Reward For Missing NJ Seeing Eye Pup Up To $5,000

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Two weeks after she went missing, The Seeing Eye is now offering a $5,000 reward for the safe return of Ondrea, a seeing eye dog in training.

"We feel we have exhausted all options in terms of finding her loose in the vicinity and are refocusing our efforts on the possibility that someone may have her and not realize we are looking for her," said Seeing Eye Director of Canine Development Peggy Gibbon. "We hope that increasing the reward for information leading to her safe return will raise the visibility of our search for Ondrea. We will gladly accept her back with no questions asked."

Ondra was last seen on June 24 in the Lake Neepaulin section of Wantage, on Arrowhead Drive. Since then, there have been no credible sightings. The German shepherd puppy is about 14-months-old, 50 pounds, was wearing a flat ID collar and has a tattoo in her right year. She is nearly-fully grown, and was not wearing her green vest when she went missing.

Staff and volunteers have canvassed the Sussex County area in the past two weeks. A dog tracker and expert trapper have tried to trail Ondrea, and have set up feeding stations and cameras with night vision to try and find her.

Seeing Eye dogs live with a volunteer training family for the first year of their life before they begin formal training. Ondrea was with a volunteer when she escaped through a door with a broken latch.

A Facebook group, monitored by Barlack, three members of Love On A Leash, and Ondrea's trainer, Patrick Hanson, has been created to help coordinate search efforts.

All sightings should be reported to The Seeing Eye tip line at 973-525-1084. Locals are asked to avoid calling the Wantage Animal Control/Shelter with questions about Ondrea.

The Seeing Eye has provided this lost dog flyer showing the updated award amount: