Visiting family searching for 1-year-old black lab lost on Christmas Day in St. Joseph

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A young couple visiting for the Christmas holiday is seeking the public's help with locating a lost rescue dog after days searching in St. Joseph.

Delilah, a 1-year-old black lab mix, went missing around 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Day on the corner of Briarwood Lane and Stonecrest Terrace. She is currently wearing a light purple collar with her name and owners’ contact information.

Delilah was rescued from a hoarding situation in Kansas when she was just eight months old and is very shy. She is not from the St. Joseph but slipped out and ran away while her family was visiting for Christmas.

Delilah's owners are both soldiers stationed at the U.S. Army Base in Fort Riley, Kansas, and along with other family members, are staying in town to try and find Delilah. The family is hopeful they'll be able to locate her by the end of the week.

A bicyclist reported seeing her at 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 27 on Eastwood Drive, but since then, there have been no other reported sightings. Family members and the dogs' owner have coordinated with neighbors, used thermal drone specialists and even consulted with a dog trapping specialists without luck.

Since Delilah is scared of new people and animals, it is likely she is taking shelter during the day and only moving to find food and water during the night when it’s quiet, according to the family.

Area residents are encouraged to check under porches, inside sheds or other warm places an animal may hide. If sighted, please do not chase or call her name as this will likely cause her to run further.

If possible, take a picture and report her location and time of sighting. Please call the local animal shelter or her owners at 816-743-1885.