Aussie in N. GA is FOUND -UPDATE PG 2!!!

[Cielo Azure]

This has been the week from hell-

My Aussie girl (blue merle -part blue eyes), who is seven years old, and my main farm dog (my beloved dog) got lost on Thursday. I was out picking up my son from school but my husband was home fixing all the broken barn pipes from the very cold snap (17 degrees when 25 degrees was predicted, so we didn't run the barn water -duh, dumb mistake). Anyway, I came home and she was gone. We think she chased a deer and got disoriented in the forest. It was almost dark and very cold. We assumed because she never, ever wanders that she had drowned in the pond, the pool, died, had a heart attack, was stuck in an outbuilding, etc. We spent all night on the farm looking for her. As I had lost a dog years ago from getting hung on a fence, I assumed that she was on the property -hurt, stuck or dying.

Next morning, I started asking neighbors. A near neighbor said they saw her looking very confused about a mile from the house the night before (why they didn't pick her, I'll never understand -they know she never, ever wanders and they are super nice people). He said he had to blow his horn to get her out of the road. She evidently came out the other side of the forest that is around us and onto a road that she didn't know and proceeded to go up and down roads. I have put 100s of flyers, etc. I have not hardly slept since last Thurs. We got lots of calls and sightings up to Friday night at eight PM (most of the calls were on the weekend from sightings of the two days prior). Yesterday, we got a call from a women, who almost turned around and picked her up on Friday night and then saw my husband driving the truck really slow. At that point, he was evidently literally a 100 yards from her. The person didn't stop because they thought we would find her, we were that close. Then it went totally dead -no sightings after Friday when we were SO close to finding her (we called and search ALL Friday night). But no dead body on the street either.

I vacilate between thinking she was hit or someone has picked her up (more likely as we were right on top of her when the last sightings were reported). I am doing all I can to find her but she is such a nice dog that it wouldn't surprise me if we never see her again. Lots of people around here have related to me, that the 4-5-6 dogs they own all "wandered" into their yard. Lots of people around here don't care for their dogs and they are everywhere. So, people just take them in, without ever looking for the prior owner. The county my property abutts doesn't even have an animal control office or county shelter! The private shelter is full B.T.W. Many people around here are kind of uneducated, and...sweet but not always so thoughtful. They just keep dogs outside. Outside runs or no runs. There are always dogs in the street.

I had just spayed her a week ago and she still has metal sutures in.

Even worse, she wasn't wearing a coller. She never, ever leaves the farm, and she goes into the backyard when we go out. So she wasn't even wearing a collar as she had been bathed just prior to going into to be spayed the week before and I never put it back on her. I am racked with guilt over this issue.

I am devastated. This dog is beyond beloved. Yes, I have a multiple dog household but she is the "one." She and I work together everyday on the farm. She has titles in stockdog trials and she is my best friend (other than my husband). I have lost my parents, a sister, a nephew, a dear friend in the last decade +. Believe it of not, this is hurting so much more (they didn't sleep in my bed and be my willing partner in all my misadventures). Here is are photos of her, in case any of you North Georgians are on the lookout:
http://www.cieloazure.com/luna.html
http://www.cieloazure.com/australianshp.html

I honestly don't know what to do. I am devasted.

So, to dump this on all of you, the unsuspecting reader - I apologize. Thanks for listening.

[LMH]

I am sure you have done this but will mention it anyway...

Have you called the local shelter and ALL the vet offices within several miles?

Also try any pet stores or feed stores.

Your dog is LOVELY.

I own 2 aussies and would be beyond devasted if 1 ended up lost-I can SO feel for you right now.

Please keep us posted-I am in Canton. If I can be helpful please let me know.

[Bluey]

Just keep looking.
Some dogs I know were lost finally were found a few weeks later, when word got around to whoever had picked them up.

One of our dog club members was showing in the agility finals in NJ and her border collie was lost.
Mind you, we are in TX.
After two weeks of looking, she came back and two more weeks, there were some sightings, so she went back and got her dog back.

All our dogs are microchipped and tatooed in the inside of a thight, so it is hard to miss that they have an owner if someone picks them up.

Just keep looking and putting the notice out there, fliers, notify all vets, police, shelters, see if the TV stations will give you a minute in the news, maybe as part of a story on please, report maraunding dogs, as they may be someone's lost dog.

Good luck, a week is not so long to give up, keep looking.

[Catersun]

CA

I'm jingling for ya.... That just sucks.

[leakyb]

Oh, I hope you find her!

I'm in Cobb Co so if you get a sighting, I can go to a shelter or something if she somehow ends up down here. We once had an old dog get lost, someone must have picked him up because he was found about 25 miles away...and his collar was found in a parking lot 10 miles from the dog.

PM me if you need help in Cobb Co!

[asanders]

CA, I am so sorry to hear your story, but don't lose heart.

When I got my first Aussie, a friend had a littermate. They were 4-5 months old when we got them. When they were about 1 year, we offered to dog sit for a week.

Brother dog came to stay at our house. My dog had been going to the farm every day, and was generally off lead in known environs. Brother dog, not so much.
By the end of the week, I made one of those what-was-I-thinking lapses, and decided that Brother dog could certainly make the 10 ft trip from house to car (that we'd made many times that week) without a leash.

Cat runs through yard. Brother dog disappears after it at warp 9.

I never knew just how many dogs lived in that neighborhood until I went up and down the streets calling all night (every dog answered but Brother dog).

One of the worst days ever was telling friend that I'd lost his dog.

We posted flyers, searched daily, checked the vets and shelters daily.

About 10 days later, a kid walking his own dog noticed a dog lying on the porch of a house he knew was empty. He had seen the flyers, and Brother Dog was home that night.

He was several pounds lighter, and really pretty much cured of straying out of sight, but he lived to the merry old age of 18 years old.

Another of my own never-wander Aussies followed a very bad puppy on a daring escape from our fenced yard through a culvert (puppy removed grate). Of course the puppy came straight back to our house, but the older dog I think got disoriented by coming out several houses away. There was no sign of her at dark and I was starting to panic and print up flyers. At 10 pm it started to pour rain. One of the cats got up in the living room window and started pawing at the glass (not a usual behavior). Went to see what she was pawing, and there was the dog in the front yard, sopping wet. I have no idea where she could have been for 8 hours, as it is not a big town.

I and my Aussie brood will be sending good thoughts your way.

They do get home.

[In the Air]

What about a nice big ad in the local newspaper? Years ago my father lost an Aussie I had given him. He was devastated. I found the Aussie two weeks later at a shelter. Don't give up.

[monstrpony]

Gorgeous dog! I can understand why you are devistated. A good Aussie is super-human in the friendship/companionship department. Do keep looking (I'm sure you will) and we will keep our fingers and toes crossed that she finds her way back to you!

[HydroPHILE]

CA, Try posting an ad on Craigslist as well (http://atlanta.craigslist.org/pet). I will keep my eyes open on that site in case someone has her and tries to sell her/find her owner.

Check the found listings in the AJC and on Petfinder.org.

[Lilykoi]

Let us know when she comes home!

[3horsemom]

i have nothing to add to the great advice posted but my prayers. life w/o my aussiex would be awful.

[yellow-horse]

one of my dogs went missing and a/c 2 counties over picked him up17 weeks later, he has a story to tell but isn't talking
i would contact all the a/c's around you and vets
when my new horse got loose 5 minutes after getting off the trailer and had no idea where she was i asked the school bus drivers if they would look for her, i passed her picture around to them
also i gave her picture out to the post mistress who passed it along to the mail carrier

[MunchkinsMom]

Jingles that she comes home safe and sound.

I would recommend calling your local authorites (A/C, sherrif, police, etc) to see if any one turned in a dog. I say this because a few years ago, there was a very scared cattle dog in my yard (thunderstorms in the area at the time), and whenever I approached her, she growled at me. I waited for several hours for her to try to figure out how to get out of the yard, and felt bad because it was cold and raining, so I called A/C and they caught her and brought her to the shelter, where she was adopted a short time later.

Come to find out (6 months later), she belonged to a person in the neighborhood, who does not put collars on his dogs. I didn't know he had a new dog, and he never called A/C to see if they had her. I felt pretty bad about it.

[Jaegermonster]

I was hoping there would be a happy update.
I have an Aussie too, found him as a 5 week old puppy abandoned in a hole in the woods.
He's 12 now and life without him is unthinkable.
Aussies are special.
Jingling for you and your doggy.

[shea'smom]

If you get no responses, consider changing the "Large Reward" to a dollar amount on your flyers. Someone may talk a friend into giving the dog up if she was picked up, for enough $$$.
Hang in there. My sister's dog was lost for 4 days recently and came home on her own.

[Rhyadawn]

I'm not in your area but just wanted you to know I'm praying you get her back. I know what life with Aussies is like, I would be devistated if anything happened to mine.

Keep in contact with the local vets, shelters, petstores, and local breeders (You never know). I'm sure she will turn up somewhere.

[Jealoushe]

*Jingles* to finding your Aussie,

I know how it is. I lost my mini Aussie this summer and it was devestating. I wish you the best in finding her.

[Cielo Azure]

I spent the day tracking a false lead and taking my son to college (he doesn't drive yet).

And what was I doing: A "funny" call from a person wanted to know what she looked like when she wasn't clipped and that they used to have a dog "just like that." Oh, and what kind of dog was she?" (because his dog looked just like that)

It creeped out my husband enough that he called from the BWI airport, at 7:30 am this morning, where he just landed (yes, another fricken early morning for me, getting up at 3:30 AM with him) to ask that I track it down.

Finding the number, the guy's two houses in Jasper and Woodstock revealed an ederly, lonely older gentleman. basically, he was just looking for someone to talk to on the telephone. All day driving and nothing to show for it.

The support here may be virtual, but it does make me feel better. Just being able to share the story really helps...

I have done most of the tips although dropping leaflets off with the bus drivers...I like that.

Thanks everyone.

[LMH]

This is now the first thread I check when I log on. My heart literally races for you.

Still here thinking about you.

My darlings Zack and Zorro send their best.

[Jaegermonster]

Please don't give up. We are all pulling for your doggie.
Every time I see this thread I am more grateful my old Aussie is curled up at home on the rug. This thread makes my heart hurt.
Cielo, how far is Jasper from jacksonville FL?

[Cielo Azure]

A Neighbor, about five miles away had her show up at his door. He let her in (like me he has a menagerie). He cared for her, fed her, fed her Ab and she is fine! He made his way over to Sackett's feed, saw my notice and called and brought her over this evening. She is limping a little, her suture site is a little swollen and she is a bit tired but she is happy and we are happy. More than happy! She cried and carried on for half an hour. I didn't cry, I am DONE with crying. I am estatic.

The best thing in all this is all the wonderful people who live in my area. People who drove around looking for my dog, who cared. People who let me talk, helped me and phoned me to get any news. The police officer who already had all the info and had been watching for her when I handed him a flier at the gas station. The stores that stuck my flier right on their counter -one of which eventually led to her return.

B.T.W. This is the person who took care of my dog:
http://www.rthunder.com/HOME/index.htm
He and his family have a house full of rescues and are pretty special. They would not take the reward offered.

Tomorrow I have a full day of making phone calls to vet offices, letting people know she is here, going to the vet and cleaning stalls (ewww -12 stalls and all dirty).

The support I got here too, the offers of help -if you all only knew how much it all meant. It does mean something. Thank you.

[Jaegermonster]

I'm so glad. I finally looked at her pictures earlier tonight and she looks almost exactly like my Aussie, except for her eyes. It about killed me to think of her lost and all alone.
Thank Heavens she's home!

[Bogie]

So glad to hear she's back :D.

It's very scary when your dog is missing. One of mine disappeared during a thunderstorm over the summer. I looked everywhere for him. My daughter was hysterical with fear.

As a last resort, I drove to my barn, which is about a 10 minute walk through the woods from my house. There he was, sitting with the horses. I don't know what possessed him to go there but I guess he thought it was a safe place.

[pandorasboxx]

I'm so happy for you. Thank goodness you put out all those flyers.:)

[Buffyblue]

That's wonderful news! Lucky dog -- ending up where she did! My two Aussies are happy for you and her!

[LMH]

What a GREAT way to start my day!!

I am so happy for you!

Now march straight to publix and buy a pack of marrow bones, thaw them out and let her have one a day! She will love you FOREVER and will NEVER need her teeth cleaned!:D

[ChocoMare]

Oh Jill, I am so glad she's home where she belongs! :yes:

[M. O'Connor]

What a relief!

PLEASE, change the title on your thread!

Your experience is similar to one I had several years ago. Our Lab was gone for days and days--she was a confirmed wanderer when we adopted her, and in fact had flunked several previous adoptions because of this.

I snapped after that, and said "never again," and called up the Invisible Fence company the day after she came back (a neighbor spotted her across town walking up a street, and called her into the car. Her tags had "come off," leading us to suspect someone had tried to keep her, the dog that refused to be "kept." Not long after that, one of our smaller dogs went missing for a weekend, and after that, I got collars for all.

We are on a farm in VA now, and the dog fence wire is tacked to the perimeter fence--NO WANDERING DOGS, no stress from wondering where they are or if they'll be back.

I am SO glad your dog is back, because I know JUST how it feels when they are missing. PHEW.

[leakyb]

YEAH! So glad to hear this!!!

PLEASE get that girl microchipped so if this ever happens again, a rescuer can get her scanned and returned to you.

[Bluey]

So nice of those people, will be hard to think of a very, very nice present for them.
Glad that she is only a little sore.
Thanks for letting us know.:cool:

[gloriginger]

yeah that is so wonderful! I had to laugh a little about the crying for a half hour- I know exactly how this sounds- my aussie does this when she sees someone that she hasn't seem in a while- its really quite dramatic, but sure does make you feel loved.

so glad she is home safe, and that you have your special girl back. :)!

[Amwrider]

Just saw this thread and am happy that it all worked out!

[monstrpony]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

SO glad to hear! Thanks for letting us know, and say an extra "Thanks!" to those folks for us!

[Lilykoi]

Love a happy ending. Nice to know there are so many good people around.
Give your girl a pet for us.

[Jealoushe]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad there was someone who helped you, those small gestures can make a huge difference in someones life!

[Rhyadawn]

So glad to hear you got her back! what an answer to prayer!

[Lilykoi]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad there was someone who helped you, those small gestures can make a huge difference in someones life!

I read your blog and your adventure with your wayward pooch! Talk about
the kindness of strangers, right?

[3horsemom]

i can just imagine the vocalizing as your wayward aussie described her adventure! so glad she is safe.

[msrobin]

So happy you got your girl back!! I know what it is like to lose a pet it happened to us recently for 12 hours then they both just showed back up I as freaked out bad.

Kudos to the people who took care of them. Jasper is a great place

[hastyreply]

That's great you found her. Love happy endings.

Since they won't take the reward, maybe you can get them some dog food or find out who their vet is and put some money on account for them. Something like that. To help the rescues.

[LKF]

I will now be able to toss out your flyer. I've had it on me since receiving it in my mailbox, and my husband and I have been actively looking for her and driving around. We are so happy you got her back. Enormous hugs to her!

[asanders]

YIPPIE!!! :D:D:D

I just knew this would have a happy ending!

I love that Aussie Love Fest they can throw when they are just too happy to see you. It's like they just bubble over. One of mine is a smiler too.

Unfortunately, I wanted to boot one of mine OUT of the house tonight... apparently horsey licorice flavored treats are 1) irresistable if left within reach (even in the sealed pouch), 2) upsetting to the Aussie stomach (when consumed in large quantities), and 3) full of red dye :o. Poor girl wanted out about 6 times last night. Really though, I couldn't be mad at her when I thought about Luna out all alone, and you wishing her back.

So glad she's home.

[MunchkinsMom]

Oh that is great news! I'll sleep a bit better tonight knowing that there is one less lost dog out there!

[snkstacres]

I am so glad you have your friend back. I have an old old Bassett Hound here as well as my border collie x and Miss Paris the bully dog. Sadly, I got my Bassett as an old old man and he is a road runner. Every day at the same time he leaves here and goes across the road to the field and hunts till 4 oclock each day. Its as regular as feeding time and each day I wonder if he will come back. There is no traffic of course except to cross the small road in front of my house but still, I worry like heck. He wears a ton of ID but comes home without steady. I own a share in the tag company for sure. I just keep thinking one day, one of these rednecks will just shoot him cause he is there. There is no house there, nothing but he sits at the groundhog holes all day long and hunts.