ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 13, 1995 TAG: 9512130020
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
Attention all units, be on the look out for Sparky, who is still missing!
The suspect is a brown, 12-pound dachshund with white fur around his muzzle and a blue halter, last seen near the Super 8 motel beside Interstate 81 in Christiansburg early last Tuesday morning.
Sparky was on his way from New York to Spartanburg, S.C., to be reunited with his owner, Frank Scatigna, who had recently won a yearlong custody battle for him. Sparky's traveling companion, Emil Warchol, stopped in Christiansburg for the night, and that's when the otherwise obedient and faithful 81/2-year-old Sparky went AWOL.
Warchol immediately began the search. Last Wednesday, Scatigna came up to help.
Despite their efforts, there has been no word.
"It's a shame because he was about four hours away, that close," Scatigna said from Spartanburg, where he returned Friday. "That's all I wanted for Christmas was that dog, because I fought for a long time to get him back."
Scatigna has had Sparky since the dog was 6 months old, but had to give him up for a time while he sought medical treatment. Sparky was in the care of a friend, who gave him to a family. When Scatigna recovered his health, he hoped to recover his dog, but the family would not give him up.
Scatigna went to court, and after a lengthy, trying battle, finally won.
"I have hopes that someone's got him," Scatigna said. "That dog isn't stupid. I don't think he'd sit out there and freeze. I think he'd go to where the population is."
Anyone with information about Sparky may call Scatigna collect at (803) 583-2545.
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB