HAPPY ENDINGS

Breeze's Happy Ending - May 9, 2009
Jasper, (Alberta) Canada

Breeze was placed in a SPCA after her owner died and was then adopted by Jaime. Behaving like some dogs do in a new or confusing situation, she escaped and was lost. Breeze wandered the wilds of Jasper, (Alberta) Canada, and survived the worst of winter weather conditions. She roamed a large area but eventually settled into a smaller circle. Finally, a break came when numerous sightings showed her frequenting a lumberyard. "Everyone is asking how this came to such a happy ending. Leanne and I had been working at the lumberyard for the past three weeks and tracking Breeze’s every move. We finally discovered a pattern in her actions and started putting food near the area to try to keep her coming back. When we realized this was working, we moved the food inside the fenced area of the lumberyard. Once we knew she was going inside, we made a hinged door (with help from others) and wove some cord through a bone, which when bitten and pulled, would trigger the door. This technique worked every time, however, Breeze kept outsmarting us by escaping through the smallest of gaps in the fence. After repairing the tiniest exit holes, and a few more restless late nights, we were inside the fenced area with Breeze, and able to feed her by hand. Then she approached me, laid down, and let me put a leash on her. We hung out together in the yard for about twenty minutes before attempting to take her to the car. The moment she was at home, she was smiling and wagging her tail. : ) “ - Jaime

Debbie,
Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Breeze is home after 51 days!! She entered the yard again tonight and Jaime coaxed her close using hotdogs. Breeze took to Jaime’s loving immediately, and it was an instant bond between the two. I am sooooo happy. Thanks again for all your help.

I think the most important advice was to make sure Breeze went up to Jaime and not the other way around. Even though we had Breeze trapped within the enclosure, Jaime was patient and waited to earn trust so Breeze would approach and go all the way to her.

You are a very generous person to devote so much time to helping others find their lost dogs. Keep up the great work Debbie.

Leanne

Vinnie's Happy Ending - May 2009

Hi Debbie,
My husband and I wanted to express our thanks to you for the work you've done in building and maintaining your website. We have a two dog household, and our younger dog Vinnie disappeared after getting spooked on Sunday evening this past holiday weekend. He was staying with our friends out in the country, about 50 miles away from our home in the city of Chicago, a place he has stayed many times before, but had never had the chance to explore beyond their large yard, and always on leash. Sunday evening, he backed out of his collar and took off running. It was a special collar, called the Canny collar, that is supposed to prevent that sort of thing, but the situation that was created must have built the perfect storm for an escape.

My husband had just arrived there as Vinnie ran off and was part of the crew trying to call him back and to follow him. He is very speedy, like a greyhound, and he had adrenalin firing his every step. After three hours trying to recapture him, they called me to announce that he was missing. I left the area I was in, about an hour away, and drove to their house with Paulie, our other dog, ending our trip early, so I could join the search since I am most closely bonded with Vinnie. I joined the crew who spent the balance of Sunday night and Monday driving around rural Marengo and calling for Vinnie, hoping to coax him out of wherever he was hiding, and hoping he was still in the area and alive. It being a holiday, it was difficult to do some of the things we'd do on a regular day like print fliers, speak with police/sheriff/animal control. We were however able to speak to many of the people in the area who were working in their yards, and we did spread the word to people electronically using email and all the social networks and casting a wide net.

Even though we hadn't seen Vinnie since a sighting late Sunday night, we decided to stay in Marengo another night, so that we could use the weekday morning to print fliers and posters and place an ad in the local paper, etc. However, at around 4am today, I was awake as was Paulie and around that time the motion sensitive lights at our friends' house went off, triggered by something outside. It could easily have been deer as there are many in that area, but I got up to look on the off chance it was Vinnie and in fact it was. I grabbed Paulie's collar (to keep him from charging at Vinnie and potentially scaring him away), and slowly slid the glass door open a bit and called to him in a low pleasant voice. He approached tenuously, and my husband woke up and started to call to him too. I put a hand up to stop him as I thought a male voice could freak him out (he much prefers women).... Because of your site, I was aware that even my calling him could cause him to run off again, but he came to me and I got him inside and got Perry to close the door behind him and then just hugged him close.

He seems little worse for the wear - soreness, probably from running all night through rough ground - woods and fields - and some small cuts on his feet, but really, all told, in pretty decent shape. We were blown away that he found his way back, and so soon, as we were afraid his general panic would prevent this. Although in truth, it was the longest 36 hours of our lives. We had put some familiar smelling items on the front porch of the house, including dirty t shirts from me and Perry, we put Vinnie's bed out there, some food/water and a really stinky pair of Perry's shoes that Vinnie seems to be attracted to. Paulie also left a little deposit outside before we went to bed, so the area had to smell pretty familiar.

Vet says he looks fine... some soreness which is evident and a few small cuts on his feet, but otherwise physically unscathed. Both Perry and I feel extremely lucky - it was a terrible 36 hour period with both of us trying to push the worst case scenarios far from our minds. We are all exhausted given the little sleep we've gotten over the last few days.

As I've posted our story, and heard about others with missing dogs, I have been spreading the word about your site as I think it is very helpful in a moment of crisis. I also passed it along to Steve Dale who does a pet oriented blog and radio show on WGN-AM, a radio superstation based here in Chicago.

Again, thank you. I am attaching a picture of our Vinnie in case you want to feature his story.

Teri and Perry

Bernie's Happy Ending - April 9, 2009

Nikki and her family were visiting relatives during the 2008 Christmas season when her dog Bernie bolted out a garage door that was accidentally opened. He ran and kept on running. Losing a dog is usually an ordeal in itself, but Nikki lived two hours away, making it worse. Around this time, a lost dog went up to the house of a woman named Patti. After posting on Petfinder, she was able to find its rightful owner. Meanwhile, Nikki also saw the ad and got in touch with Patti. The two stayed in contact and worked together throughout the search. Because she lived in the area, Patti was able to provide much needed on-site assistance. She posted fliers, updated old ones, talked to residents, and followed up on all sightings and leads. A woman with a heart of gold, she worked diligently and is the reason there’s a happy ending story to be told. She not only helped Bernie’s family, but caught other lost dogs that would probably still be lost and wandering if not for her tireless efforts.

On March 8, 2009, Patti found the LostDogSearch website. She emailed Debbie about Bernie’s plight and asked for advice and suggestions. Patti was given background support where she could ask questions, bounce ideas around, and come up with workable solutions.

At the beginning of April, a call came in about sightings at a log cabin used as a vacation retreat in the general vicinity where Bernie was first lost. The property owner said he’d seen a stray sleeping on the porch and under the deck a number of times since Christmas. He’d seen it again, but this time his neighbors also caught a glimpse of the dog in a field 500’ behind their home. After agreeing it looked like the long lost Bernie on a recently seen flier, they called to tell him about the flier and provided contact numbers. Patti was at the cabin the next day with food and water bowls and scent items. Once he saw Bernie’s picture, the man was 95% sure it was the same dog. No matter what, the stray was obviously starving and needed to be caught. Patti set up a 4’ humane cage on the porch while looking for a longer one more suitable for a large dog. Food and water bowls were also placed on the porch. The cabin’s residents left the next day and called Patti to say they’d seen the dog resting on the road in the exact spot where she laid down the other day while trying to lure it out of hiding with food. The dog knew the residents had left, came out of hiding and back to the cabin. Patti got to see Bernie for the first time.

He was very hungry and ate all the food in the bowl. While comfortable with Patti’s presence, he seemed nervous about going into the cage trap to eat the food inside. Patti replenished the food bowl and then put more inside the trap. While this was going on, Nikki was already on the road making the two hour drive from home, so Patti left to meet her. Upon arrival, they parked at the street and slowly walked up the driveway leading to the cabin. Patti noticed the trap had been tripped but Bernie wasn’t inside. He entered far enough to step on the trip plate but backed out quickly, thus avoiding being trapped by the door closing down.

Nikki left food bits on the porch stairs and started to walk away calling out Bernie’s name. Patti then saw him appear from the back side of the porch and called him with outstretched hands. He wagged his tail, then went directly to the stairs and began eating the food. Patti told Nikki, “Go to the food…Go to the food.” As Nikki approached and called him, Bernie went right to her and started giving her kisses. He kept jumping up on her as she put his collar and leash on. He was obviously happy about seeing Nikki and to be getting food to eat. Both women were a bit shocked how easily it all fell into place at the end, especially after three agonizing months.

Considering his ordeal, the vet declared Bernie to be in good shape. He did lose thirty pounds and has early Lyme disease, but is reunited with his family and loving life once again.

Kara's Happy Ending - December 2008

Dear LostDogSearch,
Kara the Sheltie was placed in a new home and all was well for a few days until she got spooked by something and bolted. Over 300 fliers were distributed by the new owner, her previous one (Kathy) and her friends. There were a few sighting calls to which the group responded immediately, but to no avail. Then a woman who was visiting in town saw a flier and called because she saw a dog that looked like Kara in a neighboring community. The sighting location was accessed by a single road leading into a residential area surrounded by water on three sides. The searchers walked around and posted fliers. Food was left in the woods and on the safe, quiet sidewalks facing the ocean and woods. Another call came in from the area, so Kathy went to put out fresh food and walk along the streets. She called to Kara by name and always brought along a dog to lay down familiar canine scent.

Kathy went through many bags of food, but another sighting confirmed Kara was still there. One night Kathy’s boyfriend drove her around so she could toss food out the window while calling out to Kara. Hopefully Kara would be lured to the sidewalks and be seen more easily. After an hour or so they turned a corner and there was Kara on the sidewalk…..eating dog food. As soon as the Sheltie saw the truck, she ran into a yard along the ocean. Kathy was shocked and could hardly believe her eyes….after six long weeks, she actually saw Kara! And though Kara was running away, she took a moment to turn and look at Kathy.

There was no way to track in the darkness, but they had a humane cage trap (like a Have-A-Heart) in the truck, so they went to McDonalds and bought about 5 hamburgers. Earlier that morning, Kara had been seen in a resident’s yard and he gave permission to set up the trap. Pieces of burgers were baited up the sidewalk into the man’s yard, and into the trap. It was the beginning of December and very cold that evening, so Kathy covered the trap using her long woolen winter coat. The next morning they got a call that Kara was inside the trap.

Still safely inside the cage, she was rushed to the vet. She had an upper respiratory infection and was extremely thin but has made a full recovery. Though she’d lost a lot of weight and was ill, she didn’t have a mark on her and her coat looked great. The new owner was a nice woman who never stopped looking, but following the six-week ordeal, Kara went back home to spend the rest of her life with her favorite human, Kathy, and some canine friends.

Some owners see a slight change in their dog’s behavior or a new quirky habit. Kathy says hers now investigates all bags, of any type, including handbags, in search of food. The photo was taken the day Kara returned to her former but now forever home….. with Kathy.

Maya's Happy Ending - 2007

Dear LostDogSearch,
You gave me invaluable advice when my newly rescued dog, Mara, disappeared back in May. I've always wanted to update you, with a picture, but Maya (which is what I renamed her) proves an extremely difficult subject. When she sees the camera she thinks it's play time. Anyway... Here is a picture taken by a friend of mine a few weeks ago. It's the best one of the lot. Maya has adjusted amazingly well. I cannot believe this is the same dog that I took home in May. The one who was afraid of everyone and everything. Thank you again for all your help. I really don't know what I would have done without you.

Lynne

Puddin's Happy Ending - October 4, 2007

Dear LostDogSearch,
I just wanted to send a huge thank you. Because of your website, I was finally able to get my dog “Puddin” back after 10 days. Puddin is a 9 year old, very pampered Boxer with a heart condition. She ran away because she was mad that I wouldn't let her go "bye-bye" with me. I searched and searched, and had already put out flyers before I saw your site. I changed them after reading your suggestions.

What helped me the most was the parts about thinking like a dog. When I read about the areas and behaviors of a lost dog, you had just described Puddin to a T. She was hanging out at the back side of a new subdivision where there are some sandy trails and woods. I literally tracked her for 10 days. I brushed out prints so I could see new ones, and figured out her patterns and then her new ones (which changed after she was chased by a police officer in the middle of the night). I then followed your directions after finally getting an actual sighting of her.

Puddin was in a field with some "buddy" dogs, one of which was a huge female Rottweiller. I pulled up in my van, opened the door, but didn't get out. Then I talked to her without looking her in the eyes. She began barking at me as if to say, "GO AWAY!" and started trotting off towards the woods but didn't go into them. The man who owns the field gave me a can of Vienna Sausages to befriend his dogs, and they followed me into the field. I never once really looked at Puddin but kept her in my peripheral vision. My arms stayed close to my body as you instructed. Occasionally I would sit down and play with the other dogs and give them nibbles. When I was about 30 yards from Puddin (still not looking at her) I lay down and actually let the other dogs lick me. At that point, Puddin decided to come over and get in on the action. I let her lick at me and also play with the other dogs. She wasn’t wearing her collar when she ran away, so I was prepared this whole time with my hand on her collar attached to a leash. I petted her very softly under her neck and gently on top of her head and neck. Then I’d let go and give her and her buddies sausages. Still on the ground, I started to pet her more firmly….still not looking her in the eyes. I was able to get the lead around her neck but remained sitting with her and the other dogs for a while. Slowly I rose to my knees, and finally up on my feet. I took my time getting back to the van and Puddin stayed right with me. When we did got there, she jumped right in like nothing ever happened!!!

I want to thank you again! Puddin means so much to us. I honestly think that if not for your website, she’d still be out there lost...or worse. You are doing a great service and I am eternally grateful.

Sincerely, Susan

Max's Happy Ending - September 15, 2007

Dear LostDogSearch,
Me and my dog, Max, were visiting a friend in Charlton when Max was lost. My family immediately contacted Charlton Animal Control. They posted him on their website and referred us to the LostDogSearch website for tips on finding a lost dog. I posted flyers and went door to door. That did the trick! Other than a few burrs, Max was found safe the next morning and we brought him home. We were so pleased with the information offered by LostDogSearch that they will be sharing it with other ACOs in our area! Thanks for all the help!

Heather and Max

Bubbles's Happy Ending - April, 2007

Debbie,
Thank you and your wonderful web site for helping us to find Bubbles. For Bubbles story, click here.

Janice D.

Brandon's Happy Ending - March, 2007

Hi Debbie,
I wanted to let you know that your website was enormously helpful to our searching for and rescuing Brandon in Derry, New Hampshire, last month (I know that you also spoke with and coached several members of our search team).

We followed much of your advice, and after three weeks and a few failed trapping attempts, we caught Brandon, and now he is safe, warm, and happy in his new home.

Thank you so much for doing what you do and sharing your experience and wisdom so generously (BTW, your meatball and red sauce suggestion worked like a charm!). All the best to you!

Lisa Perkins

Viva's Happy Ending - July, 2006

I first saw the Border Collie "Viva" (her new name) wandering on the side of a very busy road. The posted speed limit is 50 MPH, so, of course, everyone goes at least 55 - 60. Over a period of weeks I repeatedly saw her in the same area, walking determinedly - still on the side of the road. I grumbled to myself about the idiot who allowed his/her dog to roam in this dangerous situation. One day I noticed her persona had changed. Her head was hung low, her beautiful coat was a mess, and she looked depressed. She was standing very nearly in oncoming traffic, and I then realized that it was not her choice to be there. She had always seemed to be heading towards a construction company, so I called them. They said they had been feeding her but she wouldn't allow anyone to get near her. They had also contacted the local animal control officer who set up a humane trap and "caught" Viva, but she had managed to escape from it. Everyone at the construction company was very fond of this dog and probably would have been happy to just keep feeding her, but for their biggest concern….she was going to get hit by a car. This Border Collie's habit of sitting on the yellow lines in the middle of the road, or lying down and stopping traffic, just couldn't be ignored. They accepted my offer to work with them on the effort. I contacted the animal shelter but they didn't express further interest (nor look at the dog after I caught her).

Very disappointed, I began to contact Border Collie rescue groups and was lucky enough to find New England Border Collie Rescue. I spoke to a woman named Kathy who coordinated getting a trap to me. Dan, one of the NEBCR volunteers, delivered several traps and also helped me set them up at the construction company. As per advice from Debbie (LostDogSearch), I used a variety of human and dog foods, both yummy and smelly, to fill the dishes that were set in the two traps. I asked the owner of the construction company to give me a call me when (if) the dog went into the trap. I received a phone call approximately 2 ½ hours later with a rather funny description about her getting trapped. She had been seen wandering in and out of both traps several times. My guess is that she was checking out which one had the best food! She finally decided and then sat down on the trip plate and the trap door closed. She was very upset at first but calmed down relatively quickly.

I could not go and pick her up until after I got out of work at 5:00. While driving to the construction company, I wondered how to get the trap (with her still inside) into my little RAV4. When I arrived, much to my relief, two of the employees had stayed late - just so they could help me put her and the trap into my car. It was obvious that they were very attached to her. One of the guys had been giving her part of his lunch on a daily basis. It was a bit sad that Viva was leaving her friends and the place where she felt so comfortable.

Viva didn't seem to mind being inside the cage trap and positioned herself to be as close to me as possible. She certainly liked having her back scratched....even through the bars. Fortunately, that very evening, I was able to meet with Kathy (NEBCR) who took Viva to her 300 acre dairy farm - complete with indoor/outdoor agility areas. A place that would undoubtedly make any Border Collie happy. Kathy was also kind enough to send me several updates, a picture, and a short video clip of Viva which is posted on NEBCR's website.

Viva progressed to a new foster home and is considered a "charmer" who gets along well with the three other dogs in the house and the four small children.

I don't think catching Viva would have gone so smoothly if Debbie hadn't taken the time to "phone coach" me on how to set up a humane cage trap. She is an amazing person.

Vivien V.

Nila's Happy Ending - Summer 2006

The summer of 2006 is a period that will stay in my memory forever as one of the most painful and traumatic times of my life. It began with the sudden death of a dear uncle, soon followed by the unexpected onset of lymphoma in my 13 year old Basset, "Sam." He fit in the palm of my hand on the day he became mine, and had been my baby ever since. He declined quickly and within 3 weeks I had lost my best friend. I had no time to mourn properly because, at the same time, my father was declining rapidly due to cancer. I am grateful that I was able to be there to comfort both Sam and my father as they took their last breaths, but these experiences have left traumatic scars and the healing process takes time.

We knew we'd eventually add another dog to our family (but was I ready?) so I started poking around on Petfinder.com and looking at all the Bassets that needed homes. I'll never understand why so many beautiful and loving dogs lack someone to cherish them. Enter "Nila"- the Beagle/Basset mix who stood out from all the rest. Rescued as a puppy from a high-kill shelter in the South, she spent the first seven months of life in a crate. She was extremely shy and fearful of an outside world never before seen or heard. Despite this, her true nature, playful and affectionate, showed while in the presence of Donna, her foster mom. I immediately fell in love and knew I could earn that same trust. Nila was in my life from that moment on, and no other dog would suffice. Even our (very) possessive Corgi fell in love with her! Nila symbolized a new chapter in our lives…moving on.

Nila was adopted into our family on a warm and wonderful Saturday morning. It was wonderful until it came time for Donna to leave. She had worked hard to earn Nila's trust and love, and instill much-needed confidence. Donna's departure was painful and upsetting for everyone and very confusing for Nila. An hour later, nearing panic, Nila slipped away from me! She quickly headed for the woods that surround our house for miles in all directions. Donna returned immediately, and so began the search that would continue around the clock for seven days.

Hundreds of fliers were made, and we posted in local papers as well as on the Web. People called to offer help, a few token "crazy" calls were received, and there were dozens of sightings. Tons of attractive and stinky food, water, and toys that smelled like home, were disbursed around town where Nila would likely find them. Donna's friends drove an hour's distance to spend twelve-hour nights helping with the search. Trying to understand Nila's thinking, we plotted all sightings and movements on aerial maps…. to no avail. She simply didn't want to get close to people. We were sick with worry and lack of sleep. Finally, an email came to us referencing the invaluable information available on LostDogSearch.com. If only we had seen it sooner. Realizing many things were done wrong, we quickly changed tactics, and followed Debbie's advice to the letter. Our local animal shelter lent us a humane cage trap, but we lacked trusted sightings over the previous day, and didn't know where to put it. Finally, it was decided that our own back yard was better than letting it sit unused in the garage. The cage was set up with a hearty mix of beef soup, Vienna sausages, and sardines, and a bowl of water. Then her blanket and toys were put inside. None of us were very confident.

We were wrong! I can't describe our surprise, much less our excitement and relief, when the very next morning, Nila lay in the trap, relatively happy, as if it were her crate at home. Despite a surprisingly few number of ticks, she appeared healthy and none the worse for wear. After a very long sleep, she awoke with a happy, playful and confident disposition we hadn't seen in her before. It was as if the experience made her stronger and taught her not to be afraid because she could take care of herself. That, however, didn't overshadow her need for the love of a family, and she's been the sunshine in our household. She's also quite the clown!

One last note….I went back and reviewed all the information on Debbie's website. Nila followed every pattern that Debbie described. Her information was accurate, reliable, and it saved our dog. Now that I've become involved in trying to give something back to all the people that helped me, the first thing I tell everyone is: GO TO DEBBIE'S WEBSITE. It will save time and energy, and will keep you motivated and hopeful. Our search lasted a week. Many take longer, but these dogs ARE out there. You just need to stop, formulate a plan immediately, and don't give up! Thanks again Debbie, from our whole family!

J.Y. in CT

Toby's Happy Ending - 11-11-06 Update

Dear Debbie: I just wanted to give you an update on Toby, your first rescued beagle. Toby has made a lot of progress since you saw him last time. He opens up more and more every day and brings a lot of joy to our lives. We think of you often as we watch him blossom and are very grateful to you for helping us to bring him back home. Attached are a couple of recent pictures. Sincerely, Iva

Toby's Happy Ending - After eight months of living in a shelter down in Virginia and his time running out, Toby was brought to an animal rescue league in Massachusetts. We first spotted him on the shelter's website in October of 2005 but we were not actively looking at the time. Accidentally, we went back to the same website in December and realized that while most of the other dogs got adopted, poor Toby was still there. So, we went to take a look at him. He was very sad and shy. His medical notes said: obese, should lose at least 10 pounds (that poor dog was 50 lb heavy!), greasy fur, heavy brown discharge in both ears. Despite his poor appearance, after we spent a few moments with him, we knew that we could not leave him in the shelter and had to bring him home with us. Toby had a really hard time adjusting at first. He would not eat and was beside himself in fear anytime there was a loud noise or when we tried to reach out to him. Our trips to the vet's office revealed that the poor dog had cuts on his paws, needed steroid injections for his sore skin, antibiotics for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotty fever, and de-wormer for tapeworms (and let's not forget the impacted anal sacs that made him smell like a little skunk!). Toby's blood test showed that he was hypothyroid and needed medication twice a day for the rest of his life. Throughout this ordeal of repeated trips to the vet's office to take more blood and get more meds, Toby's sweet personality started to come though. After Toby got healthier and lost a lot of that extra weight, we realized hat we had a beautiful pure-bred, very smart beagle, who never resorted to aggression, no matter how scared he was. Toby quickly adjusted to our daily routine, learned his name, and was a model citizen when he was home. Never chewed up anything, never messed in the house, and did not even jump on the couch, unless invited. However, he was still very fearful of strangers, ate only late at night when everyone was asleep, and preferred to stay inside the house on his bed were he felt safe the most. After a visit to a behavioral specialist, things got a little better and Toby started to spend more time with us rather than wanting to be left alone. He also started to enjoy walks to the park and around town.

Then, on one of our evening walks on May 12, 2006, Toby wiggled his way out of his collar (one quick head twist, that's all it took!). At first, we were not too worried thinking that he would come back to us as he never showed any desire to run away. But when he started moving further and further away and crossed a busy intersection, we knew things were really bad. He then went running in the opposite direction, away from us and far away from home. We were beside ourselves standing there with the leash and a collar with all his tags, watching him disappear with no IDs on him in a strange neighborhood where he has never been before, far away from home. We stayed up all night looking for him. The next day, we took time off work, printed flyers and posted them all over town. We called the dog officer, local shelters, animal hospitals, etc. The next day at night, we got a first call that Toby was seen crossing a busy road quite far from were he has disappeared and very far away from home. The people who spotted him had one of our flyers and were sure that it was him. After their car almost hit him, they pulled over and called his name. He stopped but when they tried to catch him, he ran away into the woods. With flashlights we searched the woods, but there was no sign of Toby. We held a search party that weekend in the neighborhood where he was seen last. We found many people who told us that they spotted him at night when their dogs started to bark but he was too scared to come to them and ran away. We actually saw him on Saturday morning and he started coming to us but then he got spooked by something and ran into the woods again.

At that point, we knew that things were really bad. People who saw our flyers were trying to help by attempting to catch him which was making him even more scared and trapping became our only option. We tried to go through the official channels but they were not equipped to help in situations like ours when the dog is too scared to come to strangers. Then, through the word of mouth, we found Debbie Hall. Debbie came right away, even though we live quite far away from her home. She set up her trap and in the area where Toby was seen last and we drove home to get some sleep. At about 11:30 my neighbor knocked on our door telling us that he just saw Toby outside our house! We could not believe it! We were some 10-15 minutes by car and two busy interstate highways away from where he has been hiding out for the past 4 days. We went out looking for him and confirmed the sighting. It was true, Toby somehow managed to find his way home and was hanging out in the woods by our house coming out after 10 o'clock at night, leaving at 4:30 am, and hiding during the day. Debbie came out pretty much every night giving us hope and trying to catch him. Every night, Toby came to the trap, but never went deep enough to set the trap off. Then, after two weeks on his own, Toby finally got himself caught at 10:30 pm on pizza crust! (After meatballs, chicken, cheese, bacon, hotdogs, and peanut butter failed to work:=). Toby came home with 52 ticks all over his body, hungry, and with his paw pads all worn out, but otherwise unharmed. He lost 5 lbs while on his own, but he survived. He is now a healthy 37lb and very happy to be home. Somehow, the experience of being on his own made him resolve his trust issues and become even more attached and loving towards us. He follows us everywhere we go, he jumps on our bed to sleep with us, plays with his toys, and eats the minute we put the food in front of him. He has become the little love bug that we always wanted.

Maya's Happy Ending - April 2006

We got our dog Maya on Thursday 3/30/06 from a rescue league in CT. They had saved her from a high-kill shelter in Ohio. She's very very timid dog who's just getting used to being around people. We thought it would be good for her to go out with other dogs on a nice walk in the woods. So, on Monday, 4/3(day 5 of our "ownership") she went with her new dog walking group out to the Fells Reservation in Winchester. I got a call at work around 11:30 that Maya had spooked, pulled on her leash unexpectedly and the dog walker dropped her leash! She had bolted into the reservation and they couldn't find her. Needless to say, my husband and I both headed out there, arrived around 1 and searched for about 4 to 5 hours (with the dog walking service owner). Then it got cold and dark so we came home. Yeah, it wasn't a great night. We posted a missing dog notice on Craig's list and were contacted by Emily from LostDogSearch, who gave us great suggestions on what to do when we resumed our search the next day. We went to work on Tuesday morning, made 200 colored flyers of her with our phone numbers, had the dog walking service start posting them all over the area where she escaped and waited. Around 11 I got my first call that she had been sighted, running with her leash still attached. My husband and I headed back up to Winchester, now with our 22 year old son joining in the search. We spent the next 6 hours going from door to door with flyers, posting them on every telephone poll, driving endlessly around, talking to everyone and anyone we met. Maya was sighted 4 more times, but was absolutely terrified and kept running. The good news, as Emily and Debbie (from LostDogSearch) explained was that the sightings were all in the same general neighborhood, which was bordering the reservation where Maya had originally been lost. She was staying close, but probably hiding during the day to avoid people. Debbie said she would probably come out at dusk to find food and suggested we set a Have-A-Heart trap to catch her, but we needed to find the right location. Fortunately, having spent so much of the day talking to people in the neighborhood, I remembered a man telling me he had seen her coming out of the woods next to his house. We thought it might be the right spot to set the trap, but again, we weren't sure and we didn't have the trap yet. Finally, around 6pm, my husband and son left (he had to get back to college) and I decided to stay just a little longer. Would she really come out of the woods at dusk searching for food? Amazingly, as I was standing in the backyard of a house where we would set the trap, overlooking a stream and this massive woods in front of me - I see her way off in the distance in the woods. I called her, she looked right at me - and bolted! She was absolutely terrified, even of me. Here she is in a strange place, has just spent the past day and a half living outside and she's freaked. And remember, she'd only been with us for 5 days before being lost! But Debbie was right, she would come out at dusk and she was probably going to use the same path she'd used before. I stayed in the woods another 20 minutes or so calling her, then slowly made my way back to my car, feeling pretty dejected. I then get 2 calls about 2 seconds apart that she was sighted, running about 3 blocks from where I was. I jumped in my car, got there in less than a minute, and starting walking around the street calling her name. Amazingly, it was the exact street where she'd been lost originally. It's now about 6:45, raining, freezing and I'm all alone walking this street, with the forest on one side and houses on the other. I get to the end of the street, turn around and there she is, up on a hill in someone's front yard. I immediately dropped on my knees because I knew that's how you approach her, kept calling and calling her, coaxing her step by step (with a very large dog biscuit clearly visible in my hand). She would slowly advance towards me, then back up, then come forward. I just kept coaxing her, using the sweetest and highest voice I could muster and finally, she walked into my arms. She's now home save with us, and seemingly none the worse for wear - having spent the past 32 hours running wild in the woods of Winchester. It's been the most stressful 2 days of our lives and we're really glad it's over. We're all totally exhausted and totally elated! Thank you Emily and Debbie for all you do. You really helped us not to lose hope and your suggestions really did work. If people hadn't seen all the posters we plastered the neighborhood with, they wouldn't have called to tell us they saw her. If we hadn't gone door-to-door and talked to so many people, we wouldn't have learned where she came out of the woods. If we hadn't stayed through dusk, we wouldn't have been there when she needed us the most. Thanks again. Connie

Olympia's Happy Ending - August, 2005

In Puerto Rico, a dedicated rescue lady sees a sick and homeless puppy, catches it with a humane cage trap, and names her "Olympia." Eventually, this gentle, shy, Whippet-mix is sent to a rescue group in Massachusetts, and then adopted by a great family who wants to share their lives and love with a "rescued" dog. Olympia was on a retractable leash when the handle was accidentally dropped. Startled, she bolted, ran out of her yard, and disappeared. Luckily, the handle of the leash got snagged on something, broke off, leaving Olympia free to run through yards, the road, and power lines. She wandered less than a half mile from her home for eleven days and maintained a relatively tight circle. I set up a 4' humane cage trap along a stone wall abutting the woods of the yard, not more than 70' from the home. The trap was loosely covered with an old Army blanket, the inside was "cozy," and I offered an array of aromatic food bits in a small dish at the far end of the trap. Olympia showed up and went immediately to the trap, but then hesitated to go inside. Very cautious, she surveyed it from all angles, looked around to see if anyone was watching, then finally (much to my relief) entered (stretched out) and was caught at 9:45 PM. Olympia is pictured above (right) with her owner, Ramon, and her friend Christina (left). Olympia was lost August 15 and found August 26, 2005. Debbie Hall, LostDogSearch

Samantha's Happy Ending - August, 2005

This is "Samantha" who was caught by Debbie with a 5' humane cage on a lucky Friday night in August, 2005. She's doing well and now living the good life with her humans and some other lucky dogs.

Annie's Happy Ending - August 22, 2005

My dog Annie went missing 6/6/05. I put up posters as recommended and distributed flyers around my neighborhood. I did all the right things and then some. I loved my dog and while my brain said time to move on my heart never gave up hope. On 8/22/05 a lady called to say that she had visited a relative and found my dog and one of flyers I had distributed 2 months earlier. Annie was returned within the hour. Getting the word out is critical. You never know when someone will happen upon your pet. Liz Hopkins

Belinda's Happy Ending - November 2002

Belinda was a 3-4 year old female purebred Chinese Shar Pei that was rescued from the harsh streets of Hartford, Connecticut in early 2002, just before having five puppies. Volunteers from a non-profit rescue group saved her from the pound and brought her to a no-kill animal shelter in Middlebury. Homes were easily found for all the puppies, but because Belinda was scared and very aloof, the volunteers posted that she needed help from someone who knew about the Shar-Pei breed.

A former student of mine e-mailed Belinda's picture to me, so I called to offer help. My husband and I began working with Belinda three or four times a week to build up her trust of people. It took three weeks just to get a collar on her. Using positive reinforcement and non-threatening gestures, Belinda transformed into a very curious and affectionate dog.

After seven months at the shelter, she finally found a family from New Hampshire who wanted to adopt her. On Sunday, October 27, 2002, I drove Belinda half-way to her new home and then made my way back to Connecticut with tears in my eyes - a little piece of my heart had stayed with her.

The following weekend, the family took a trip to visit relatives in Saugus, Massachusetts and brought Belinda with them. Her week-long adventure began on Sunday, November 3, 2002, when she bolted out the door and ran off into the woods. After her family notified me on Monday, I immediately began to e-mail and call everyone I could think of. Pictures of Belinda were sent to people who made up posters and went out with treats to try to find her. I left detailed descriptions with Animal Control Officers in Saugus and Lynn, the North Shore Animal Hospital in Lynn, and Animal Rescue League.

That very day, Animal Control began receiving reports of a loose Shar Pei near the Iron Works, a local historical site about a half mile from where she first bolted. Being three hours away, I could only pray for her safety…. and wait. Each day I received a call that told me where she had been spotted. I was overwhelmed by the constant outpouring of support from Animal Control, Animal Hospital's employees, and countless citizens from Saugus and Lynn.

At 7 AM on Saturday, my husband Matt and I arrived in Saugus to help look for Belinda. We walked the woods and up and down every street where she'd been spotted, plus all those in between. Fliers were posted on utility poles and handed out to everyone we saw. Even Cub Scout Pack 61 joined the search. Fliers were given to anyone who was walking, hiking, or biking. Starting well before dawn, our search continued Sunday morning. At 9 AM we were watching the woods at a sighting area when my cell phone rang - someone who had gotten one of our fliers saw Belinda.

Now, with help from neighbors and people I had e-mailed, the pursuit began. Though we had numerous sightings and got close to Belinda, she would dart away when approached by anyone. She was extremely scared and looked terrified……like we were hunting her. Late that afternoon, a humane cage trap was set up just off of a trail in the woods where she was last seen. Then it got dark and began to rain, so we had to return to Connecticut, empty handed. Belinda proved to be elusive.

Early in the morning on Monday, November 11, 2002, a woman who was walking her dog spotted Belinda in the trap and, thinking someone had left this dog in the woods, she nearly let her out! Then she saw the posters on the trees surrounding the cage and immediately called me. Lynn Animal Control was called and one of the neighbors who helped with the search stayed with Belinda until they arrived. We went to the North Shore Animal Hospital where Belinda was held for "safe keeping." The Vet said that she was in good health, just thin and very scared.

Belinda enjoyed the remainder of her life in her new home…mine.
THANK YOU to all the wonderful people who took a flier and helped us search. We could not have spotted and caught her without you.

Michelle L. Douglas, CPDT CDBC
www.refinedcanine.com
refinedk9@yahoo.com