Community Corner

Have You Heard of the Lost Boys of West Gwinnett?

This is a heart-warming story about two lost pets and a group of neighbors who were determined to find a way to care for them.

Editor's note: Following is an account of a long-running saga that began last fall. It's a first-hand story about a group of neighbors who banded together to help find the owners of two "lost dogs" that wandered the Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake, Norcross communities for nearly nine months before being taken in by one foster family. The group has yet to find the pets' owners, but what they have found is a new kinship that developed along the way. Here is their story. 

By Julie Minnucci

I saw the dogs in my neighborhood three times over several weeks before I was able to get a picture of them.  Better judgment dictated that I not approach them while walking my two small dogs.  In all honesty, I really just thought that a new neighbor must be allowing their dogs to run loose on occasion.  That’s crazy, right?!?  Well, I decided that my new neighbors might change their minds about that if I educated them about the dangers that exist for roaming dogs these days. 

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Finally, on December 3rd, I was able to get a picture of the dogs – one that could be posted to our community forum.  That’s when I learned that Audrey Cohen (from Amberfield subdivision in Peachtree Corners) had launched a search of her own.  The search had started in September.  Clearly, the dogs had been on the run for a long time and catching them wasn’t going to be easy.  I decided to join Audrey.

We exchanged texts over the next several days but, sadly, there were no sightings of the dogs.  Then, our luck changed.  On a cold, misty Christmas Eve, I sent a text to Audrey letting her know that I had just spotted the dogs on my circle.  She was elated to learn that they were “safe” and rushed right over.  On her way, she placed a call to Lila Hunter, a Berkeley Lake resident and fellow dog lover.  Lila had also agreed to join forces with Audrey after a chance encounter over Thanksgiving.  The rest is history.

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We didn’t catch The Boys of West Gwinnett, as Lila later named them, until February 1st.  In the meantime, we created a Facebook page for them (https://www.facebook.com/groups/theboysofwestgwinnett/); organized a small group of concerned citizens who were willing to help (including Tracy Healy, JoAnn Warner and others); distributed flyers around Berkeley Lake, Peachtree Corners and Norcross; spammed anyone and everyone we could with electronic messages about them (and our mission); enlisted the help of a trainer (Amanda Striker with Canine Dimensions) and a veterinarian (Dr. Karen Colson of Medlock Bridge Animal Hospital, assisted by vet tech, Darren Kendrick); plotted all sightings of The Boys on a map that covered a 4 ¾ x 3 ½ mile area; negotiated an agreement for their safety with Gwinnett County Welfare Enforcement (Officers Chip Moore, Erica Davis and Delana Funderburk); orchestrated many stakeouts and a few unsuccessful capture attempts; and got to know just how many people from our communities were also willing to help…and sometimes it just made us feel better by rooting for us when our spirits were low.  What we didn’t anticipate out of all of this, was how many new friends would be made.

The Boys were eventually named Harry and Winston.  Tracy and Brian Healy, from Peachtree Station subdivision in Peachtree Corners (and our hosts at our primary anchor location), earned the honor of naming Harry.  He has a scar on his head that reminded them of the Harry Potter stories.  The Boys’ Facebook fans voted to name his faithful companion “Winston.”  It seemed fitting since The Boys were considered such gems and Harry Winston was a famous jeweler.

Harry and Winston do not appear to bear any emotional scars from being lured into the Healy’s basement.  Since February 9th, they’ve called Camp Hunter (the loving foster home owned by Lila and George Hunter) home.  They periodically work on their manners with Amanda Striker and, more frequently, with a rotating group of volunteers.  They are doing exceptionally well for dogs that we now know were on the run for nine months, most likely longer.  All that is currently missing in their lives is a forever home – one where they can live out the rest of their days together, the way we all met them.  

If you would like to provide a forever home for them (or just meet them), please join us at a Meet & Greet event on July 20th (details below).

What: Meet and Greet Harry and Winston 

When: July 20 from from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Where: 45 South Cafe (back patio) 

A little background:

  • Both dogs are male and approximately 2 years old.
  • Harry: weight 49 pounds, appears to be German Shepherd-Huskey Mix
  • Winston: weight 61 pounds, appears to be part Chow
(For more information contact Lisa Hunter or Julie Minucci at founddogs@yahoo.com or by phone, 678-597-8870.)


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