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Facebook Lends Hand In Finding Missing Dog

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Oct 22, 2009 5:52 pm US/Eastern

Facebook Lends Hand In Finding Missing Dog

Reporting
Gigi Barnett
SYKESVILLE, Md. (WJZ) ― Thanks to a Facebook page, hundreds of Internet users and two determined dog owners, a Rhodesian Ridgeback is safe at home.

Gigi Barnett reports the dog spent more than a week away.

After eight days in Pennsylvania mountains, trapped in blistering cold, home is sweet for the seven-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback.

His name is Ralph, and his owners Carol and Chip Bleam launched a week-long search that started on foot and ended on the Internet.

"The fact that Facebook was able to help us bring our dog home, it just blew my mind," said Chip.

Ralph got away from Carol and Chip during a weekend getaway to Pennsylvania.

The Bleams went to a Penn State football game, but before the second quarter, they received a phone call from a family friend who was watching Ralph.

"It was the nanny calling saying that Ralphie had gotten out of the house, and we needed to get home," said Carol.

They looked for Ralph for four days until Carol's sister got an idea.

"She said, 'I'm going to create a Facebook group, Bring Ralph Home, so we can all stay updated on Ralph,'" said Carol.

The phone calls, Facebook comments and Ralphie sightings came rolling in. More than 250 people signed up to find Ralph.

"We started to get the calls.We're like, we're going to find him. We're not even there. We don't know where to look, but all of these people are looking," said Carol.

The search continued and on Sunday, another phone call came, a woman spotted Ralph in her backyard.

"I poked my head around the corner, and I had a piece of hotdog in my hand, and I walked over to him," said Chip. "I just squatted down and calmly just said, 'Ralphie, come here, come here bud. Do you want a treat?'" said Chip.

Four days later, Ralphie is recovering. Blisters blot his paws, and he's hungry and tired.

The Bleams are relieved.

"Ralph is home," said Chip.

The Facebook page is still up, and people are wishing Ralphie well.

The Bleams say Ralph is OK inside and out. The dog received a clean bill of health from the veterinarian.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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