Doing the Happy Dance -- Again!

Vixen came home! She literally came home!!!! This is sssuuuucccchhhh good news!

Her temporary caretaker, with the help of her husband, put a bowl of her food out overnight and checked it this morning to find it empty! To the husband's surprise when he looked up, Vixen was right there in her beloved back yard!!

After an initial attempt to lead her in to the house via a hot dog trail, they called in Woofs, and Ricky came right away. Vixen knows Ricky, and she did come to him, but she didn't exactly let him get his hands on it. That took more like an hour and a half! But she was eventually contained in the house, and she's now back at Woofs! She'll stay there until Antonia returns.

So it was certainly scary, but it was HUGE to learn that she would stay so close to home, and even return right to her regular spot.  This is very, very good news -- I guess it's news about Vixen that we wouldn't know if she hadn't -- again -- managed to get herself out of not one collar but two this time, one with a GPS.

Antonia had everything ready, ever since Vixen was lost before. Scent articles are bagged and ready, a few of the old fliers, and she'd left AWOL Dogs and Woofs numbers with the caretaker. Nadene from AWOL Dogs and Cindy from Woofs! were out ASAP after gettng the call, just moments after Vixen bolted. And Nadene and I will admit to having saved the large signs that had been made by AWOL Dogs member Sonia when she was last on the run. Usually I operate on the theory that it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy to save those big signs . . . but I just didn't want to take a chance. Nadene, who lives very close to Antonia and Vixen, had her two large signs up within hours!

Well, for now, Vixen is safe. We will all do as we always do after each lost dog recovery effort, and determine what lessons there are to be learned. Antonia certainly did that before, and will do so again this time. Hopefully there will be no more escapes for her . . .  but she is a challenge. And she's a scaredy cat!!!

Nancy Despeaux

PS Here's Vixen, looking much more the way we'd like her looking, just a few days after her latest adventure. Thanks to Woofs! for this one:

Ooops! Vixen is Missing Again!

Wednesday morning, October 27th, while Antonia has been away and is being cared for by a trusted friend, Vixen created an opportunity for herself, again, is on the loose! More details to come as they are available, but please post a comment if you can help!

Vixen Progressing at Home

Vixen has been home with Antonia since Friday, before Labor Day. The three day weekend was a good way to start her new life! And Antonia can go home at lunch, so she did that too, most of the week. Wednesday, Vixen had a vet's visit (good!) in the morning, and she spent the afternoon at Woofs! Vixen is afraid of cars, so that one was a challenge, but in the end, she made it out alive.

Nadene and I (Nancy; we both volunteered in the search for Vixen) visited with Antonia and Vixen on Saturday afternoon. She's funny; she spends nearly all her time outside, and specifically, in the garden accross the yard from the house. It's shady and she's hidden from view there. Isn't she beautiful?

When she was there, nothing we did -- quick moves, calling out, or pointing the camera in her direction -- phased her. But when she approached the porch area, which she did to get hotdogs and liver treats from us -- she might start if you moved or got up.

But boy was she gentle when she took food from us! If she looks scary in this picture when she was about to take a liver treat from me, trust me, looks can be very deceiving. She's as gentle as a lamb.

In this picture, she was playing with a carrot before eventually eating it. It was pretty funny because it looked like an orange cigar.

She's warmed up to Antonia so she can be close to her like this. Hopefully someday, with progress, others of us can also enjoy her close to us.

All in all, she's doing well and progressing, and yet has a long way to go to feel safe. She does love the outside, and doesnt' like the inside much, so she will surely always be a flight risk. But she can also be happy, and she can learn that life doesn't have to be the way she used to know it. And Antonia is just the person to teach her that!

A GPS Collar to Come for Vixen

Vixen is perfect for a GPS collar, don't you agree? If you have any experiences with them, please share! Antonia is defintely getting one for Vixen. She also shared this about when she was out taking down signs (oh and thanks to all who have helped by taking some of the signs down!):

Last night I went to the Shirlington Dog Park and Duke Street Dog Park to take down signs. It takes a while as everyone wants to hear Vixen's story. One older gentleman at Duke Street told me he is not very techno savvy and had a friend put my number in his phone and he was always on the lookout for Vixen. Then he asked for my help to remove the number from his phone. It was really sweet.

She also provides this update about Vixen after Thursday morning's visit:

I saw Vixen last night after work. She is still very skittish. They are right when they say she is afraid of everything. One false move and she gets jumpy. This morning she was on the floor with other dogs. Ricky brought her off the floor and into her suite. I tried to get her interested in me and the treats, but she just shut down, so I asked Ricky to put her back with her buddies. At lunch Ricky will put her in her suite a half hour before I arrive. Hopefully that will work out better.

So, patience is the word! I love that the staff at Woofs is evaluating her reactions and coming up with a new plan if her reaction isn't what they hope for. They are taking such good care of her.

Progress Report

Antonia is getting over to Woofs to see Vixen every chance she gets. Here's her report after her Wednesday morning visit:

I went this morning for a visit and the staff told me she was jumping around when she saw them, so it looks like she is progressing well, even though she does still rest a lot. They did say that she was not ready to go on the dog floor yet, after all, but they took her for a walk and she seemed happy to be outside. She ate a cricket.

Our current thinking is that I will take Vixen home on Friday. Since it is a long weekend it will give us more time together before I have to leave her when I go to work.

Laura gave me some tips on how to get Vixen adjusted to her new forever home. She advised that I get her used to the house and the back garden only. Then once she is comfortable and happy there, then very, very, very slowly expand her territory.

After Antonia's lunch visit with Vixen, the plans for the weekend may be changing. As Laura advises, it may be best for Antonia and Vixen to spend more time working on training before going home. Also, the vet appointment that Antonia had set up for Friday may still be too soon for Vixen; not the vet care part, of course, but just Vixen venturing back out in to the big scary world where everything is still so uncertain, but danger seems to loom everywhere.

Stay tuned. Vixen's progress may be slow, but it will be worth the wait.

So far, so good

Vixen is at Woofs now, and Antonia is visiting her every chance she gets. Following her visit before work, Antonia reports: 

I just came in from visiting Vixen. She seemed a bit more animated this morning but still very tired. She ate a bit when I was there. Will visit her at lunch time again.

A quick and unexpected recovery!!!

Vixen was just recovered!!!!!

Antonia was getting sighting calls from people seeing Vixen at Utah dog park, in Fairlington. Laura, the owner of Woofs Dog Training Center (where Vixen spent her time as a foster), and a trainer that Vixen was also very close to responded with a companion dog from Woofs. They got her and are taking her back to the center!

Later:  Laura said she went to the area where Vixen was spotted, called out for her and she went running to Laura. She needs a bath, has some ticks and wants her to stay in a calm, familiar environment before Antonia takes her back to her place again.


Update after Antonia's visit with Vixen, at Woofs:  Vixen seemed to be OK. She was very, very, very, tired. She lost a bit of weight and was limping a bit. Her paws are sore and her pads are a litte raw. I also noticed that her nails that were quite long were worn down by half.  She was lying down resting comfortably. She fell asleep with her head in my hands. Oh, and she was given a massage by a physiotherapist (the fiance of one the Woofs trainer/managers).

They are feeding her small meals every few hours and will watch her excrement, even though worms may not show up for a few weeks. If she is up to it they will put her out on the floor with the other dogs tomorrow. I will visit her a couple of times tomorrow as well.