Lost on the way to a new life: Timid rescue dog Ambrose still missing in Missouri

BULVERDE, Texas — A one-year-old rescue dog named Ambrose was just hours into his journey to a brand-new life when everything went off script.

Ambrose had recently been adopted from the Bulverde Area Humane Society and was being transported from Texas to his new home in Illinois when he became lost on December 21. It happened around 2 p.m. at a Welcome Center along Highway 44 in Joplin , Missouri, a place completely unfamiliar to a dog who was already learning how to trust the world.

Since then, there have been no confirmed sightings.

Those who know Ambrose say he’s sweet but extremely nervous. Weighing about 45 pounds, the young dog is microchipped, but he’s in what rescuers call “survival mode,” meaning his instinct is to flee. He is fearful of people and will run if approached, called to, or chased… even by someone trying to help.

That’s why rescuers are asking the public for something simple, but powerful: eyes, not hands.

If you happen to see Ambrose, experts stress that the best way to help is not to interact with him. Instead, they ask that you quietly note the exact location, time, direction he was moving, and what he was doing when he was spotted. Whether he was sniffing, resting, or running and report only that information to the rescue operation.

Recovery efforts are being led by Emergency Rescue Consultancy, a nonprofit that specializes in safely locating and recovering lost dogs. Sightings should be reported directly to ERC at (417) 619-1076. To avoid frightening Ambrose further, rescuers ask that exact locations not be shared publicly.

For now, Ambrose remains missing, but the people who care about him believe he’s still out there, waiting for the right, gentle help to guide him home.

Sometimes, the smallest act, simply noticing and reporting, can make the biggest difference.