Kara was placed in a new home, and for a few days all was well, then she got spooked and bolted. Over 300 fliers were distributed by the new owner, her previous (Kathy) and friends. There were a few sighting calls to which the group responded immediately, but to no avail. Then a woman who was visiting in town saw a flier and called because she saw a dog that looked like Kara in a nearby community. The location was accessed by a single road leading into a residential area surrounded by water on three sides. The searchers posted fliers and walked around. Food was left in the woods and on safe, quiet sidewalks facing the ocean and woods. Another call came in from this area, so Kathy put out fresh food and then walked the streets, calling Kara by name. She always brought a dog along to leave familiar canine scent.
Kathy went through many bags of food, but another sighting confirmed Kara was still there. One night Kathy’s boyfriend drove her around so she could toss food out the window while calling out to Kara. Hopefully, Kara could be lured to the sidewalks and be seen more easily. After an hour or so they turned a corner and there was Kara, on the sidewalk eating dog food! Kathy was shocked, that after six long weeks, she actually saw Kara! As soon as the Sheltie saw the truck, she ran into a yard along the ocean. Though she was running away, Kara took a moment to turn and look at Kathy.
There was no way to track in the dark, but they had a humane cage trap in the truck, so they went to McDonalds and got five hamburgers. Earlier that morning, Kara had been seen in a resident’s yard and he gave permission to set up the trap. Pieces of burgers were baited up the sidewalk into the yard and into the trap. It was the beginning of December and very cold that evening, so Kathy covered the trap using her long wool winter coat. The next morning, they got a call that Kara was inside the trap.
Still safely in the cage, she was rushed to the vet. She had an upper respiratory infection and was very thin but made a full recovery. She’d lost weight and was ill but didn’t have a mark on her and her coat looked great. The new owner was nice and never stopped looking, but after the six-week ordeal, Kara went back to spend her life with her favorite human, Kathy, and her canine friends. Some people see a change in their dog’s behavior or a new quirky habit. Kathy says Kara now investigates all types of bags, including handbags, in search of food. The photo was taken the day Kara returned to her former, now forever home….. with Kathy.