By Steve Gillespie
Some celebrities in the world of dog-lovers joined volunteers Thursday in the search for Errol, the Irish Wolfhound that has been missing in the Meridian area since the Fourth of July.
Luke Robinson has received a lot of media attention on his hike from "Austin to Boston" with his two Great Pyrenees companions, Murphy and Hudson.
They started their trek of more than 2,000 miles in the spring. They were in Arkadelphia, Ark., when they got word Errol was lost. So, they came to Meridian to help in the search.
The walk from Austin to Boston is to raise awareness for canine cancer and to raise money for the first ever nationwide epidemiological canine cancer study.
"Scientists have discovered that the vast majority of cancers found in pets are the same types in humans, which make the dog an ideal model for research. Not only will pets benefit from this study, but people, too," Robinson said. "By using dogs with pre-existing cancer for studies, it reduces our dependency on lab animals."
Robinson posted a blog Wednesday on his Web site, 2dogs2000miles.org, calling for people to help find Errol here in Meridian.
Robinson said he has several fund-raisers planned in Memphis early next month, so he was able to personally help in the search for Errol, and hopes that he was able to bring more attention to the search. He said he will probably have to go back to Arkansas Saturday morning, however.
"I want to clarify something," Robinson said Thursday. "Hudson and Murphy are the celebrities. I'm just the guy carrying their luggage."
Errol ran away from the one-vehicle car crash he was in last Friday with his owner, Destiny Burge, 19, of Hope, Ark. The crash happened near Exit 154 on Interstate 20/59.
A sighting of Errol running with two other dogs was reported Wednesday morning along Highway 19 South near Carmel Baptist Church.
Amber Holmes, a friend of Errol's owner, is helping to coordinate efforts in the search along with Burge's aunt, Jonette Jones.
Burge, who was released from a local hospital this week after being treated for injuries she sustained in the crash, returned home to Arkansas with her mother. At the time of the crash, Burge was traveling through Meridian to Arkansas from Alabama after a visit with her father.
Holmes said any help in the search from local volunteers would be appreciated.
"They can help us look for Errol or help put up flyers. We'll put them to work," Holmes said.
Anyone who wants to help look for Errol, or who has information about him should call Holmes on her cell phone at (501) 626-9247 or call Jones at (870) 703-2598.
