08/31/2023
Ellie Was Found!
Here she is safe at home with my pregnant wife!
At The Bottom Is the Story
Thank you all for your amazing help; we're completely floored with all your support and time you've dedicated to sweet Ellie. She was found near Lazy Lake in Dunedin.
She is totally fine, uninjured. and is back to her snugly self now.
A few tips:
1.Get an air tag or GPS collar for you dog. NOW
2. If they go missing, don't yell their name or chase them, just bring lots of smelly treats or an open can of Vienna sausages.
3. Make bright florescent fliers.
4. Make a Facebook (business) page for your dog, create a post and promote it to people who like dogs. For only $28, we got over 700 shares. (The tip that got her came on facebook)
5. Get help from a pro dog trapper like Heather. who helped us more than we can imagine.
Special thanks to Erica and Dana who spotted her (on monday and today respectively) plus many more who told us about her location.
I can't mention or thank enough people you're amazing Dunedin!
So here's what happened, she was attacked while a friend was watching her for us and on a walk. we heard and came imedately but by the time we came she was already about 14 blocks away.
We didn't find out til about 30 minutes later that several people had seen her between main st and san salvador on bass street, one nice person tried to grab her while in a golf cart (we now know if you ever see a stray dog don't chase even if they run, just put down treats and walk away then call the owner)
So when they chased her in the gold cart she ran behind the church, that's where these nice people lost her. behind that church is hammock park. we were out looking from 10am to 10pm.
Next day (another 12 hours of looking) we were contacted by a wonderful dog catcher named Heather, she told us we would catch her, but it could take a month. (This is also who taught us never to call for a dog when lost since it just scared them, and a bunch of other stuff I put earlier in this post.)
Heather had remote cameras and traps, first night we were trying to find where she was now in hammock park, first night just saw wildlife. next day a lady named eric called me, she saw her. (heather said if we tell more people that they would scare her and she'd leave the area.)
So then we set up a humane trap with lost of food in that area. the storm was 2 days away. that night cuaght some possums I had to let out at 3 am, but no ellie.
Next day heather was there and heard ellie howl from near by, we moved the trap and I put $40 worth of fast food (what attracts dogs) this was right before the storm, jsut cuase more wildlife, but no ellie.
Now the storm was over, and we set up again the trap, just wild life again and multiple late night trips to let them free.
now it's today, thursday. and we hear she's been out for 5 days. 8am I get a call, I didn't get her name. She told me a lady named Dana had seen her at lazy lake dr, (about 12 blocks away from the park)
We got ready in 5 minutes and we drove there, a bunch of great people were around there to help look, all quiet with treats (Nice!). after about 10 minutes of looking and advice from neighbors who'd seen her, I spot her. At first I don't even think it's her... how could it be? I was so used to false alarms and seeing her in my dreams. I ask my wife, it was her! shes at a house witha really secure back fence. I go one side my wife the other. I lay down and throw treats all around me (like heather told me to). Ellie approaches, but I get worried she'll go by me, and I slowly reach for her... She's spooked and runs the oposite direction.
But fortunately there's my wife with food all around sitting down, still as a stone. ellie approaches. goes back, appoaches goes back, my wife still the whole time. after about 15 minutes she goes up and starts eating. my wife hooks her collar and picks her up, we go to the car and drive her home.
She's now safe, wagging her tail, getting belly rubs and sitting by my feet as I write this.
