Kelsy's search for Rudy

9/22/2011    Rudy is a small, cute, friendly dog who dug under the fence of his backyard in Auburn.  I advised the owner that small dogs like Rudy are usually picked up quickly, and that large neon signs would be more useful than a search dog in such a case.  I explained that the presence of a search dog can inspire the finder of a little dog to come forward and return the dog.  Rudy's owner opted for a search after being told the low likelihood that Kelsy would find Rudy. 

Now for Seattle, WA (98166)

Temp: 74F
Feels like: 74F
Mostly Cloudy
Humidity: 56%
Wind: WSW at 8 mph
Updated: 9/22/11 2:25 PM PDT

Name:		Track 077
Date:		Sep 22, 2011 1:55 pm
Map: (valid until Mar 20, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		0.71 miles
Elapsed Time:		37:33.8
Avg Speed:		1.1 mph
Max Speed:		5.8 mph
Avg Pace:		53' 06" per mile
Min Altitude:		219 ft
Max Altitude:		422 ft
Start Time:		2011-09-22T20:55:23Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	47.316718º N
	Longitude:	122.257666º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	47.316779º N
	Longitude:	122.256739º W

 Kelsy followed this scent trail slowly, even though it was less than 24 hours old.  I attributed this to the high heat and low humidity.  The trail led around the block in a loop almost 1 mile long, and ended right near the point of escape.  I imagine that Rudy did a little exploring and then returned home.  The neighbors who found him said they picked him up right near his home.  They claimed not to have seen Rudy's fliers the previous evening.  Another possibility is that they were toying with the idea of keeping him until they saw the large neon posters, the volunteer searchers, and the search dog.  They called the owner to report finding him just as Kelsy and I were completing the loop.

I would not have started Kelsy on this search if I had known it would go on for almost a mile.  I expected the scent trail would go a few houses and end.  Also, the weather map showed rain coming, but that rain evaporated before it reached us.

Kelsy's search for Rocky

Rocky is a skittish Chihuahua missing in Puyallup.  Kelsy started to search for him on August 3rd, 2011, around 9 AM.  Kelsy followed the trail for about a mile until it ran into a large cemetery where they had recently mowed the lawn.  Due to the interference of the lawn mowers, and because the day was heating up much faster than expected, I called off the search after an hour and refunded the search fee.

Now for Puyallup, WA (98371)

Temp: 66F
Feels like: 66F
Fair
Humidity: 64%

Wind: CALM at calm mph

Updated: 8/3/11 9:25 AM PDT

Not only did the day heat up fast, but there was no shade, so Kelsy felt the heat even more.  While she searched, Kelsy worked the scent trail steadily.  The trail looped through an apartment complex, and Kelsy crossed her own trail, which was unusual.  I wished we had started at dawn, like on the Lucy search.   Rocky was never found, as far as I know.

Name:		Track 066
Date:		Aug 3, 2011 8:30 am
Map: (valid until Jan 30, 2012)		View on Map
Distance:		0.94 miles
Elapsed Time:		43:38.1
Avg Speed:		1.3 mph
Max Speed:		9.6 mph
Avg Pace:		46' 13" per mile
Min Altitude:		121 ft
Max Altitude:		157 ft
Start Time:		2011-08-03T15:30:34Z
Start Location:
	Latitude:	47.173554º N
	Longitude:	122.299268º W
End Location:
	Latitude:	47.173411º N
	Longitude:	122.298922º W

Kelsy's Search for Lucy

Lucy came home just as Kelsy was getting ready to search, just as the sun was coming up on August 4th, 2011.  Lucy is a Taiwan dog.  Her owner, Robert, walked her in the neighborhood all the time.  When he let her out at night, he didn't realize the gate wasn't latched, and Lucy didn't come back in like usual.  She had been missing two days, and Robert, being 84 years old, wasn't able to search for her too actively. 

Temp: 60F
Feels like: 60F
Sunny
Humidity: 77%
Wind: CALM at calm mph
Updated: 8/4/11 5:25 AM PDT

Kelsy and I got there just before dawn, and I rigged her up with the harness and long leash.  She was just about to take the scent from the scent article, and Lucy trotted right in the gate just as the sun peeked over the horizon.  I took Kelsy to play at Luther Burbank Park to make it a fun day for her since she didn't get to do the search.