About Thumper Thumper is a Great Dane/Australian Shepherd mix and he is deaf. He is a certified cadaver recovery dog and search and rescue dog with the local sheriff's department. Thumper is 73 lbs., tan and white, mostly white on his head, his chest and the entire underneath of his body with tan freckles down his legs. His tail is tan, with a white tip. On Sunday, February 27, 2000, Thumper disappeared after his owner/handler's vehicle was vandalized in Chico, CA. His loss is being felt worldwide as the internet dog community stands behind and offers support to Thumper's owner, Trish Cox. Concern arises not just because of Thumper's tremendous talents, but because of his deafness. It is a special person that can communicate with a deaf dog, and Thumper's skills have been carefully honed through years of one-on-one work with his owner/handler. Thumper is a very friendly dog who has helped so many people. It takes a special dog to be a cadaver search dog, and Thumper accepted his job with cheerfulness and willingness. There are many more people that Thumper has yet to help and we need your help to find him and get him returned to his owner. Trish is beside herself with worry and we, the members of the Deafdogs mailing list at Onelist.com share her concern. I found this little snipped from Trish in the 12/24/1999 digest. She says more about Thumper than anyone working on this ever could. I hope she will not object to my reprinting it here: "And on to my last, but most dear to my heart, thought process. If your daughter, son, father, sister, mother, brother, had disappeared, was murdered, in a plane crash, in a bombed building, or drowned, would it matter to you if the dog that found the body, bringing closure and perhaps answers, was deaf? I can't think of one family that Thumper has brought closure to that has been upset that I rescued a "genetically flawed dog" from a pound, spent thousands of hours a year training him, and was able to use him to help them in their greatest hour of grief. Thumper has travelled all over California, been on numerous searches to help families cope with a loss they have no words for, and never once did any of those families get upset because he was deaf. And last, but certainly not least, Thumper and his "genetic flaw" came into my life exactly when I needed what he provided, a challenge. A different focus. A learning experience. A way for me to discover that I really did have the ability to hurdle obstacles. And I am still here because of that. Trish and Thumper (deaf, State of California Office of Emergency Services Certified Cadaver dog and Butte County certified water search dog) and Please (not so deaf Aussie)and coming soon... Kismet's Guess (deaf baby to be!- my next to be certified search dog)" You can see, in this little tribute, that this dog MUST BE FOUND. We dedicate this site to Reuniting Trish N Thumper....