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.

More Sightings Collected, More Sought

Today, more sightings, or possible sightings, were called in, and were also collected while Antonia and a couple others of us were out posting signs and talking to people. These sightings will be mapped later, so check the map tomorrow to see them plotted. (If anyone out there would like to participate in the search for Vixen, and is comfortable with Google Maps or willing to learn, please send a comment. Thanks in advance!)

One of the sightings -- in a townhouse community off Braddock Rd west of Van Dorn -- may well have been the male husky found at Seminary Towers this morning, and we think the sighting at BJ's may have been that dog, too. The sightings that we are pursing more extensively include sightings near Agudas Achim, a synogague on Valley Drive on Friday at the same time as the Parkfairfax sightings, a Saturday evening sighting on Quaker Lane on that scary stretch coming off 395N, and one that put her at Trinity Church on Cameron Mills. These sightings all make sense when considered together with each other and with the sightings reported on Friday evening.

These sightings are encouraging, and we are hoping for many more, especially if they start showing her slowing down and staying in a smaller area. We want to start putting together a plan that will lead to her capture.

If you live close to the Beverly Hills, Parkfairfax or Fairlington areas and can help with the search, please leave a comment on the blog and specify if you do not want it published for others to see. Lots of help is needed in this search!

Oh by the way -- we are in contact with the owner of one of Vixen's puppies from the litter she gave birth to after she arrived in this area. We are considering the possibility that the puppy could draw her out. We hope to get a chance to find out if that works.

Another Husky Running Around?

OK, now it looks like there is possibly another husky that has been on the roam in Alexandria, according to this Craigslist posting which was found by an AWOL Dogs volunteer. It is being checked out now, but comparing it to her pictures, the eyes look different from Vixen's eyes. So if this dog is Vixen, then obviously that's awesome. But if it's not, then sightings over the past few days may have complicated by this dog -- depending on what area of Alexandria this dog was found.

(double-click to see a larger version of this Craigslist ad)

So when reporting sightings, please do be very careful and very specific! It could be another dog!

Update - the dog posted to Craigslist this morning is not Vixen; it's a male and he is now at the shelter in Alexandria. He had an injury and it wasn't practical for the guy that found him to hold on to him while he continued to search for the owner. Here's that dog's picture on the Pet Harbor website:

Sightings Mapped

The sightings -- or possible sightings -- have been mapped (see the Links section at right). There are some questions about some of the sightings, and if we can get them cleared up, we will do and update the map and associated sighting information.

If you see a dog that you think may be Vixen, please contact Antonia as soon as possible. If you can let her know precisely where and what day/time you saw her, this will be a huge help in tracking her movements, and eventually figuring out a location to try to condition her to stay in -- with food, scents and other attractions that we hope will work to keep her more still than running around like she has been. Also, give Antonia the direction she was traveling, anything you noticed about her demeanor, and whether or not you still see her collar.

You can also comment your sightings right here, which will serve as an email directly to Antonia, who receives email on her cell phone.


View Vixen Map in a larger map

Keep checking the map to see where we find out that Vixen is travelling.

Vixen is Lost!

After a difficult life at the end of a chain and used only for breeding in her first 2 or 3 years of life, the humane society first rescued Vixen, an Alaskan Husky, from a breeder (also possibly a hoarder) in Canada last December. From there, she made her way to Northern Virginia as a Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation rescue dog. She was fostered at Woofs! Training Center for most of the time from when she was taken in by LDCRF, and when she was adopted by Antonia on Sunday, August 22nd.

As Vixen and Antonia returned home from a walk on Tuesday morning, August 24th, and were almost at the front door, Vixen made the surprising move of backing out of her halter, and bolting! Antonia didn't know that a dog could just do a kind of a stretch/bow thing, and slip out of her halter with ease! Remember that Vixen had zero socialization with humans during her formative years, so she experiences a host of fears pretty much every day of her life! Name it, and she's liable to be afraid of it. She's improved some during her time as a foster dog, but she has a long way to go, and Antonia wants her chance to help build Vixen's confidence and show her how good life can be.

If the numerous sightings that have been called in have truly been Vixen, she has been moving around quite a bit since Tuesday morning. Those sightings will be plotted on a map as soon as we can get this done, but we think that after started her run from Ft Williams Parkway, she first went west towards Jordan and Seminary, and was later was seen near the Lexus dealer at the Quaker Lane/King Street/Braddock Road intersection. By Friday (8/27) about 5:30pm, she was spotted near Crestwood and Quaker Lane; several people were trying to catch her as she crossed Quaker and ran into Fairlington. They lost sight of her as she ran towards another Fairlington entrance at Quaker and King.

We are now looking for more sightings, each of which we need to investigate -- so call Antonia at 571-243-9881, or if no answer call Laura, with Woofs! at 703-622-8001 as soon as possible if you see her! And please check back for more information, which wil be posted as it comes available.