“My daddy … responds to deceased GSD’s posts and phone calls just in case it’s me. His heart breaks and hurts more and more every time. He also stops where he sees vultures and goes see what they are eating. My daddy sheds tears every day for me...I promise you. “I should have never run away but I was scared. My long pointed erected ears are sensitive to loud noises. When I left, I didn’t realize that I would be taking with me my daddy’s smile, peace, appetite, sleep, happiness. I regret running away because I am loved by my human parents.
“My parents believe someone is keeping me for breeding because I was not neutered and I’m a big handsome specimen. He regrets not neutering me because he was ignorant on what could have happened. Please help me get back home to daddy and mommy. My daddy will not give up until he finds me, but I need your help to keep an eye out for me and contact my pops. Does your neighbor have a dog that looks like me? Please take a picture and send to Daddy…Again I ask you, HAVE YOU SEEN ME?”
About Milo
Distinctive dark brown eyes, almost black
Approximately 4 1/2 years old when he went missing
Weight in July was 80 pounds.
Tall, with his shoulder at an adult’s waist
Last seen wearing two collars, a black collar with his name, “Milo,” and owner Robles’ phone number embroidered on it, along with a choker collar
Not neutered or chipped
Responds very well to his name, “Milo”
Most likely to take shelter in an open garage
Skittish with strangers, likely to hide or run away if approached
Call (832) 630-7091 or (281) 830-4267 or email edwin-robles@att.net or Erobles@humphreyltd.com
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