| My husband Chris and I adopted Chipper from the Horry County Humane Society in Myrtle Beach two years ago. Chipper and I were like peas and carrots from the beginning. Although very timid around other people, especially men and children, he quickly settled into our routine at home and went to work with me daily. Eager to please, incredibly smart and intuitive, he also seemed to know what was allowed and what wasn’t. When asked about his breed, we jokingly said he was a “Vanderbilt Terrier”…..very rare! On July 23rd, 2010 I had to drop off some truck parts at the shop and Chipper was in the car with me. I put him in the office with the manager while I unloaded so he’d be cool and safe (from jumping out of the car). No one else was around as I headed to the restroom. When I came back thirty seconds later, I found out that one of our mechanics had pulled up and gone into the office. Never suspecting a dog would be inside, he opened the door. The manager yelled to watch out, and as the mechanic made a grab for him, Chipper bolted, heading for the highway. We last saw him in the convenience store parking lot. We all got in vehicles and started searching and calling out to him. Eight hours later and dark, we quit for the night. I was horrified and in shock. I never thought this sweet little dog that slept on 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets would make it through the night surrounded by Highway 9, Highway 90, and US 17. The next morning we put an ad in the paper and contacted Animal Control and local shelters. We also put up signs and handed out flyers. I found out from the cigar store across the street from where Chipper was last seen that they saw someone pull over and pick him up. Now I was really worried because Chris’s cell phone number was on Chipper’s collar and 21 hours had passed. Why hadn’t they called? Sadly, we went home and prayed for the phone to ring. Apparently the Good Samaritan trying to coax our dog into the car was not successful because that evening someone who saw our posters called to report he’d seen our dog in the cemetery. He’d tried to catch him but Chipper bolted into the woods. Chris and I arrived 5 minutes later and walked up and down the tree line calling out. “There he is!” the man pointed. Chipper was running at us full speed. Then, about 100 yards away, he did an about face and ran back into the brush. We gave chase but ultimately were unable to find him. I was stunned. I spent the next two days calling out to him, searching the cemetery and neighboring subdivisions, squeaking a toy, and anything else I thought might help. I slept only when exhausted and usually for 3 hours. I lived on quick meals and junk food. Chris left for a pre-planned business trip, forlorn. I was out of ideas and losing hope. My mother came to help continue the search. I started combing websites again looking for anything I hadn’t tried. It was at this point I found Debbie’s website, realized there was a lot more I could do, and learned the right way to do it. With renewed optimism and determination, I did the following: During my search I found two feral cat feeding stations. I wrote letters (with flyers included) requesting a call if those who managed the sites noticed any changes and to report sightings. Both people called to say they would keep their eyes open. I believed the stations were instrumental in keeping Chipper local and began monitoring the sites several times a day. I borrowed Chipper’s best friend, “Buddy”, our son’s Dachshund, and walked the cemetery grounds a couple of times to establish familiar scent tracks. Hopefully, this would help keep Chipper where he was until… I found a humane trap and obtained permission to place it on the cemetery grounds. I called Animal Control to check on trapping license requirements but there were none. I gathered bedding from Chipper’s crate, his toys and some of my unwashed clothing. I cooked chicken breasts (Chipper’s favorite) some hot dogs, and had containers of Cesar dog food. The next morning would be spent picking up the cage trap in a nearby town. That evening I received a call from a couple at the cemetery visiting the grave of their daughter who they tragically lost in a traffic accident three years earlier. They saw a dog that looked just like the one on the poster at the entrance of their subdivision. The dog was lying down in the open but ran into the woods as they approached. They went back to the poster to get the phone number then waited until I got there to show me the spot (the same one as the sighting five days earlier). At this point I knew I was going to bring Chipper home. Even if I didn’t get him tonight, I knew exactly where to set the cage trap. His crate he loved so much was in the back of the car so I could leave it overnight until I got the cage trap the next morning. Grabbing the chicken, other foods, a leash, and Buddy, mom and I headed out to the cemetery. I briefed mom what we’d do upon arriving. Like…. do NOT slam the car door. I’d be crawling up towards the trees and slowly placing a blanket on the ground. I wanted her to sit on this and let Buddy go to the end of the leash towards the spot Chipper was seen. I proceeded to broadcast bits of chicken into that spot and then back towards the cemetery where we were parked. I stood talking very quietly with Connie and Greg for a few minutes as they offered additional assistance, and thanked them for calling. At that moment, Chipper came out of the woods, eating the bits of chicken while weaving his way ever closer to us. I got down on the ground. When about 20 feet away, he recognized Buddy and started moving rapidly towards him. At about 4 feet away….it was like he snapped out of a trance. Chipper raced to me, jumped into my arms, and started licking my face and crying. He was dirty, wet, smelly, and had sand spurs matted into his fur. He had bug bites and lost almost two pounds, but otherwise was in very good shape overall. There were so many people’s efforts that went into bringing Chipper back home that I put up new posters for 24 hours to announce the good news and thank everyone in Little River, SC. I visited all the businesses and humane societies to express my appreciation and to let them know that pets can be found and that flyers help immensely. And besides, everyone loves a happy ending! |
