After just over two weeks of searching, a West Shore dog owner was reunited with her missing dog thanks to the help of community members and volunteers.
Isla, a small Papillon and Shih Tzu cross went missing on March 10. Her owner B次元官网网址� who had just moved to the area from Port Alberni B次元官网网址� was at work when her landlord let Isla into the yard. The small dog managed to crawl under a portion of the fence that was slightly raised and took off, according to Barb Mah, one of the administrators for ROAM, a charity that reunites owners with lost pets.
Mah said Isla was spotted running down Jacklin Road and crossing Sooke Road. She was next seen on a camera on Triangle Mountain all in day one.
Over the next few days, more sightings placed Isla in various locations on the West Shore. People who saw her reported that she would dash away as soon as she was spotted, Mah said.
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After that, nine days went by without any sightings of Isla. Mah said her owner was becoming more worried about what could have happened.
B次元官网网址淥ur team feared cars B次元官网网址� as we do for every single lost dog B次元官网网址� and in the case of such a small dog, we feared predators such as owls, eagles and even raccoon if cornered,B次元官网网址� Mah said.
On the 21st, ROAM held a poster event that saw 20 volunteers put posters up in their neighbourhoods all while social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, on March 24 at about 9:30 p.m., Mah said she received a call from a man who lives on Triangle Mountain in Colwood. He said a dog with a similar description to Isla ran by his gazebo when he was outside.
Mah said she and her husband, Terry, went to the property to set up cameras but there were no sightings that night. Mah then returned with her husband to set a trap and cooked bacon, to which they added water, roast chicken, roast beef and smoked salmon. They then pulled out the meat and used the broth as a liquid bait trail leading to the trap. The meat was used as a meat bait trail as well.
Inside the trap was IslaB次元官网网址檚 ownerB次元官网网址檚 jacket and a blanket.
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B次元官网网址淎t 3:20 a.m. we got a phone ping from the cameras so we started watching,B次元官网网址� Mah said. B次元官网网址淎t first it was just a white blob in front of the camera, the blob backed up and we saw some unmistakable black ears and a poofy tail. It was Isla,B次元官网网址� Mah said.
Isla found every last bit of bait that was laid down for her and walked nonchalantly into the trap as the door closed behind her. She ate what was left in the trap, fluffed the blanket and went to sleep. MahB次元官网网址檚 husband Terry then called IslaB次元官网网址檚 owner to let her know the good news.
B次元官网网址淪he answered as if she was going to get bad news and Terry said B次元官网网址榟ow would you like to come pick up your baby?B次元官网网址� and she just screamed B次元官网网址榥o way,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Mah said.
There was a vulnerability to this owner, Mah said, which makes this phone call unforgettable. She said the fact that the owner had just moved here with no family or friends and just lost her dog made the case especially sad at first.
B次元官网网址淚n these uncertain and crazy days we are experiencing as a country and as the world, it is nice to know that there are a few truly good stories out there that are sure to bring a smile to our faces,B次元官网网址� Mah said.
Coincidentally, the day Isla was found also happened to be ROAMB次元官网网址檚 fourth anniversary.
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