Lost Dog

So I think this is perfect timing for my first real blog.

Last Monday, as I was getting our two boys ready for daycare, I let the dog outside in the back. Got the boys ready, into the van and came back inside to let Gizmo in from the back. Well he was gone. Giz has taken off before, but since winter was here I forgot he can squeeze through the side of the gate (he is a ten pound Shih Tzu). The three of us got into the van and did a quick drive through the neighborhood. Unfortunately I had an intense exam review that same morning and really had NO time to be looking but did a little. Went around our the usual areas that he used to run to but no luck. I ended up dropping the boys off at daycare and went to school.
Made it back to the house and made a call to the SPCA around 2 to report him missing. Took a drive and walks around the neighborhood but didn't find a trace of him. Nothing that entire day. We made calls to the Humane Society and the vet but nothing.

Day 2: Tuesday
Poster time. Made up some posters for 'Missing Dog' and put them all over the neighborhood. Still nothing.

Day 3: Wednesday
After hearing nothing, it was time to go back to the SPCA, and nothing there. More posters, but this time we extend the area we put them in and hit all the grocery stores and corner stores in the area. We also go to Tim Horton's to ask to put a poster there. They say 'no'. Nice community support. For a company that positions itself as a member of the community I would think they would be willing to help out one of those neighbors. I even went out and put one up on a garbage can facing the drivethru and away from the store. It was down two hours later. Thanks for your support Tim.

Day 4: Thursday
Still nothing. Search zone expanded to include areas where not even the Littlest Hobo could make it to. We still haven't even received a call saying anyone had even seen him that day.

Day 5: Friday
Can't say there is much hope left. Another trip to the SPCA turns up nothing.

Day 6: Saturday
A tip... our neighbor's daughters friends dad said he saw a little dog walking alone by his house (which isn't far from our house) on Monday morning. He didn't stop him because it looked like he knew where he was going. Good Call. So we up the search in that area which includes alot of walking, more posters and lots of whistling. Still nothing.

Day 7: Sunday
Decide to expand search again after yesterday didn't turn up anything. We start putting up posters in the neighborhood behind where Giz had been seen. Although he would have had to cross a field, mini canyon and a small river... Nothing. It was around 8pm and I got a call on my cell from Michelle (my wife). There was a lady at our house claiming she had GIZ!!!! at her home.

Day 8: Monday
Around 10am (7 days and 2 hours since he took off) Gizmo is FINALLY home.

Now time for this ladies story.
About 45 minutes after Giz took off from the house, she was driving up the main road and saw Giz almost get hit by a car in front of her. She pulled over and picked him up. She took a look and Giz had no tags (they must have been pulled off at some point) and didn't know what to do so she took him home with her (about 15 minutes up the highway). When she got home around 9:30, she called the SPCA to report the found dog (which was about four hours before I called, and NEVER was told that someone had found a dog that matched the description we provided). Well because she lived so far away (one of her daughters lives somewhat in the area), she never saw any of the posters that we put up. SO after a couple of days she and her other daughter and son decided they would keep him. They bathed him, brushed him and took really good care of him. They even went as far as naming him. Two names came up that didn't fit... Fluffy and Twister.... so they settled on............. GIZMO! CRAZY!!! She later said "no wonder he was so well trained, we were calling him the right name!" Then on Saturday morning, this other ladies daughter called her mom and said she was in a store and thinks she saw a poster for the dog they found. So that next day the lady comes into town finds a poster and swings by the house to tell us she found GIZ!

Now Giz has resumed his normal activities and is snoring on my feet as I type. LOVE IT!

So three things that came out of this insane dog-searching week.
1. This ladies kindness (even though I think she would of been just as happy to keep him) to not only take care of Gizmo, but to give him back after a week is amazing. Living so far away, it would have been 100% assured that we would NEVER have found him. It's nice to know that there are people out there who actually care about other people, even those they have never met.
2. Tim Horton's. http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/goodwill/index.html Link to there goodwill page. Yeah, goodwill or good publicity? I really question the social responsibility of a company that screens out ALL community bulletins. I understand not wanting for sale signs or garage sale signs and stuff like that, but a lost dog? common.
3. SPCA. They received a call at 9am reporting a found dog, and then at 2 when I called to report the lost dog there was no connection made. I was there three times and nothing was ever mentioned to me. STRANGE