When Adam and Courtney Cooper dropped their dog off to a dog sitter in Sharpsburg, they didn’t expect it to show them how strong of a community Coweta County can be.
While on vacation in the Virgin Islands, Adam and Courtney received a call that their dog, Abby, was lost on April 20.
“We didn’t know our vacation was about to change drastically,” said Adam. “We immediately booked a flight home to help search for her.”
Adam, a First Sergeant in the Army, is currently stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga. According to Adam, they couldn’t find a dog sitter in their area, so they found one in Sharpsburg through the app Rover.
While they were getting back home, Adam started rounding up friends to head up to Coweta to start the search for Abby before they got back.
“I called several friends I serve with at Fort Moore,” Adam said. “My friends and their wives drove to the area to help with the search.”
At midnight, the Coopers arrived in Atlanta and, still in their vacation attire, immediately drove down to Sharpsburg and began their search for Abby.
“I’m walking in the woods in shorts and flip-flops,” said Adam. “So we returned to our home in Phenix City to get warmer clothes.”
After returning home and gathering supplies, the Coopers continue searching for Abby. Adam said searching throughout the neighborhood and the surrounding woods wasn’t producing any results, so they stopped for a trip to Wal-Mart to grab ponchos and dog treats.
While they were at Wal-Mart, Abby was seen on a security camera across from the lake where the Coopers parked.
“This moment has haunted me as we missed being able to bring her home by 30 minutes,” Adam said.
For five days, the Coopers slept in their truck near the area when they received any possible sightings of Abby. During this time, Oaks residents would offer anything they could to help them. Many people brought them food, drinks and freshly made brownies.
“The people in this neighborhood adopted us as one of their own,” said Adam. “The neighbors in The Oaks have been absolutely amazing during this search.”
According to Adam, some people even offered them their homes to have a warm place to sleep, shower and eat.
“The kindness and generosity that these people offered to two strangers is something that, in the current world we live in, reminded me that there is good in this world,” said Adam. “That we can still love and support one another despite all our differences.”
Adam was amazed with the support they have gotten from the community for their missing dog.
“You don’t see people come together like that for a dog,” said Adam. “It reminded me that we can unite for something.”
The Coopers made more than 300 flyers and 50 posters for their missing dog. During those long days, Adam met hundreds of people who offered to use their drones and tracking dogs.
According to Adam, some Cowetans offered him thermal night vision optics to help search the dense woods at night. People across the area allowed him to walk their property and use their four-wheelers to search the woods, ponds and creeks.
“This doesn’t happen anywhere,” said Adam. “It’s crazy that someone would just hand me the keys to their four-wheelers.”
Every neighborhood Facebook page in the City of Turin and town of Sharpsburg has shared their story.
According to Adam, every local store he visited, from Bedazzled Flowers, The Farmhouse Store, Bobby Mac's and others, was overwhelmingly supportive, hanging flyers in their doors and reviewing security footage in the hopes that they could spot Abby.
Adam says two people were extra helpful in the search for Abby.
Adam said Robin Allgood is no stranger to pet owners because of her dedication to animals and her assistance in the search for missing pets.
“She has been absolutely incredible at educating my wife and me in the search for Abby,” said Adam. “She has helped us make signs and has taken over as the lead contact for the search since she is much closer to the area, as both my wife and I have had to return to work.”
Catherine Crosby is a local who contacted Adam and offered to help search for Abby.
“She has dedicated countless hours to searching for Abby, driving to any possible sighting, building, hanging, and repairing signs,” said Adam. “I cannot stress enough how much of a blessing she has been to my family during this time.”
The Coopers remain hopeful that Abby will be found.
“With all these eyeballs looking, she’ll pop up,” said Courtney.
If anyone has information on Abby’s location, contact Adam Cooper at 757-708-1522.
