I have prepared a Synopsis (for lack of a better word) over the last few days of the events that started back in September to bring Autumn to safety. I hope I don't forget anyone or anything. It just goes to show that it really does take a village, a team, a group or just a bunch of crazy dog people to do this. 1 person could never do it alone. This is the story of a group on Facebook that cared enough for a "throw away dog" to find her and bring her to safety. We believe she was "dumped" after she gave birth to puppies.
The patience we all had to practice during her capture. Dogs that are on the run are in survival mode. They would never come to a human, they are scared to death. Patience is KEY!
THE ADVENTURES OF A DOG ON THE LOOSE, THAT NO ONE CARED ABOUT:
*Thurs Sept 19th: Tammy OConnor alerts Find Zoey in Avon/Farmington page of a post on her friend Carrie Maiorino Pfistner facebook page, that Carrie's friend
Lori Hart saw a scared, skinny, weak yellow dog (lab) on Industrial Park Ln in Torrington near Dymax Corp. She looked like she may be lactating. We then put out an alert on Friends of Zoey - Lost dogs and cats of Ct page. Meredith Guthrie Lodge, Kellie Hill Failla and myself then started this page called "Bring Mama Lab on the Loose to Safety in Torrington"
*Friday Sept 20th: Lori Moore MacKinnon goes to the area to search. Kellie and myself go to put up posters on Pinewood Rd, Industrial Ln and Ella Grasso Rd. We talk to people walking on their lunch hour (lots of business's there), a hot dog vendor and Dymax Corp sends a flash email to all employee's about Mama Dog. We set up food and water hoping to entice Mama to stay there. Fern Golensky also goes to the area in search of Mama Dog.
*Monday Sept 23rd: Lori continues to search. Kellie and myself go back to hang new posters with a picture of a yellow lab on them (first poster had no picture). We expand our poster area. Talk to many, many people out walking. No one has seen a dog. Poster goes up in Waring building for all employees to see. Fern goes to area refreshes food and water and changes spot as last spot food was untouched. Fern also talks to people, no one has seen Mama.
Fern continues to come during the week to look for Mama Dog. No sightings are reported.
*Tues Oct 2nd: STILL NO CALLS Lots of chatter on Mama page on what to do next. It's hard to do anything with no sightings. Fern continues to go to area to search. She refuse's to give up on Mama Dog, who she renames Buttercup.
*Monday Oct 7th : Amanda Fialkievicz post on Ct lost & found animal page about a yellow scared,weak, skinny dog running on Rt 44 in Barkhamsted near The Brass Horse Cafe. Carin Charest Tripodina see's this post and alerts us to this. I PM Amanda (who we are helping with her lost cat Scout) and ask her about what she saw. I ask her if the dog looked like it could have had a liter, if the nipples were enlarged and she said "Yes". I knew this was Mama/Buttercup! Amanda posts all the details of what she saw on this page. Fern sets up a search party! The sighting we have been waiting for!
*Tues Oct 8th: Made new posters. Robert Craggo and Jennifer Dupuis have posters made by Robert at his print shop Executive Press in Plainville. New Hartford/Barkhamsted ACO (Les) is now on board. Les is in the area often looking for Mama/Buttercup. He has calls saying Mama has been eating tomato's at a local farm. Fern goes to area and talks to Log House and Brass Horse employee's about Mama.
* Thru Sat Oct 12th : Fern, Jennifer, Gene Tailor, Mary Ellen McKeon,Beverly Cashman Miller and Jaye Markwell are in the area with posters, trekking through the woods and talking to Brass Horse and Log House. Both restaurants are feeding her. Les (ACO) sets up a Large Trap behind Log House and catches a large animal that destroys the trap and escapes. (he thinks a bear)
*Sat Oct 12th: Have sightings of Mama/Buttercup, she's being fed daily. We don't disclose location because we don't want people there to scare her off. ACO is checking every lead.
*Monday Oct 14th : Mama/Buttercup has been eating twice a day and staying in the general area of The Brass Horse Cafe (now public knowledge). We have our first picture of Miss Thing form the security cameras at BH.
*Tues Oct 15th : New Poster with the Actual Mama/Buttercup on it!
*Thurs Oct 17th : Still eating on a regular basis. Not so weak and skinny anymore.
*Tues Oct 22nd : Trap is set behind BH. Reports are that after she eats, she takes her bowl with her into the woods. (she is too funny) If food is not out, she will circle the building to let them know she's there and want to eat.... the stinker
*Wed Oct 23rd: Kim Hamel and Vicki continue to feed Mama/Buttercup twice a day. Vicki announces she will be Mama/Buttercups owner when she is caught! So happy!
*Tues Oct 29th : Mama/Buttercup has been eating everyday. Fern announces Good News/Bad News.... Good News is Mama was trapped, Bad new is she broke the trap an escaped. Worried she may not come back.
*Thurs Oct 31st : Well, she is still eating! Another pic from security camera. Happy Dance!!
*Thurs Nov 7th: Kim and Vicki continue feeding Miss Piggy and she is no longer skinny Her new name is Autumn! She is not a mystery dog anymore. She is loved, fed and has a new home as soon as she is ready to be caught. No rush Autumn, it's up to you girl!
*Monday Nov 11th : More pics of Autumn. She is eating and taking her bowls to the woods.
*Thurs Nov 14th : Update from Kim Hamel, 3 traps are set up but wired not to go off and close ( Autumn will get used to them and not be scared). Vicki warms blankets every night to go inside the traps (she is such a good Mama). She has been eating. Kim is looking for bigger traps, afraid these are too small.
*Sunday Nov 17th : Mommy Cotter brings up a Kennel and sets it up for Autumn behind the Brass Horse Cafe. The excitement of the pending capture has Fern full of emotions. She can't wait. We are all on pins and needles.
*Monday Nov 18th : Autumn is LOVING her new kennel. She still takes her bowls to the woods along with all the bones and gifts she has received from her fan club!
*Tues Nov 19th : LATE MORNING: Tony Golensky and John Hawkins go to rig the kennel with pull system so when Autumn takes the bait, the kennel door will close and Autumn will be caught. Autumn watches from the woods , she is so nosy!
2:11 PM: I get a text from my husband John, he is on his way home, kennel is rigged.
3:14 PM: Kim sets the bait for the Little Miss.
4:05 PM: Picture of Kim and Autumn in Kennel.... AUTUMN IS CAUGHT!. Autumn did not resist. She leaned right into Kim's leg as to say "I surrender and Thank You". Fern high tales it to Barkhamsted to meet her sweetheart and everyone on Autumns page is so thrilled, shocked and most likely crying for excitement!
*Tues night : Autumn is snug as a bug sleeping with her new Mama Vicki on a couch at the Brass Horse, snoring away.
The first good night sleep form many of us that night, especially Autumn!
*Wed Nov 20th : Charlene Martel of Pooch Palace In New Hartford treats Autumn to her first spa day. She gave Autumn a bath and got all the ticks off of Autumn (Kim and Vicki had already taken many off). Autumn felt and looked like a million bucks and Charlene did it all free of charge. So sweet!
*Friday Nov 22nd : Autumn goes to the vet for her check up. She weighs 71 lbs, had shots, got med. They think she's between 2-5yrs of age and had NO micro-chip. She was a good girl. She will be spayed in the not too distant future. When she is up to it.
*Later that evenging: Autumns Auntie's went to The Brass Horse to finally meet her and celebrate that she is safe and sound. She is so sweet an such a good girl. We just love her!
This story ends the best way possible!!
AUTUMN LIVES HAPPILY EVER AFTER AND HAS SO MANY PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR HER VERY MUCH!
Thank you to all the people who shared her poster, told their friends and neighbors, asked about her, prayed for her and supported us during these 2 months. Everyone on this page is part of this story!!!! Thank you. I'm sure we will continue to get update on our little girl. She will never be alone, scared, thin, weak or lonely every again!
If you would like to follow Autumns journery with her new loving family, please join our Facebook Group "Autumn is safe and Sound in Barkhamsted".
