HEIDI GOES WALKABOUT 24-29 JANUARY 2009

On 25 January, Linda Savage writes: One of the girls that came in last night, Heidi, who is between two and three years old, got away from the foster parents last night around 10 PM. They are still looking for her. If there is anyone who can help out with the searching, please let Gayle know ASAP. Once this information hit the internet, the entire Dog Rescue World sprang into action. Suggestions came from far & wide. Bobbi Procyk of Florida Airedale Rescue arranged a K9AmberAlert. Meghan Grebner made announcements on her radio program. Eileen McGeagh, editor of ATRA's newsletter, posted Heidi on the Airedales Lost Facebook Page (well, Cairns are Airedales in small dog suits, after all). Peoria Animal Control donated live traps. Friends, family & neighbors joined the hunt, including Rayn Vaughn, who brought Angel, his dog-sniffing beagle pup! Gayle gives us more detail on the search area: [It is a] rural area; only 11 homes with acreage on the road where the FosterFamily lives. They have literally searched for hours and hours in this awful cold, ice and snow. Followed her tracks last night with flashlights into a ravine; [there were a] couple inches of snow through the night so no tracks anywhere today. Thought for sure she was under their deck but he climbed under, no Heidi. There are out buildings & barns with most of the homes; the neighbors have all been notified; any type of authority has been called; a neighbor is out as we speak on an ATV with cab. They feel if she can be found, he will find her. Everyone has checked and will continue to check their out buildings. Food out; we cannot think of another thing to do. [It is] seven degrees and light snow, heavy woods with ravines; not much more a normal person can do. . . . I did talk to Sandy about live traps and very stinky food. Food scent will be lost when it freezes. We will be on the phones tomorrow when people are open; any suggestions will be appreciated. We are hoping she will approach and enter one of several barns/out buildings; it seems people feed the wild cats that way in the area. One barn is open with horses so let's hope she might head that direction. Biggest concern is the leash is caught on something with all the woods . . . . On 27 January comes the word from Gayle: HEIDI SIGHTED ALIVE APPROX 30 ACRES BETWEEN SANDY'S HOUSE AND THIS PROPERTY, 1/2 BY ROAD. NO HARNESS; GONE LIKE DR T SAID IT MIGHT BE . . . MIKE FOLLOWED HER AND SHE APPROACHED THE HOME THAT SITS ON THIS AREA . . . HE TRIED TO COAX HER AND OF COURSE SHE TOOK OFF. BUT SHE IS ALIVE, APPEARS TO LOOK OK - WE ARE WORKING ON OBTAINING MORE LIVE CATCH CRATES AND USING BJ'S STEAK/BACON RECIPE. MORE AS THIS PROGRESSES. Later the same day: I saw Heidi this afternoon; she looks fine, no limping, no apparent injuries after being out so long. Very much able to run away from me. I was heading to Sandy's with crates & bones and came up over a small rise in the lane and there she was, standing right in the middle of the road. We startled each other and as I hit my brakes and slid off the road a bit, she ran right past me and kept going for a while, then stopped and looked back at me. I had gotten out of the car with a bag of food, hoping she would come back, but no deal. I kept walking, saw her again; then, in driving back down the lane, saw her again, then she was gone. Four live catch cages have been gathered and set; one at a neighbor who also saw her this afternoon. Matter of fact, her footprints are all over his back yard area, even up to his back door on the garage. A trap with BJ's recipe is set there. I felt better seeing the different out buildings that she can seek shelter in. Continued prayers that she will approach the cages and we will have her. I am not sure how else we will ever catch up with her. Sandy is going to contact animal welfare again tomorrow for help. 28 January: OK, Heidi was out and about again today. Time frame seems to be noon to 3ish. Reappeared at the house she was at yesterday and the one on the land next to it. Actually came up on their deck while the gal was sitting by the slider eating lunch. Not sure which house had her nose prints on the slider. So, now there is a crate at this location and a meaty bone secured to the deck so she can feed but not run with it. Hopefully she will be comfortable coming there and they are putting out food as well. So, she is still in the area; that is a good thing and she is coming closer to the homes than [she was] a day or two ago. Sandy thinks tomorrow is the day. It is supposed to warm a little with no more snow, sunny, so that's a good thing, too. Hopefully more good news tomorrow! And on 29 January, Gayle writes us the great news: Heidi got home around 11:30 this morning. Lynn Schoon, who works at The ARK in Lacon, Illinois, a rescue shelter, saw her on a road, blocked the road with her car and coaxed Heidi to her with oyster crackers. Obviously, this being the FIFTH day on the run, she was ready to come home. Lynn had seen and taken down the info from the posters Sandy had put up all over the countryside, so had her number to call. Also, Dr T had put both a harness ' a collar on Heidi, tags attached to the collar. The harness & leash were gone, but her collar was in place. Great idea, Dr T. Once home, she drank & ate and then climbed into Sandy's lap and stayed there for approximately an hour. Sandy said she looked up at her with somewhat of a sigh as if to say, Whew, I'm home. Heidi is at the vet as we speak to make sure all is well and to get whatever she needs. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. PRAYERS WORK! Sandy & I are both blown away by the support group that came alive from far & wide once Heidi's story was put out there. THANK YOU to all of you who e-mailed and called me. This was more emotional than I could ever imagine and what a huge benefit to have all of you standing with us for the good of this little girl. I am proud to call each & every one of you my friend. I have shared every e-mail & call with Sandy and she, too, said today how wonderful it is to be involved with all of you as well. Heidi is now being called HIDING' A donation of $50.00 was sent to The ARK in Lynn's name, in thanks for her part in returning Heidi to CRUSA. Thank you for finding me. Can I go to sleep now? Sandy writes: Thank you, everyone, for all your help. I'm not sure we would have had the success story without the help, prayers, support & thoughts that everyone shared with Gayle & me. I am so glad we had such a happy ending. Thank you to all!

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