Do You Have Sampson?

You meet some wonderful people in this business, and we met two of them today. Their names are Camile and Frank Whittington. Frank, 73, spent his career in property development and real estate in and around Centerville, MS. The Whittingtons live north of Zachary in a little place on Ash Road, just about five miles above Clinton and five miles below Centerville.

Unfortunately, Frank has terminal cancer. Frank’s cancer is a very rare form of the disease called Carcinoid syndrome. It began in his appendix, progressed to his colon and then his liver. Now Frank has bone cancer. He was operated on at Ochsner Hospital in Jefferson Parish, but they couldn’t get it all. He has been working with Dr. Eugene Waltering, an oncologist, leading authority on Carcinoid syndrome and a member of the staff at Out Lady of the Lake.

Frank was at Our Lady of the Lake when they told him his wife was in the emergency room. Frank was ready to check out of the hospital that day and Camile was headed to get him when she had a wreck between Zachary and Baker. Of course their little Yorkie Terrier Sampson was in the car with her, but Sampson got out of the car while they were loading Camile into the ambulance. A man tried to catch him but Sampson was frightened and was too fast for the man. Sampson just ran away.

All of that was on January 10. Camile and Frank have been looking for Sampson ever since. They called all the vets in and around Zachary and Baker. They even put an ad in the paper. Someone thought they spotted Sampson on Church Street in Zachary so they drive around there from time to time.

When the Whittingtons called the Animal Control Center in Baton Rouge, they told Camile they had a call from someone in Zachary the day after the wreck who said a little Yorkie showed up in their yard. But when the Whittingtons went to Animal Control later that day, no one seemed to know anything about the call. The man who would have been dispatched to go pick up the dog said he knew nothing about a Yorkie picked up in Zachary. Unfortunately, the shelter personnel also said they do not keep a log of calls about lost dogs.

Of course the real problem is that Frank and Sampson had a very special relationship that became ever more important as Frank’s condition worsened. According to Frank, Sampson seemed to know where it hurt and would lay right on top of his incision after the operation.

Camile and Frank continue to try and find Sampson. The Whittingtons are offering a cash reward, and Frank has contacted a private detective, but nothing yet. They are convinced that somebody in the Zachary area has their dog and they want him back.

If you have Sampson or if you know where Sampson is, please send us an email at neighbors@neighborsmag.com or call us at (225) 767-8549 The Whittingtons will be ever so grateful, and they really are nice people who are going through an awfully difficult time.

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