Hot Air Balloonist and Powered Parachutists to Join in
Air - Ground Search
for Lost Siberian Husky In Milford- Brighton
July 14 @ 6:30pm
Volunteers Are Welcome to Help Out

BRIGHTON, MICHIGAN – An all out air-land search will occur in the greater Howell-Brighton-Milford area July 14 for “Blue” a beloved Siberian Husky missing since May 8.

Hot air balloon pilots many of whom participated in the 2007 Michigan Challenge Balloon Festival in Howell are being recruited to conduct an air search for Blue, a 4-year-old black and white Siberian Husky male who is a member of a sled team led by Sharon Young of Brighton Township. The hot air balloonists will be joined in the air search by members of a Powered Parachute team.

The balloonists will communicate any findings to their ground crew members who in turn will pass them on to a crew of volunteer searchers on the ground led by Young.

A dog fitting Blue’s description was recently spotted near the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford. A similar spotting occurred July 1, 2 when a Detroit Free Press delivery person saw a dog matching Blue’s description near Corlett and Hyne roads.

Since Blue turned up missing May 8 from Maxfield road in Brighton Township there have been numerous sightings off Lone Tree Road, south of the Prestwick Village Golf Club on M59, west of Milford Road, and east of South Hickory Ridge.

Blue is the lead dog on Sharon Young’s sled dog team. He is an agility dog as well as a show dog, and does some therapy work. “Blue broke out of our house the night my father died,” explains Young, “and I’ve been devastated since. I can’t be at ease until Blue is found and returned home.”

While searching for Blue, Young has found and returned to their owners two lost Siberians and some kittens who have been lost for four days. She also is keeping an eye out for another white and black Siberian Husky named “DUKE” that turned up missing June 20 near St. John near Lansing.

The July 14 air search is being organized by Scott Lorenz, president of Westwind Balloon Company (www.westwindcos.com/balloon) and Gordon Boring of the Wicker Basket Balloon Center, both members of the Southeast Michigan Balloonists Association (SEMBA). “A single balloonist can only accomplish so much because a hot air balloon is at the mercy of the winds,” comments Lorenz, “but you can cover a lot of ground by filling the skies with several hot air balloons. The balloonists are our friends and a great group each with a big heart, and weather permitting they’ll help out July 14 to do their best to find Blue.”

Already Lorenz, Boring and other hot air balloonists have been keeping their eyes open for Blue while taking passengers for balloon rides in the Howell, Brighton, Milford, Kensington areas. “We’ve picked up some eye witness sightings which we’ve passed on to the dog’s owners,” says Boring.

Anyone who wants to volunteer for the ground search may call Sharon Young at 313-550-6095 or Anita Rosenberger at 586-764-0964 or show up at the Park and Ride July 14 @ 6:30pm located off I-96 exit 155 (Milford Rd) on the northwest corner of Milford Road and I-96.