Elderly Dog With Health Issues, Kahlua, Lost In Center Moriches: 'We Miss Our Baby So Much'

CENTER MORICHES, NY — A desperate Center Moriches family is searching frantically for their beloved senior dog Kahlua, lost since Monday.

According to Kahlua's owner Jessica Megginson, Kahlua went missing on Monday after getting out of their house on Winnie Road.

"From what we understand, she got out of our yard through a piece of deer fence that was knocked down and wandered her way down Bay Street to the boat launch at the end of Laura Lee Drive," she said.

Kahlua may be near the dock at Webby's Beach — her favorite place in the world, where she was last seen swimming, Megginson said.

Her family is filled with fear over what may have happened to Kahlua, a chocolate Lab who is almost 11 years old.

"She is getting old and her physical and mental health have really started to decline," Megginson said. "She has trouble walking and hip pain and also cognitively has seemed like she's very confused lately."

Kahlua has health issues and needs medication, she said. She is also allergic to chicken and poultry products.

"Please, help her come home!" Megginson said. A reward of $1,000 has been offered for her safe return, she said.

Initially, her family thought she may have wandered around the whole neighborhood. But then Teddy Henn of Lost Dog Search & Rescue came and did a thermal drone over the area; Friday morning, he brought his scent-tracking dog down to the boat launch.

Reflecting on the timeline since Kahlua went missing, Megginson said: "The night she got out she was seen by a few individuals, but the last individual who saw her reported that she was swimming in the water and having a hard time figuring out how to get back out by climbing up the boat ramp."

That caring individual was trying to get her, but had his bike, and lived right around the corner, so he decided to go get his truck — hoping when she got out of the water, he could get her into a safe place until he could track down the owner, Megginson explained.

"After he left, and he was only gone for about five minutes, by the time he got back, she was gone," she said.

Around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, her family noticed that Kahlua was missing, Megginson said. "We searched the neighborhood until 4 a.m.," she said. "We have been literally searching all day every day since."

Henn, she said, could not find her in the canal or the Little Island next to it or the trails at Terrell River County Park.

"When he brought his dog down to search for her scent, it led down Bay Street and then toward Winnie, Teddy Henn's dog, but then back to the boat ramp — and the scent trail ended there," she said. "We believe at this point. It is very possible that she drowned in those five minutes."

Megginson said she always walks Kahlua down there and lets her swim, but hasn't recently "because I know physically, she cannot do much," she said. "So my fear is that she went out to swim and mentally could not find her way out — that, physically, she could not keep paddling long enough. Although we are not positive that is what happene,d we think that is the most likely scenario, considering it's been four days and no one has seen her at all in the neighborhood."

Most of the neighbors are aware of Kahlua's disappearance now; Megginson and her family have been to every house on nearby streets, knocking on doors, pleading for any news at all.

"She always comes right back home if she gets out," she said. "But I think now, she's so old — she may have been confused and tired."

She implored residents to check yards, sheds, garages, trails, in the water, and anywhere nearby.

"I hope that people will keep their eye out, especially around the water areas," she said.

Her family is wracked by grief, Megginson said.

"We have had her her entire life," she said. "Initially I got her for my daughter, who is now 13. My daughter is devastated. She has told me that she can accept the fact that it might be the end of Kahlúa's time but all she wants is to be able to say goodbye and bury her in our yard, if that's the case."

She added: "We knew her life was toward the end, but this is not the way we wanted to see her go. We want nothing more than to be able to bring our baby home and lay her to rest in the yard that she loved to run around in."

Reflecting on bright, sunny days that Kahlua spent swimming happily, she said: "She loved to swim more than anything in the world, and at least if that's the way she went, we know she went out on one last big adventure. But we would like for her to return to us so we can say goodbye."

Despite the mounting fears, there is a glimmer of faith that their sweet Kahlua will be found safe.

"We are still holding out hope that possibly, someone picked her up or she's scared and confused and hiding," Megginson said. "But no matter the outcome we just want her back with us She has been the most loyal and faithful dog, including to our 14 year-old autistic son, with whom she has always been so loving and patient. She has always been so protective and truly the most kind0hearted family member. We miss our baby so much."

Holding back tears, Megginson added: "We are just so heartbroken and miss her so badly. We just want some answers so we can grief properly if necessary. Or have our baby back in our house."

Many have told Megginson stories of pets who've been lost for weeks and even longer, who returned safely.

"I keep hearing stories like that and pray, somehow, that'that'sthe case for us," she said.

Even in her family's darkest hours, their spirits have been buoyed by the outpouring of love from everyone turning out to help.

"The overwhelming amount of support from the community has just been incredible!" she said. "I am blown away how many people have searched for us or reached out to us. We only moved here two years ago and barely know anyone in the neighborhood. And when I tell you that probably 50 people that I don't even know have gone out searching — it's just been so amazing."

She added: "I already said that when we bring her home, I want to throw a giant party at my house for everyone who helped."

Henn, too, was "amazing," Megginson said. "He came multiple times over two days to try and use the drone and search for her with his dog."

Reflecting on where her precious dog was last seen, Megginson said: "When we moved two years ago, the boat ramp was the first place I took her. She and I would always go down there for swims, and it was literally her favorite place in the world. She loved to go down there, swim in the water and run through the island. I think she was instinctively heading to where she loved the most."

If you have any information about Kahlua, call or text 631-488-8994 or 631-561-8059.

"We just miss her so much," she said.