Little Dog, Lost - Crofton style

While many were celebrating the holiday, or searching for the best sales of the season, a community was out searching for a dog - my community, and a stranger's dog:

It was late on December 23rd when a message popped up on our community facebook page - a little dog was lost.  This is her story. Some names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Caramela is a little four year old min pin cross, a timid little thing.  No wonder - she'd experienced many upheavals in her short life.  A rescue dog from Mexico, transported to southern Vancouver Island, she had first been fostered, then adopted.  That adoption failed and she was returned to the rescue group.  Another foster home - and this time her foster mom, who we shall call 'Essie', fell in love with her and adopted her.  But about a year later, in the fall of 2016,  Essie died, and her good friend  - we'll call her 'Bee' - welcomed Caramela into her home.

Three months later, just before Christmas, Bee's daughter and son-in-law asked to take Caramela on a short adventure up island.  It was a long drive, and on the afternoon or early evening of December 23rd enroute back home, the couple stopped to pay a brief visit to another relative who lives between Crofton and Duncan. Caramela wasn't crazy about other dogs, so she remained in the car, her leash attached to her collar. During the visit, someone went out to check on Caramela and as soon as the car door was opened, Caramela fled.

She may have been small, but she was fast.

Super fast.

And she headed straight down the middle of the busy, winding, very dark road with forest on either side, towards Crofton.

A woman driving the road noticed the man chasing the dog with a flashlight and offered to help, but "No, I've got this!" he said.  She - and others who saw them - worried for the safety of the little dog and of the man as the road is notorious for speeders, visibility was poor, and the pavement icy with frost.

Before long, the man was knocking on doors along the first side road he came to - and someone in one of those houses posted on Facebook to share the news of the Little Lost Dog.

A little dog, lost, in unfamiliar territory, in very cold weather, in the dark.

And as readers of my blog know, one of my greatest frustrations is the number of dogs who go missing in unfamiliar surroundings - new fosters, dogs being transported, new adoptions, dogs on vacation. I feel so strongly about their safety, that I wrote an article about it which has been pinned to the side of this blog for some time now. So you can bet my antennae were waving, and my heart was in my mouth. And here it was, almost Christmas, when people had commitments, and search parties would be hard to come by.

The next morning, the morning of Christmas Eve, someone reported to the Facebook group that he thought he had spotted the little dog on a trail near the base of Maple Mountain, but she had taken off as soon as she saw him and his dog. The owner, 'Bee',  drove up over the icy, snowy Malahat to look for the dog, heartbroken and frightened for this little min pin who would surely be cold and scared, and was skirting areas where cougars and bears could be found.  There were no more sightings that day.  People started to spread the word, and several went out to walk about the town and the trails in the hopes of spotting her.

Christmas morning, another sighting - right by the post office in the centre of town.  Then another - out by the gas station, then the water station at the mill, then the hydro station north of town - all confirmed sightings as our little adventurer was running fast and dragging her leash.  She had traveled from south of town to north of town - a distance of  over five kilometers by main road, not counting diversions she may have taken. And every time she was seen, she took off.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, some of us with a history of involvement with rescues were trying to organize as best we could - liaising with the family, posting on other facebook sites, following comments to get the latest sightings, coordinating information, contacting lost dog organizations, providing information to community members on what to do and not do if they saw her.  ROAM (Reuniting Owners with Animals Missing), one Victoria-based organization that coordinates searches for lost dogs, very quickly made up posters that we could download, and community members printed them off and put them up.

The temperature was cold.  Light snow was falling.  The dog was small, with short hair, and not used to cold climates.  Time was of the essence.

And it was Christmas.  We needed a miracle.

I took the afternoon to have Christmas dinner with friends, and came home hoping I would read she had been found.  But such was not the case. No more sightings since morning.

Boxing Day.  Caramela has now spent three nights in the cold.  And there is another dusting of cold, frosty snow on the ground.  Bee braved the icy Malahat once again to come back up for another day's search, and I called her at the contact number I'd been given.  I had a sore back and a bum knee, so I wasn't sure how much actual searching I could do, but I had winter tires and I knew the area well, so when she asked if I could drive her around to show her the places where Caramela had been sighted (she didn't know the town at all), I was happy to do so.

Just as I was leaving to meet up with her, I checked Facebook one last time - in time to see that someone had just found fresh little dog tracks with a distinct trail of a leash being dragged, just a few blocks up my street where a trail heads up to Crofton Lake.

Footprints and leash trail in the snow
(Photograph posted to Facebook, used with permission of Lisa Gallant-Horvath)

It was good news and bad - good that she was still alive, that she had headed back south instead of continuing north of town, but bad that she was heading into the forest, into a network of trails where even I have managed to get lost.

I took Bee to the trailhead, and she practically ran along the trail following the paw prints and leash marks until it forked and the fresh snow became bare under the canopy of trees.

She returned to the car, and my intuition kicked in - if, IF as many lost dogs do, Caramela was circling back toward the place she'd become lost, then she might just come out on the Richard's Mountain trail a couple of kilometers down the road.  We drove to that trailhead, and together walked in a short distance to another fork - and there we saw it.  Distinct little paw prints and leash marks, coming down from the Crofton Lake trail, a short hesitation as it head back up the wrong fork, and then a quick loop back to head out towards the main road - immediately across from the very spot where she'd been sighted that first morning, and the very road on which she'd first made her escape.

She was one smart dog - she reached the main road and turned south again toward the point of her escape - running along the shoulder of the road, her paw prints and leash marks showing up each time there was a frosty or snowy area.

We knew we were getting close,  as the tracks were fresh and not diminished by the wind from passing cars or the light sleet that was falling. But would she come, even if we caught up to her?  A dog in survival mode often will not heed even an owner's call;  they operate on instinct, which is to run away, hide, run some more.

As we alternately drove and walked the shoulder of the road, another car slowed down - another searcher, Shannon, the same person who had seen the man chasing Caramela down the road three nights before, and who (coincidentally) had a dog adopted from the same rescue.  And she had a smartphone, which neither Bee nor I had.  There were more reports - people who had seen the dog up at the lake, down along the road, running up a driveway, back down, along the road,  and - less than twenty minutes ago - over by the mailboxes at Escarpment Way which was the road just beyond the house where her adventure began.

Bee and I headed to the mailboxes, while Shannon continued along the shoulder on foot, following the footprints, her dog Dolly following the scent.

And then Dolly the Dog pulled toward a driveway.  She was insistent - go here, go here.  Shannon called to us - we were just meters away - "Here!  She's gone this way!", and disappeared up the driveway.  Seconds later, she came running back to the road - SHE'S SAFE!  We've got her!"

And as Bee and I ran back along the road, I realized the driveway was that of the one where the car had been parked when Caramela escaped.  We learned shortly after, that Caramela  had run up the driveway, a woman in the house had opened the door just then, and Caramela had run right inside. Ironically, the woman did not know this was the missing dog, as there were several dogs living or visiting there and she thought this one must just belong.

So in the end, we did not find the Little Lost Dog -  she found herself.  She traveled at least 10 km in total, was on the run for almost three days, in an area that was totally unfamiliar to her, and found her way back to the spot from which she had fled, dragging her leash the whole time.  And the only sign of being any the worse for her adventure were some sores on her feet and lower legs.  

I'm not sure if she would have found her way back had the community not given up their precious family time at Christmas, given up Boxing Day sales, left their homes to go and search, reported sightings, posted signs, and  - yes  - sent positive thoughts and prayers for her safety.  Perhaps she would still have made it back.

But I would like to think that some of what we did kept her safe.  Or, perhaps, it was her former owner, the one who had so recently passed away,  whose spirit watched over her and guided her home.

Either way, Caramela has a Guardian Angel.  Or a whole community of them.

And if not that, then she is - as one of her family members said - a dog "with horseshoes up her ass".

Have a great life, Caramela.  We're all so glad you are home.



(I apologize for the scarcity of photos with this post. During this adventure, the furthest thing from my mind was capturing it on camera for a future blog post.  But I thought the story, even without pictures, was worth the share.  I hope you agree). 

Keeping Dogs Safe in New Surroundings - A Repost

In the past month I have seen at least eight lost dog ads on my facebook newsfeed for dogs who have been with their families or foster families for less than two weeks - in three cases, just one or two days. Add to that another two or three dogs who were visiting friends or travelling with their families and took off in an unfamiliar neighbourhood. These are just dogs on Vancouver Island, and just those who have come to my attention via two or three specific facebook pages. Who knows how many more have gone missing?

Spring weather means more people walk or hike with their dog, travel, or simply decide to buy or adopt a dog. Sadly, they don't always take sufficient precautions to ensure the dog's safety. 

So, I'm once again posting an article I wrote about five years back - Feel free to share.

Keeping Dogs Safe in New Surroundings

© Jean Ballard, 2011

These guidelines apply to the first several weeks of the dog’s relocation, and are specific to preventing lost dogs. They do not deal with other dog safety issues such as introductions to other animals, aggression or training. The timelines are minimum recommendations - very nervous dogs may need the process stretched out more slowly. I am not a dog trainer – just a person who has spent too many hours looking for too many lost dogs, many of whom have been lost within hours, days or weeks of arriving at a new home. The same safety precautions should also be applied when taking your dog on vacation or visiting with friends.

A change of home or circumstances is stressful for any dog, and even a dog with a wonderfully calm temperament may suddenly bolt. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind whenever a dog is being moved to a new location:

1. Use a Martingale or Silverfoot training collar, or a harness with a double safety connection, properly fitted. Use it for life, not just for a week. Inspect it regularly for signs of damage, especially checking all clips, rings and fasteners. Make sure the leash is attached to the correct ring.  Many dogs can back out of a flat collar in the blink of an eye. Do not use a metal choke chain or prong collar as these can damage the trachea of a strong puller and can cause permanent neck problems. And before you put that collar or harness on for the first time, attach an ID tag with a current phone number.  That means you need to purchase a tag before your dog arrives at your home.

2. Keep BOTH hands firmly on the leash– a safety collar or harness are useless if there isn’t a firm hand holding onto the other end of the leash;  two hands are even better.  While some trainers tell you not to wrap the leash around your wrist in case the dog bolts and breaks your wrist, it is better for a person to break their wrist than a dog become lost or killed. A wrist mends; a dead dog doesn’t.

3. For at least the first month, assume that the dog IS going to bolt, given the chance - no matter how nicely your new dog walks on leash. Make sure you have both hands on the leash before opening a car door or opening a house door.

4. Do not let children walk the dog for the first several weeks. A dog who tries to bolt is STRONG and QUICK.

5. Make it clear to everybody in the house that they must put the leash or securely confine the dog before they answer a knock at the door or open it to grab the paper from the porch. Put signs on the doors to remind them, and hang spare collars and leashes near every door. Keep the doors locked to help prevent people from coming in without first having someone inside confine the dog. Where possible, put up a secondary barrier, like a baby gate, to prevent the dog accessing the door. 

6. Spend the first 24-48 hours in your home with the dog. Your dog needs to become familiar with the smells of the house and the people in it. Your dog needs to start to figure out that this is his or her new pack. Take the dog for very short outings at quiet times of the day or evening – first just into your yard (on leash, even if you have a high fence!) or, if you don’t have a yard, just a couple of hundred feet in each direction from your apartment building.*

*Note: While this is a time for you and your dog to bond, you also need to help the dog know you are going to be reliable. From the first day home, begin doing graduated leaves - leaving the dog in the house for five minutes, five times on the first day, then ten minutes five times on the second day, then slowly increasing the time and decreasing the frequency until the dog is comfortable being left alone, secure in the knowledge that you will return. Confine the dog to a secure area such as a crate or xpen or babygated room during this time – you don’t want them to slip through your legs and bolt when you re-enter the house!

7. Slowly increase the length of the walks over the first week or two, but always within your neighbourhood – first around the block, around two blocks, going the reverse direction, varying the route. You want the dog to become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of its own neighbourhood – that way if the dog should escape (because some burglar broke the window or because the dog slipped out as  paramedics came in when you had a heart attack, for example)  he/she may be able to find the way home, or at least may stay in the area. Gradually expand the dog’s horizons and exposure to new situations – new sounds, new places, new people, new surfaces like bridges, gravel, pavement.

8. As tempting as it is to want to show off your new pet or foster to all your friends, neighbours and relatives – DON’T. At least, not for the first week or so, and then  gradually introduce the dog to new people and places. No matter how wonderful your new pet is, he or she has been through a stressful time – losing a human and/or canine family,   possibly wandering loose, possibly staying in a shelter or rescue or foster home, and now another new situation and new people. Do not increase the dog's confusion and anxiety through over-stimulation – let the dog chill with you, become bonded to you, learn about his new home, and gain confidence before adding too many new events to the dog’s life.

9. Don't be lulled into complacency by the dog's good behaviour. A newly placed dog often has a honeymoon period, where he/she seems to have settled in perfectly. Then, after a few weeks or more, the dog may begin testing you, become more challenging, or simply see an opportunity to run.   The dog you have three months from the time of adoption is often quite different from  the dog you saw during the first week or two – don’t get complacent about the doors, leashes, collars, etc.

Let’s keep dogs safe in new surroundings.

The above information may be copied and/or circulated freely as long as the following is cited as the source:  (c) Jean Ballard, 2011 www.mylifewiththecritters.blogspot.com .

Nature's antidote to stress

On Monday, my friend Pat and I had plans to take the poms on a hike.  But Sunday night, I was notified of a sheltie who was lost.  That sheltie, Trig, had slipped away from the home where he had lived only 6 days, dragging his flexi-leash behind him.  Trig's former foster mama was the same person who fostered my sweet Shiloh before she came to live with me,  and Trig is also the sire of the absolutely adorable puppy Luke who you were introduced to in my last post.  Trig went missing right near East Sooke park on the southern edge of the island, a little over an hour's drive away, so Pat and I decided to head out there so we could search while we hiked.  

What a park!  We will be going back many times - to an ocean the colour of the tropics, a wonderful network of trails, and - in the sunshine Monday - spring flowers blooming, cute puppies hiking, and even two cats out for a (leashed) walk with their humans! 

This couple met through their shared interest in hiking with cats.  Apparently there are websites and facebook pages devoted to this phenomena - who knew?  The young woman told us she had found her cat as a wee abandoned kitten behind a dumpster just as she was leaving for a canoeing and camping trip - so she bought him a harness and leash and took him along - and he's been hiking, camping, backpacking and canoeing ever since!

The couple were great guardians for their felines - picking them up whenever a dog approached even if the dog was onleash - recognizing how quickly a dog can move if canine trumps feline.  Of course, the cats know that cats rule and dogs drool, but I think they appreciated their owners' vigilance.

The bays in this park were a phenomenal aqua colour, and the water so clear you could see the sandy bottom from the top of the cliffs.

We met this little three month old pup, too - as cute as a button, and friendly and curious.  I couldn't resist taking a photo of him.

We found daffodils blooming on the cliffs, and in a large open meadow as well:

 And flowering red currant as well:

On the protected side of a rocky point, was a quiet bay in soft green.  The lichen hung thick on the trees in white wispy tendrils, with the first of the spring leaves emerging on bushes below.  It felt like walking into a painting.

Cosmo and Lexi look out on the bay

Sadly, no sight of Trig, the missing sheltie - if you live near Sooke BC and are available this Saturday, a grid search is being organized and masses of volunteers are needed to accomplish this through dense brush and forest.  You can find the details of the search here . Just look for the post with the lovely tri-coloured sheltie.  

Coles Notes Version...

I'm too darn tired to blog.   It's nearly 9 pm and I'm going to bed.  So, for those of you not on facebook, here's the Coles Notes Version of the past three days....

Mitzi had a check up to determine if the meds she was put on last spring for chronic renal failure are doing any good.  Four hundred sixty dollars later, the good news is that her kidney numbers are no worse than a year ago - she is holding her own - and despite digestive issues which sometimes see her refuse food for several days in a row, she has managed to maintain all nine pounds of her body weight. She engages in daily - sometimes twice daily - episodes of the zoomies around the house, often chasing me with barky-growly noises and play bows, so she is obviously feeling better most days.

Someone has to keep Mama Jean in line. 

With the theatre where I volunteer currently on a brief hiatus until mid February, I've been putting in an extra day or two a week at RASTA.  We are knee-deep in mud when it rains, and could sure use more volunteers, but RASTA too is holding its own.  The pigs, farmbirds, donkeys, steer, and mini horse now have two new companions - two goats, who had no other humane option but the sanctuary, joined the sanctuary population today.  I can't wait to meet them on Tuesday, my next volunteer day.  If it isn't raining, I'll take the camera.

Goats?  We gots goats?
Does I have to share my treats with them?

As a volunteer with FLED (Finding Lost and Escaped Dogs) here on the island, I helped with a lost dog search today - a seven month old rottweiler pup went missing from a farm on the Lakes Rd side of Somenos Lake a week ago.  The owner has pulled out all the stops in an effort to find her boy Chibs - over 6000 posters and flyers, mail outs to every home in the area, sandwich boards at key locations, radio and newspaper ads, and of course social media.

Photo of Chibs,
provided by owner to FLED and others.

Today a good sized group of volunteers met her to Poster-and-Search in the pouring rain.  The owner's organizational skills blew me away - pairs of volunteers were sent to cover specific routes, each armed with a kit of a route map, posters in protective sleeves, flyers to hand out, tape, even a cloth to dry off the posts so the tape would stick.  She set up a table at a central dog park not far from her home, with a shelter to keep us and the materials dry, and coffee and donuts;  each volunteer gave their name and cell number and was assigned a route and given a kit, with instructions to check back in when they were done.  Safe, organized, efficient, thorough.  That's the way a lost dog search should be.

She did learn that the dog had been seen a couple of blocks north west on Monday, and a few blocks further northwest on Thursday, so tomorrow she will begin to concentrate on that direction.  Meanwhile, if you live or travel through Duncan or North Cowichan areas, please keep your eye out for a large rottie pup (he's about 75 pounds, with a docked tail) - or if you hear of one being sold, or of someone who just came into possession of one fitting that description.
If you are walking or driving, he may well be around Somenos lake or marsh,  between Lakes Rd and Hwy 1, and between Beverly and Herd.  Went missing from the end of Townend, was seen on Roome on Monday, and was seen on Calais on Thursday, assuming it was him.  Do not chase - he is very timid and will be in flight mode.  Immediately call the number on the many posters in the area or Kelly at 250-246-7627 anytime.  If you live or travel around that area, please program the number into your cellphone or write it down and tuck it in your wallet NOW.

And that's my life with the critters for today, Saturday January 16th.

Still here, still looking

And I had another word to go in that title, but - whoosh- it just got sucked right out of my brain.

The search for Levi is still going strong, and the dog that *might* or *might not* fit his description is still hiding in the bushes near Qualicum Beach, while other reports drift in from time to time from other areas of the island and mainland. I'm not involved in the actual ground search myself but helping in other ways - handing out flyers wherever I walk my dogs, putting up posters where it is legal, and now working on a press release for a wider media audience.  Tracy stayed here the other night and I am SO impressed with her dedication to finding her Levi.

Here is a Shaw cable newscast on Levi's story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhepFl3elms&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And here's a CHEK news report:
http://video.cheknews.ca/services/player/bcpid1530274581001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAA4mHNTzE~,ejlzBnGUUKauc2zn_kmUm9i-CLdp2qnb&bctid=2201450419001

Both are awesome, and worth watching.

With the search for Levi, I have finally been dragged kicking and screaming into the wonderful world of Facebook, and the more I try to use it, the more I'm convinced the whole world (or at least the world of facebook addiction) is crazy.  I value organization and efficiency and, in the realm of anything related to technology, user-friendliness.  Facebook is none of those things and I find myself thinking how much better it could be if the person(s) who invented it actually shared those same values.

As a case in point, the facebook place to keep up with Levi's search has been changed - apparently a 'page' is more efficient than a 'group', though many of us are still using the original group so who knows?

For those following this search or who may be able to help, here is the link for the new Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Find-Levi-Lost-Dog-Vancouver/425449547540262

And here is the link for the old Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136088879892916/145847715583699/?notif_t=group_activity

Mitzi's nose is out of joint because she says she has a story to tell, and Eddie is all beautiful from a visit to his groomer and thinks I should photograph him.......but I have told them there is a time for them to take the spotlight and a time to shine it on others.

Please continue to share the links with your facebooky friends and others.  Here, once again, is the information on Levi:

Update - Clean cities over Lost dogs

Both Nanaimo and Duncan have contacted Tracy this morning to tell her to remove all posters from posts and poles in their cities - it is illegal and she will receive a hefty fine if they are not removed.  SO - if you are postering, please do NOT put them on any hydro poles, road signs, city intersections etc.
EVERY community bulletin board, hand deliver to stores, gas stations, put them in your car and house window  - get them out there, but try to do so legally.
Apparently it is more important to have a clean city than to find a lost dog.  Tracy has put up about 7000 posters from the lower mainland to Qualicum - these are the first two cities to call.
Spread the word via social media, please.
Jean

Calling Duncanites

The search for Levi is re-focusing on the Duncan area, as there have been a number of reports from around here.  Tracy, Levi's owner, is staying with me tonight (Monday) and we are going to be putting up as many posters as we can tomorrow - she has already done some of the key areas today, where a dog similar to Levi was reported being seen.

If you can put up posters for us  - particularly anywhere dog people congregate or where transients frequent - please contact me via the email link on the side of the blog and I will make sure we get some posters to you and coordinate efforts so we aren't sending people out to areas already done.  Even if you are not available Tuesday, but can poster in the next few days, your help will be appreciated.

The search is still going on in the Qualicum area, with mixed reports about the size and colour of the dog dragging the rope - no one has yet obtained a photo of it so still don't know if it is Levi.  One person who saw it there is "1000%" positive it is not, but another describes the dog as a small sheltie-like dog with black, gray and tan.

Update on search for Levi - Vancouver Island

The search for Levi, the missing mini aussi-cross dog, continues to be focused in the Qualicum Beach area, though tips from other areas are also being checked out (including Chemainus, Duncan, and Vancouver).   The stray dog in the bush near Boorman Rd and the Island Hwy has been sighted several more times, but so far no one has snapped a photo in order for Tracy to confirm she is expending her time and energy in the right place.  She has been at Qualicum Beach all week searching.  

The last sighting was 4:30 Thursday at the exact same spot as a previous one - the water side of the highway just past the tracks, past Boorman at WIDGEON, going into the bush down towards the water.  He appears to be doing a route in that area, and is most often seen between 2 PM and 7 PM.  

Tracy has three requests: 

1.  Saturday:  Tracy has had to go back to the mainland for one day and won't be able to hang out at the Qualicum Beach spot on Saturday.  If anyone in the area can hang out at that corner and at least get a photo of the stray dog, please do so (see the third request). 

2.  Sunday:  Tracy will be back in Qualicum and wants to organize a big search party for Sunday - to 'flier the heck' out of Bowser, Qualicum Beach and Coombs.  She will have another 1500 flyers.  She will be at Boorman and the Old Highway all day - drop by to pick up some flyers and be assigned a zone.  

3.  If you should see the dog, PLEASE take a photo!    While any stray dog needs to be brought to safety, obviously Levi's owner needs to spend her time and energy focused on the search for her dog.  The dog at Qualicum Beach is VERY skittish and has run away from those who have tried to grab it.  

IF YOU SEE HIM:  Take a picture, then call or text Tracy immediately (please enter the number on  your cellphone or put it in your wallet RIGHT NOW!).  Then do the following:  Just sit down on the ground.  Don't look at him.  Don't move.  Don't call him.  Have some food on you, and toss it out with slow arm movements.  Hopefully he will come to the food.  Do NOT try to grab him.  If Tracy is on the island, she will come immediately.  If she is not on the island (Saturday) she will direct you via phone.  Please respect her wishes.  She knows her dog best, and we don't want him to run again. 


I cannot say enough about how much I admire Tracy.  She has been searching every single day for over ten weeks. She has posted thousands of flyers, she has pursued dozens of tips, she has done absolutely everything possible, and she is not giving up.  

Sadly, I'm not able to head up to Qualicum Beach to help there due to other commitments,  but I hope to be of some assistance in spreading the word and checking out local sightings.  Please do the same.

You can follow along on the search at the "Find Levi" facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/136088879892916/

Calling readers in the Qualicum area

There is a very good chance Levi, the missing Aussie cross I reported a couple of days ago,  is in your area. A very scared little dog fitting his description has been hanging around in the bush for a few days, dragging a piece of rope where a leash would be.  Last spotted on Boorman Road near Island Highway.  However, he bolted back into the bush when someone tried to get close.  

The owner is coming over by ferry this morning, and will be blanketing the area with posters.  If you can help, please text her (Tracy) on her cell at   778-847-7045 .  If you can't help today , please watch for him in your area.  Carry the info with you and call her the second you spot the dog.  A photo would be great, so Tracy can confirm his identity. 

Please share this information with others in the area!

Vancouver Islanders, please watch for Levi!

Levi
May be with transient male on Vancouver Island

Sometime ago, I posted about a blue merle Australian shepherd who disappeared from his caregiver on Dec. 18th  in the west end of Vancouver, when his owners were away  for Christmas on the other side of the country.  They immediately flew home, and despite a thorough search effort, Levi has not yet been found.

There have been numerous sightings, each one reporting him to be with a scruffy looking male, possibly transient/homeless person.

On Saturday February16th, a dog fitting Levi's description was seen with a scruffy looking male in the Steveston/Tsawwassen area of the lower mainland.  On Tuesday February 19th, a similar sighting was made in Duncan, on Vancouver Island.  Assuming it is the same person and dog being sighted, this suggests they got the ferry on or about the 16th from Tsawwassen to either Schwartz Bay (Victoria) or Duke Point (Nanaimo).

If you noticed them on the ferry, or if you have seen them since, please contact the owners.  If you live on the island, PLEASE keep an eye out for them.

Should you see them, please follow these instructions from Levi's owners:

.....We don't know if it is our dog with him, WE NEED A PICTURE TO KNOW FOR SURE!!! Please keep your eyes peeled!
...
If you think you see him, take a photo. I need to know if it is my Levi.

- Approach the person he is with, get close enough to see him well.
- Is he Small, 12-14" high body, Head maybe to your knee ~18"?
- Look at his face, Levi's markings are very unique!
- Does he have 2 Brown Eyes? Does he have a Full Curly White-ish Tail?
- Is he Mostly Black and White?

Then CALL 778-847-7045 IMMEDIATELY! Put this number in your phone! Tracy Myerson and Anita Komonski are his moms.

Levi is VERY SHY! so if he is with someone do NOT just grab him and take him, he will run and bad things will happen. Just call me RIGHT AWAY! We will get the reward [$2000]  to you after he is safely back with us, we PROMISE!

He is small, 17 lbs, has 2 Brown Eyes and a Full Fluffy Tail (white-ish color). He is a Blue Merle, which means mottled Black and White, with Brown only in his face and back legs. He is crossed with something from the Spitz family, maybe a Pom? He is microchipped and registered with 24 hour Pet Watch

If you can post this on your facebook page and print out to post in your office too, that would be hugely appreciated!

You can also Re-Share the original Levi Posting on your work or personal page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jett-Grrl-Bike-Studio/122554664480679, and ASK YOU FRIENDS TO RE-SHARE! We need more eyes! And Ask friends to join the Find Levi group too: http://www.facebook.com/groups/136088879892916/

.....

Me again.  PLEASE share this information with anyone on Vancouver Island.   Feel free to copy and post, to put up posters, etc.  Let's get Levi safely home. 

Edited to add:  checking out the links above, I see there is some contradictory info, and the dog may have been seen in Duncan with a woman twice in the past two weeks, as well as with a man on the 19th.  So focus on the description of the dog, and please report any possible sightings to the owners.

Update - FOUND!

Harriet and Friday, two of the dogs posted in the blog below, have been found!  The RCMP located the stolen truck, abandoned in the Fraser Valley, this morning with the dogs still safely inside!

Now, if only the missing mini Australian Shepherd, Levi, could be found - missing since before Christmas:

Missing Dogs BC

Readers in the lower mainland of British Columbia, and possibly further afield, please be on the lookout for Harriet, a spaniel/basset hound cross and Friday, a liver-coloured flat-coated retriever.  They were in the back of a truck that was stolen from a dog-walking company yesterday afternoon in East Vancouver.  Two dogs who were in the front of the truck were released by the thieves and have been located.
The truck is a black 2006 Ford Ranger with a red canopy, and licence number DV0744.  The dogs may be in the truck, or could have been released anywhere.  

Harriet

Harriet was adopted from a rescue and is much loved - she is best friends with Nutmeg, who we met a few years ago on an adventure with Belle.  Nutmeg's owner says Harriet is her third favourite dog ever (presumably after Nutmeg and her other dog Spratley), and describes her as 'silly and sweet'.  Harriet is blind in one eye.  Friday belongs to the owner of the dog-walking company.  You can read more about the theft, and see photos of Friday and Harriet,  here:  
Vancouver Sun:  Two canines missing.

Also, please be on the lookout for a small Australian Shepherd named Levi who went missing in Vancouver December 18th.  My daughter tells me the owners are still frantic with worry and still handing out posters and scouring downtown every day.  Here's the newspaper article on their search and with a photo of Levi:  Vancouver Sun: Couple Pulls out all stops. 

There are always many dogs being lost or stolen, and I could blog about new ones every single day.  Generally I only post them when I have a personal connection to them - either knowing the owner or a friend of the owner, or engaged in the search myself.  The BC SPCA website has pages where lost and found pets can be posted, and there are several facebook pages dedicated to bringing lost pets home.  Two that are particularly relevant for blog readers in British Columbia are Bring Lost Pets Home and Missing Pets in BC. 

There are few things more heartbreaking than having a beloved pet go missing.  Thefts of vehicles containing pets, and thefts of pets from back yards, are not uncommon, and nor are missing dogs who have bolted in unfamiliar environments.  

If your dog should go missing, pull out all the stops to find him/her, just as the owners of Harriet, Friday, and Levi are doing.  Too many owners of missing pets give up too soon or do not go far enough in their search.  Just sticking up a poster or two in your neighbourhood won't do it - post everywhere you can think of, on line and on paper, contact shelters and vets and petstores and keep going back to them, and get out there and search search search. Dedicated owners have been reunited with their dogs weeks, even months, after the dog went missing.  

Paws and fingers crossed here for Harriet's, Friday's, and Levi's safe return home. 

Edited to add:  please feel free to copy this post's material or link to this page, and share as widely as possible.

Lost Injured Dog, Crofton

If you live in Crofton or nearby, and can take the time to walk your dogs at Osborne Bay Park or possibly Maple Mountain area today, please watch for the following lost and injured dog. Also, please spread the word to friends and family in this area.   Here's the info I received via email (I don't know the people nor the dog - just passing this on):

We need the help of anyone near Crofton (east end of Adelaide st). Please keep an eye out for our lost Red Heeler Marcy, 2 yrs old, about 35-40lbs, sweetest temperament. Brown spot on base of her tail, has tags/collar, ear tattoo.

Marcy today (6pm) while graciously being look after by a friend ran out in front of a pickup & was hurt. Unfortunately, in shock she fled bleeding, in a strange location (she normally lives in Duncan) and has not been seen since. 
SO if anyone who sees her or hears a dog whimpering like it has been hurt, somewhere between Crofton & Duncan (in case she is trying to get home), PLEASE let us know.

Thanks for your help.
Pete & Lee-Amber, our cells are 250 7324246 or 250 2139191Thank you!

(Note:  I have an electronic poster which contains the dog's picture, but don't know how to post it to the blog as it is in pdf format.  If you want a copy, please email me using the contact at the side. ) 

And, my usual reminder:  Keep dogs safe in new surroundings!!!!!  Arrrghhhhhhhhh! 

UPDATE:  MARCY HAS BEEN FOUND!  SHE RETURNED HOME (NOT SURE IF THAT WAS TO THE PETSITTERS OR TO HER HOME IN DUNCAN) THIS MORNING.  

Another lost sheltie (and other missing dogs)

Missing newly-rehomed sheltie, Justus
Last seen Centennial Park/Cliff Rd in Duncan

Another newly-rehomed sheltie is lost in our area. Ironically, I met Justus and his new owner just days after he was rehomed - they were walking along the seawalk at Crofton, and Eddie and I stopped for a chat.

He is a lovely, well-behaved, very social 14 month old tri-color. However, like many newly rehomed dogs, he is now running scared - and that means things like sociability and recall go out the window. He apparently bolted from his new mom's store near 4th Street and Canada Avenue (near downtown Duncan) on Sunday evening. He has been spotted between Centennial Park and Cliff Rd (towards the hospital, from downtown). In other words, he's still in the general area but likely hiding out in the park. There is quite a bit of bush and greenspace in that vicinity.

I have had email contact with the breeder (a different breeder from last month's missing sheltie, and equally concerned) who is worried sick and doing everything possible to find him. They have been out with a tracking dog which helped narrow the search a bit, they are busy putting up flyers everywhere (no doubt they could use help with this) and they have left a flyer at every house is the area where he was seen. They've passed out cards with his picture/info/contact info to every person on the street, placed ads in the local papers, on the radio, and on the online classifieds, left personal items in strategic places. They are doing all the right stuff.

If you live in the area, please consider helping with the search   (unfortunately, I'm not able to do so at this time). And whether you live in the area or not, please send the information to anyone you know on Vancouver Island or who may know people on Vancouver Island who may in turn know people in Duncan. The more people who know about Justus, the more likely he will make it safely home.

If you can help, or if you spot Justus, please call: Anyes 250-737-1281 or 250-710-6696; Kristin 250-743-2345 or 715-5844; or Anita 250-888-8504.

I have a copy of the poster which I can't upload to Blogger, but feel free to email me using the "contact me" button on the side of the blog, and I will send it to you for attachment to emails, facebook pages, or printing off copies for posting around town. It is in Word doc.x format.

While we're on the subject of lost dogs, the warmer weather seems to have created a plethora of lost dogs in this region. There is also a husky mix, Inca, lost from the Riverbottom Rd area of Duncan, a small white dog missing in Maple Bay, a black lab cross missing in Crofton.....and those are just the ones I've heard about locally.

And for my few Australian readers or for those with friends near Sydney Australia, a blogger friend of mine has posted about a senior, diabetic lost dog near Sydney - if you can help spread the word, please check out this link to my friend's blog, or this link to the relevant facebook page. It is quite amazing how networking can help even from half a world away.

Many other things to blog about - Eddie's visit to Karen's, more lovely fog and sun photos, Petey's funny little behaviours - stay tuned...posts about lost dogs have to take blog priority over pretty pics and funny stories. Please help bring Justus safely home.

LONDON HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!!

London is safe!  I was out for the afternoon after doing a quick sweep of the area this morning, and I came home to the wonderful phone message that London was caught shortly after 1:00 this afternoon. 

After 9 days on the run, and a week without a sighting, she returned to the very same property where she had previously been seen.  Gary and Jill, from Chelco Farms (a border collie rescue), had placed a live trap there last week and the breeder had put toys and blankets smelling of London and her litter mates as well as a tasty dish of food.  Sure enough, as lost dogs often do, she came back to that spot.

She did try to run again, but Gary and Jill's dog, Abby, brought her back in and the breeder, Judy, was also there with one of her dogs, so London made the wise choice to let herself be caught.

As the new owners are currently in Alberta  (don't ask what I think of that), I expect London has gone back home with Judy. 

Thank you to all who helped in this search, and especially to Gary, Jill and Judy.  This girl got safely home because of your commitment.

Your message made my day! Heck, it made my whole month!

No News, and Sad News.

No News:  There have been no sightings of London for the past few days.  We're not giving up - we are still hopeful of finding her, still blanketing the area with posters, and walking the trails daily.  As an aside, this has been good experience for Eddie, who has been accompanying me and is quickly becoming an old pro at car travel, hiking trails, and even waiting patiently in the vehicle while I talk with other searchers.  I took today off, as I had some other things to take care of, but tomorrow Eddie and I will be back at it. I'm just hoping the forecasted snow bypasses us - so far this week it has been quite pleasant out, and snow or rain would certainly make the search more difficult.

"London"
1 year old  lost sheltie
Last seen near Stocking Creek Park, Saltair, Vancouver Island

Sad News:  Sadie's medical tests have confirmed that she has an insulinoma - a tumor of the pancreas.  While in people this is often benign, such is not the case in dogs.  Insulinomas are rare in dogs and nearly always malignant.  As Sadie's liver counts were also elevated, the vet fears it may have already spread - as is often the case by the time a canine insulinoma is diagnosed.

While a younger dog might benefit from surgery, the vet is not recommending it in  12-13 year old Sadie's case - the surgery is very invasive, the 'cure' rate is not high (largely because it has usually already spread), and  recurrances within a year are frequent.  The process of having surgery and being confined in the vets office for several days post-surgery would also be very traumatic for Sadie, who has abandonment issues when kennelled.

There are some drugs that may slow down the overproduction of insulin caused by the insulinoma and slow the growth of the cancer  - they have some nasty side effects and we are still researching and discussing these options.

Sadie in healthier times

Please check back tomorrow for another important post about a dog in need.

Quick updates

1. London, the missing sheltie

London is still missing, but the good news is that she has been sighted several times by several people in the same area, and yesterday even entered her crate (which was set up in the yard of a place she had visited) but then spooked and bolted again before she could be enclosed. A system has now been rigged up to close her in from a distance if she returns.

For those helping in the search, the breeder emailed tonight to say she seems to be going up and down between the waterfall area of the park and a few homes on the bank, where they back onto the park (mostly off Knudsen Road and in behind the storage units).

She is a very scared dog right now, but will be getting hungry so hopefully she will soon come out for some tasty treat like warm BBQ chicken.

Please keep her in your thoughts and send positive vibes for her safe return.

Eddie helps in the search

2. Eddie, my new family member

Eddie's leg is much better, so hopefully his lameness was just from either too much walking or some twisting during his prancing around. I rested it for a day or two, did a couple of very short walks, and today took him to the park to help search for London - I figured it was time he got used to travelling in my vehicle (to fun places instead of scary new homes or the vet's office!) and the soft trails of the park would be good walking territory.

But that black box in front of your face still makes me nervous!

While somewhat anxious, overall he seemed to enjoy himself and was amply rewarded with treats. We didn't walk a long way; though we were at the park for about an hour, we spent much of that time just watching from vantage points or talking to other dog walkers. Tonight he is favouring his leg a little, so we'll see how he is tomorrow.

3. Petey, foster dog extraordinaire

Petey is doing well. He objects to my leaving him when he is awake, but he's settled in well and "Il Divo" knows how to wrap me around his little paws. On Monday, I'll be taking him down to Victoria to meet with another vet about his eyes. Please send "NO SNOW" vibes, because I don't want to be driving the Malahat in adverse conditions, and d*mn it's cold out there tonight!

Ah likes mah foster-mama pillow!

4. Sad starving Sadie

 Sadie's test results aren't back yet - at least not the ones we are most interested in - but she is holding her own as long as she is fed every three hours or so, and only taken on very short, very gentle walks.

As I've mentioned before, Sadie has episodes where she suddenly starts staggering like a drunk and then collapses in a heap on the ground. The first episode occured last May, with tests and chest xrays in May and June revealing nothing; however, in August the episodes began again, and have been getting more severe and more frequent since then.

In a stroke of luck, if one can call it that, she collapsed five minutes before the vet arrived for a scheduled appointment last week, and so the vet was able to check her heart and blood pressure while she was having an episode, and both were completely normal - we are now able to rule out a cardiac or circulatory problem. Her blood sugar, however, was dangerously low (1.2), and was still well below the appropriate minimum level a half hour after being fed corn syrup and carbs.

We are waiting for tests that will tell us if she has an insulinoma (tumor on the pancreas which causes overproduction of insulin) or possibly Addison's disease. Please keep her in your thoughts too.

Yeah, an' look how skinny I is despite all those extra meals!

Sleepless in Saltair

There is a very scared lost sheltie in Saltair and a very worried owner in Saltair tonight. (Saltair in a small community just north of here, between Chemainus and Ladysmith, BC). London, aka London Fog, had just recently arrived at her new forever home when she took off last Friday, January 6th.

She has since been spotted in or near Stocking Creek Park (aka Byron Creek Park), behind Byron market, near the daycare at the nearby school, walking down the railway tracks, and in the vicinity of Knudson and Porter Streets which I believe are just north west of the park. She seems to be hanging around the area, but as she is new to the area she would not know how to get back to her new home, and would be at risk to try to make her way back down island to her old home. The area in which she is missing is a combination of woods, trails, creeks, residential and a busy road or two.

If you live in this area, please help look for London. Perhaps take your dogs for a walk at the very beautiful Stocking Creek Park. Most shelties are very initially very shy of strangers, but she may respond to calls of "Cookie, cookie!" or "Let's go, London!" And no doubt she is very hungry by now.

London is a blue merle sheltie, who would look very much like my Eddie but with some tan markings as well. You can see a photo of her at her breeder's website here.

As I haven't yet spoken directly to the current owner, I am reluctant to put his phone number on the web without permission, but there will be posters around the area with the number clearly listed.

Please help London get home safely.

And if you are responsible for rehoming a dog, or if you have recently added a dog to your family, please remember to keep dogs safe in new surroundings.

Keeping Dogs Safe in new surroundings

These guidelines apply to the first several weeks of the dog’s relocation, and are specific to preventing lost dogs. They do not deal with other dog safety issues such as introductions to other animals, separation anxiety, aggression, or training. These steps are based on my own experience, reading, and reasoning. The timelines are minimum recommendations - very nervous dogs may need the process stretched out more slowly. I am not a dog trainer – just a person who has spent too many hours looking for too many lost dogs, and who feels sick and angry about the recent spate of dogs lost enroute or within a week of arriving at a new home.

In the past few weeks, an alarming number of BC dogs have become lost in unfamiliar areas. They bolted during transport or shortly after arrival at a new foster home, or within a week of being newly adopted.

A change of home or circumstances is stressful for any dog, and even a dog with a wonderfully calm temperament may suddenly bolt. Here are some guidelines that should be drilled into the minds of every potential foster or adoptive home or transporter:

1. Use a Martingale or Silverfoot training collar, or a harness with a double safety connection, properly fitted. Use it for life, not just for a week. Inspect it regularly for signs of damage, especially checking all clips, rings and fasteners. Make sure the leash is attached to the correct ring. Do not use a flat collar – a dog can back out of a flat collar in the blink of an eye. Do not use a metal choke chain as these can damage the trachea of a strong puller. And before you put that collar or harness on for the first time, attach an ID tag with a current phone number.

2. Keep BOTH hands firmly on the leash. While some trainers tell you not to wrap the leash around your wrist in case the dog bolts and breaks your wrist, I would (as another rescuer recently stated) much rather see a person break their wrist than a dog become lost or killed. A wrist mends; a dead dog doesn’t.

3. For at least the first month, assume that the dog IS going to bolt, given the chance - no matter how nicely your new dog walks on leash. Make sure you have both hands on the leash before opening a car door or opening a house door.

4. Do not let children walk the dog for the first several weeks. A dog who tries to bolt is STRONG and QUICK.

5. Make it clear to everybody in the house that they must put the martingale and leash on the dog before they answer a knock at the door or open it to grab the paper from the stoop. Put signs on the doors to remind them, and hang spare collars and leashes near every door. Keep the doors locked to help prevent people from coming in without first having someone inside confine the dog.

6. Spend the first 24-48 hours in your home with the dog. Your dog needs to become familiar with the smells of the house and the people in it. Your dog needs to start to figure out that this is his or her new pack. Take the dog for very short outings at quiet times of the day or evening – first just into your yard (on leash, even if you have a high fence!) or, if you don’t have a yard, just a couple of hundred feet in each direction from your apartment building.*

*Note: While this is a time for you and your dog to bond, you also need to help the dog know you are going to be reliable. From the first day home, begin doing graduated leaves - leaving the dog in the house for five minutes, five times on the first day, then ten minutes five times on the second day, then slowly increasing the time and decreasing the frequency until the dog is comfortable being left alone, secure in the knowledge that you will return. Confine the dog to a secure area (or a crate, if they are already crate trained) during this time – you don’t want them to slip through your legs and bolt when you re-enter the house!

7. Slowly increase the length of the walks over the first week or two, but always within your neighbourhood – first around the block, around two blocks, going the reverse direction, varying the route. You want the dog to become familiar with the sights, sounds, and smells of its own neighbourhood – that way if the dog should escape (because some burglar broke the window or because you had a heart attack and the dog slipped out as the paramedics came in – NOT because of your own carelessness!) he/she may be able to find the way home, or at least may stay in the area. Gradually expand the dog’s horizons and exposure to new situations.


8. As tempting as it is to want to show off your new pet or foster to all your friends, neighbours and relatives – DON’T. At least, not for the first week or so, and then just gradually, slowly, introduce the dog to new people and places. No matter how wonderful your new pet is, he or she has been through a stressful time – losing a family, possibly wandering loose, possibly staying in a shelter or rescue or foster home, and now another new situation and new people. Do not increase the dog's confusion and anxiety – let the dog chill with you, become bonded to you, learn about his new home, and gain confidence before adding more new events to the dog’s life.

9. Don't be lulled into complacency by the dog's good behaviour. A newly placed dog often has a honeymoon period, where he/she seems to have settled in perfectly. Then, after a few weeks or more, the dog may begin testing you, and/or become more challenging in many ways. The dog you have three months from the time of adoption is seldom the dog you saw during the first week or two – don’t get complacent about the doors, leashes, collars, etc.

And always remember – a Martingale collar or harness are useless if there isn’t a firm hand holding onto the other end of the leash!

Keep dogs safe. Let’s not hear of any more recently moved and now lost dogs.


(c) JFB 2011 www.mylifewiththecritters.blogspot.com

The above information may be copied and/or circulated freely as long as this blog is cited as the source.