Members of the Dalmatian Club of Greater St. Louis continue to search for two Dalmatians missing since a fire Dec. 29 at a home in the 100 block of Sunny Brook Drive west of Herculaneum.
Homeowners James Mayfield, 73, and Sandra Mayfield, 68, were hurt in the fire and both remained in critical condition this week at Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, a hospital spokeswoman said.
A third resident of the home, Susan Krueger, Sandra’s sister, got out safely, authorities reported.
The two missing brown and white Dalmatians – Ruby, 6, and Cammie, 2 – are in danger because of recent frigid weather, said Elaine Lindhorst of the club. Both dogs are females.
“We’re offering a reward,” she said Tuesday. “It’s so cold and it’s going to get even colder. It’s awful. Dalmatians do not have thick coats.”
The Dalmatians could have traveled far away, Lindhorst said.
“They’re bred to run with carriages, so they can travel 25 miles in a day,” she said.
She said club members have been searching for the dogs about every three days. They plan to post fliers about the dogs and continue searching Saturday morning.
“We may go as far north as Arnold posting fliers,” Lindhorst said.
Lindhorst, who lives in St. Charles, said she and the Mayfields have been friends for years through the club.
“Jim and Sandy have been longtime members,” she said. “I actually bred the two Dalmatians that are missing.”
The couple’s other two dogs, a boxer and a male Dalmatian, were found by firefighters the day of the fire.
“The other two dogs are fine,” Lindhorst said. “I placed them in the home of the handler who shows the dogs in dog shows for the Mayfields.”
Lindhorst asks anyone who sees the missing Dalmatians to contact her at 636-441-5298.