From Iraq, search continues for missing dog

by Sheila Gardner

Staff Writer

Her name is Starbuck. She is a 5-year-old female black Labrador retriever with "an abundance of energy."

Starbuck disappeared July 2 from her Ruhenstroth home, but the family is hopeful she will be found and returned.

Lt. Col. Jeff Mark, stationed in Iraq since April with the Nevada National Guard, posted an item on Craig's list offering a $500 reward for Starbuck.

"She is quite large " not fat " just a large female weighing approximately 80 pounds," he said in an e-mail exchange.

"While I'm deployed, my wife and daughter were watching her, but she got out of the backyard gate. She had about a two-hour head start before my wife noticed that she was missing and immediately began to search."

Diane Mark said Friday the dog has slipped out before, but she always found her.

She thinks someone may have stolen the professionally trained and titled hunting retriever.

"If someone did take her, they pretty much caused a lot of distress for this family," Diane Mark said. "I hope she is chewing up everything they own."

With Starbuck gone, the family's other dog, Ariel, an 11-year-old Australian terrier mix, went into such decline, she had to be put to sleep.

"They were together for five years, and Ariel just didn't adjust," she said.

Starbuck has a distinctive bump on her upper lip from a scorpion bite she received as a puppy.

"She is very energetic," Diane Mark said. "She's a very hyper dog and very friendly. She likes to eat bike pedals."

Jeff Mark has been in the military for 27 years. He began as an enlisted Marine and after completing college received an Army commission.

He is commander of the 140th Military Police Brigade Liaison Detachment, Task Force 134-Detainee Operations, Multinational Forces, Iraq.

Mark said he should return to Nevada in February 2009.

"Starbuck is my hunting partner and, believe it or not, friend. I spent years bonding with her and hate the fact that she's gone and I'll return to an empty duck blind," Mark said.

DETAILS

A $500 reward is being offered for the return of Starbuck, a 5-year-old female black Labrador retriever missing since July from Ruhenstroth. Her owners, Lt. Col. Jeff and Diane Mark, describe Starbuck as very friendly. She weighs 80 pounds and has a bump on her upper lip from a scorpion bite she received as a puppy. Information: jeffrey.mark@iraq.centcom.mil or simbarimark@yahoo.com.