Renewed Hope As Lost Dog Believed Spotted In Kankakee, His 'Person' Won't Give Up

KANKAKEE, IL — A south suburban woman hasn't given up hope of finding her adored dog and, after 41 days, feels she's closer than ever to bringing him home.

Jenny Grant believes her Belgian Malinois, Grimm, has traveled across towns from her home on the border of Homer Glen and Orland Park, and she's confident the latest sighting in Kankakee is him.

Tips made it clear that Grimm was no longer in Grant's immediate area. The search had previously led to sightings in Joliet and the surrounding area, with Grant confirming one in Joliet in early October to be Grimm. The trail then seemingly went cold.

And then came the doorbell video of a dog on a Kankakee porch on Nov. 5.

"I zoomed in 100 times," Grant said. "I took pictures of the video at the right moment. It’s 100 times Grimm. I looked at his tip on his tail on the little white near the tip on his tail, and his two tumors on his side, his pointy ears, his back of his ears that are tan and not black like most Belgian are.

"The gait of his walk, his paws, his chest, his skittish nature when he’s afraid. His darkness around the collar portion, but no collar. I’d recognize them from 100 miles away, and everyone said that when you see him, you will know it’s him. And I know it’s him. We all do."

And Grimm's people aren't the only ones. Grant's dog Wolf also picked up on Grimm at the Kankakee location.

"I rubbed Grimm's blanket on Wolf’s face—what I was supposed to do—and immediately he went crazy and smelled him," Grant said. "He was pulling me all around the outside of the house. And he was crying and going nuts.

"He smelled Grimm. He smelled his brother."

Grant said that from the video Grimm appears in good health, but she is concerned about bringing him home before the cold sets in.

"He looks really good," she told Patch. "I’m so proud of him."

Grimm went missing more than a month ago after chasing what she thinks was a coyote into the woods near Grant's home. Grant does not own Grimm but shares care of the dog with John Kula, his owner. Grimm spends much of his time living with Grant and her boyfriend, Jon Mineiko. Grant and Kula have been close friends for 20 years, she said.

"We are like family, and it hurts me so much that he’s hurting so bad as well," she said.

The night Grimm went missing, Grant had taken his collar off to brush him, thinking they would then turn in for the night. But on one last trip outside, Grimm and Wolf chased something into the woods. Wolf returned when Grant beeped his collar, but, though the two were often inseparable, Grimm did not. Grant launched a massive social media effort to spread the word about Grimm, continuing into this week. She, Mineiko and Kula have searched countless hours for Grimm. Kula has said he believed someone had taken Grimm in for shelter at some point, too, Grant said.

"If I can keep the awareness up about him, maybe—just maybe—there’ll be a miracle," Grant told Patch.

Grimm's appearance sets him apart from others of his breed.

"He is very striking and beautiful," she said. "He's tall, with long legs, and a light tan coat. He's called a fawn Belgian.

"He’s just absolutely beautiful, and I’m not just saying that 'cause he’s my dog."

He's also trained as a service dog and has been Grant's constant companion. She's desperate to find him.

"Every day is horrible for us," Grant told Patch, "and this was my fault. I don’t think I would feel much worse if it wasn’t my fault because I miss him so much, but it was my fault, and I take 100 percent responsibility for it.

"I’ve never been more angry at myself. I just wish I could go back in time—one moment can change everything. Our lives are not the same, and they never will be if we don’t find him. Belgians are like people sometimes, and Grimm is like a person. He is the smartest dog I’ve ever known."

Grant has done the math, and it appears Grimm is traveling 1.2 miles per day. She said Sunday she plans to stay in the area he was most recently spotted, near Kensington Avenue in Kankakee, in hopes of finding him.

"Please keep your eyes peeled because my Grimm is over there," Grant pleaded on social media.

Anyone who thinks they spot Grimm is asked to take a video rather than a photo.

"Take a video immediately!" Grant said. "A picture is good, but it is so much easier to tell with the video. Even a couple seconds."

Grant said she fears that with cold weather approaching and lack of human interaction, Grimm might suffer.

"He is a social dog, and I was his person," she said. "He loves his dad, don’t get me wrong. But I was with him more the past three years and he acquainted with me as his main person. I love him like my child. Without human contact, Grimm is psychologically messed up right now. I know he is."

Anyone who sees a dog they believe is Grimm is urged to call Grant at 708-655-1295.