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Friends of a Monroe veterinarian who has traveled the world to help save animals are helping her search for her missing puppy. The dog was a gift to help her battle through breast cancer (Photo courtesy of Dana Bridges Westerman)

Friends of a Monroe woman who is battling breast cancer are looking for her microchipped and collared puppy, Escher, which they believe was stolen.

Dr. Dana Bridges Westerman, an equine veterinarian who has traveled to places like Baton Rouge after Hurricane Katrina to help save other animals, was given the German Shepherd by her husband to help her through her illness, according to friend Joan Ranquet. She went to the hospital today for the second surgery doctors believe will help her beat the cancer, said Ranquet.

“She’s more worried about where that dog is than her own recovery,” Ranquet said. “She’s the type of person who will stay up all night with a horse and its owners if they need her too.”

The shy 4-month-old puppy was last seen walking near Bridges Westerman’s property at 26523 Old Pipeline Road with Bridges’ other dog last week. When only one dog returned to the house, Bridges and her friends scoured the neighborhood but did not find him. They suspect the dog may have been stolen because even though it has a blue collar with its home address on it and is microchipped, it still has not been returned.

Ranquet said the dog could be returned for a reward with no questions asked. Anyone who sees the 40-pound black and tan puppy can e-mail Bridges Westerman at DrDana@proequine-dvm.com.