Family offering $1,500 reward for dog missing for nearly a month

BURDETTE, Ark. (KAIT) - A family in Mississippi County has been searching for its beloved two-year-old poodle for 22 days and counting.

It could have been yard workers, meter readers, or the family’s own human error that allowed both of their pets to escape on Tuesday, March 26.

Although 11-year-old lab “Lil” returned home two days later, the Bivens family’s two-year-old pet poodle “Tonks” remains missing.

That is why the family is offering $1,500 to the person who returns Tonks.

The Merle Poodle is black and grey and weighs roughly 55 pounds. Tonks was last reportedly seen wearing a blue and black checkered collar.

Candas Bivens said close friends have flown drones to see if he’s trapped somewhere they can’t see, such as landfills, wooded areas, and open fields.

“We’ve exhausted every avenue as far as tracking dogs,” Candas said.

The family even hired professional dog trackers out of Little Rock. Candas said they tracked down his scent from Burdette to Luxora. She said Tonks was last spotted near railroad tracks on Highway 61 by a Luxora resident on Thursday, March 28.

“He thought they were coyotes out in the field, in front of the levy,” Candas said. “He went in to get his rifle to look through the scope and noticed the two dogs.”

The family has scattered Missing Dog posters throughout Mississippi County to get the word out. Some are found on the side of the road, and others are placed at local businesses in Manilla, Burdette, Luxora, Blytheville, and Osceola.

Donna, who lives in Luxoram said she noticed a sign posted near a gas station. Donna chose not to give her last name.

“These are some lovely people, man,” Donna said. “Please help her look for her dog, this is her baby.”

Adam Bivens said he will not stop looking until Tonks is found. He added the past three weeks have been heartbreaking.

“It’s like losing a child, we’ve spent numerous hours at night not being able to sleep,” Adam said. “Just waiting on the phone call for him to be seen or someone picked him up.”

The owners said if Tonks is spotted, take him to any veterinarian office in the area. They explained Tonks is microchipped, so any veterinarian can scan the chip and notify them of his whereabouts.

The Bivens said to contact them at 870-623-1147 if you have seen Tonks or know where he may be.

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