SELMA – A drone and tracking dog are among the methods used by Raylene Jessup to find her missing dog named Buddha.
Jessup operates the Selma Cotton Mill Antique Flea Market at 1105 W. Anderson Street in Selma. Inside the flea market, she runs an animal rescue called Street Cats & Stray Dogs.
On January 3, Jessup left for about 45 minutes to run an errand. Security cameras revealed that 13 minutes before she returned, two teenagers broke in. The suspects opened two outside gates then made entry through a door.
Twelve dogs ran out the door thinking they were greeting Raylene, but it was the two burglars. One of them tripped over Buddha, which likely startled him.
After the break-in, Jessup was able to locate 11 of the 12 dogs but Buddha was no where to be found. She believes Buddha was “spooked and ran away to hide.”
Buddha was dropped off at Street Cats & Stray Dogs when he was 8 weeks old. That was 6 years ago. Buddha is shy and scared of people. “I know he is terrified. He is afraid and out in the elements.”
Jessup says Buddha hasn’t been touched by anyone other than her in the past 6 years and knows he won’t run up to anyone. “He will be hiding and won’t go to people.”
Determined to find her missing dog, Jessup hired a drone operator who flew a square mile around W. Anderson Street on Jan. 6. There were no sightings.
On Jan. 8, a tracking dog searched four hours leading them to a wooded area on Noble Street near JCATS. Buddha wasn’t spotted but Jessup things he is close by, just afraid to come out of hiding.
During our original store we reported the teen suspects stole $60 from the store register. Jessup says the $60 was actually taken from a donation jar next to the register to help with expenses for the animal rescue organization.
The two teens were later arrested by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. They are awaiting trial on three charges each: breaking and entering, larceny, and conspiracy.
Jessup plans to speak with the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office next week to see if the suspects can be charged with animal endangerment.
Buddha is about 6 years old, 40 pounds, tan and white with a black spot around one right eye.
Anyone in the Selma area who spots Buddha is asked to contact Raylene Jessup at 919-631-7138.
