UPPER TOWNSHIP — To most people Star just looked like an average German shepherd. Black and tan markings on a luxurious coat. Looking as brave as a police dog, as regal as Rin Tin Tin.

But to her owner, Jeremy Sanders, Star has always been more than another pedigree animal, more than just a pet.

That’s because Sanders, 29, is profoundly deaf and time and again over the years Star has proved to be his ears in the soundless world where he dwells. She has been the young man’s friend.

Now Star and another female German Shepherd that Sanders also owns are missing. And Sanders and his mother, Jennifer Sweeney, are frantically searching to find their dogs who disappeared from their home on Hog Run Road before Christmas.

“Jeremy is devastated like me,” Sweeney said. “He bonded real strong with this dog. When I first got her, the dog would sleep with him. This is a family member. These dogs are special to me and him both. We live out in a rural area. I am single. They are my life and my protection.”

Countless times Star has come to his owner to tell him that someone is at the door or on their property.

It was two days before Christmas when Sweeney went out to the kennel where Star, and the other two dogs, Venus and Jupiter, were. There she saw that the two females, Star and Venus, had somehow gotten out. The male, Jupiter, was still there.

That sent Sweeney and her son into an intensive search. So far, the two have passed out more than 1,200 flyers with photos of the dogs, but have gotten no real leads. One dog has a red collar on and the other a green collar. Both collars have Sweeney’s phone numbers etched inside. Sweeney has also put ads in newspapers offering a $200 reward.

“I don’t know if someone has taken these dogs,” she said. “I’ve got people praying. The UPS (drivers) are looking.”

But as much as Sweeney misses the dogs herself, her thoughts go back to her son and what a strong bond the man and dog have.

“It seems like she always understands what he is saying,” Sweeney said.