Sophie has a foster!

Sophie has a foster and is doing great. She had a long bath, with three shampoos, and has settled in with her foster family, and even gets to sleep in the bed! Now all she needs is a forever home!

SOPHIE IS SAFE!

All: thanks so much for your help!

Sophie was found this morning around 7:00 am in the trap outside of Keith's house! She seems to be fine, but she'll visit the vet just to be sure.

The trap has been set up in a variety of locations since May 3. We originally put it near the creek on the far side of Rigss Road. We then moved it to Langley, then back to the creek location. Late last week, after Sophie had been visiting Keith for almost a week, we moved the trap to Keith's driveway. Sophie regularly visited Keith's house.

She finally decided this morning to check out the tasty tidbits in the trap. One of our volunteers transported the trap, with Sophie still in it, to the All Dogs Club (a cageless daycare facility in College Park). We didn't want to run the risk of Sophie getting lost again, so we did not open the trap until Sophie was safely inside. Sophie came out of the trap wagging her tail!

Sophie desperately needs a foster. She is very sweet and really needs some TLC and yummy food after this three-week long ordeal. She'd do best in a home with another confident dog. If you're interested in fostering her, or would like to sponsor her care, please let us know!

Again, we couldn't have gotten her back without your help--thank you so, so much!

SIGHTINGS: 05/18/08, Burketon area

Once again, Sophie was seen throughout the Burketon area.

SIGHTINGS: 05/17/08, Burketon area

Sophie was seen throughout the day in the Burketon area.

SIGHTINGS: 05/16/08, Burketon, 6-7 pm

Sophie was seen by three separate callers.

SIGHTINGS: 05/16/08, Burketon, 2-3:00 pm

Sophie was again seen in the backyards and creek area of Burketon.

SIGHTING: 05/15/08, Burketon, 1:15 pm

Sophie was seen on Burketon this afternoon.

SIGHTING: 05/14/08, Burketon, 9:00 pm

Sophie was back on Burketon around 9:00 pm. The caller has been working on building a relationship with her and was able to get about ten feet away from her!

SIGHTING: 05/14/08, Riggs and East West Hwy, 4:20 pm

Sophie was seen near 6824 Riggs Rd, near the Cluck U Chicken.

SIGHTINGS: 05/14/08, Burketon, AM

Sophie was seen around 6:50 on Burketon and Red Top, and again around 8:30 on Burketon, napping in a backyard.

SIGHTINGS: 05/13/08, Burketon, 6:00-11:00 pm

Sophie was seen by Melissa and Lori, and the pet detective, multiple times last night. She's hanging around the Burketon area. The pet tracker has seen her and is working on catching her.

SIGHTING: 05/13/08, 11:45 am, Burketon

Sophie was seen three times this morning at one of the houses on Burketon. The owner of the house is working with us to help get her and thinks that Sophie ate the food he left out.

Pet detective arriving

Pet detective is arriving today.

SIGHTING: 05/13/08, 9:00 AM, Burketon

Sophie is sleeping in the backyard on Burketon. This is one of the yards that we'll use as part of our stakeout!

STAKEOUT: 05/13/08, 4:30 pm to 8:30 am

We'd like to stage a stakeout tomorrow night. Here are the slots that we need to fill. Please let me know if you're able to fill any of them. Anyone who goes should sit quietly and calmly with smelly treats around them. The goal is to build trust. Thanks so much!

4:30-6:30: Shawn
6:30:-8:00: Melissa
8:00-10:30: Daphne and Kelly; Stephanie, Lori, Wendy, 9-11.
10:30-12:30: Sheila and Mihaela
12:30-2:30
2:30-4:30
4:30-6:30: Martha, Robbie
6:30-8:30: Liz and Patti

SIGHTINGS: 05/12/08, 8:30 pm, Chillum Manor and Burketon

We saw Sophie three times tonight. She seems to be using a wooded area behind Burketon as a good resting spot. There are several indentations where she may have been sleeping, and a great area under an overturned tree where she may have ridden out the recent rains--it's nice and dry under there. There's also a nice bamboo cave.

We have permission from two different families on Burketon to let us use their yards with the pet detective (1118 and 1200), so we're hoping that we're closing in on Sophie and are one step closer to bringing her home.

Unfortunately the fire department was not able to help us out--we passed out of one department's jurisdiction, and the other said that with all the rain we've had, wet areas will just come up as dark on the infrared and won't give us the information we're looking for. But they'll try and help us out later this week as things dry out.

Again, thanks so everyone who has helped us out! This neighborhood was just fliered on Saturday--so getting this call was absolutely crucial and entirely related to the fliering!

SIGHTING: 5:45 pm 5/12 1200 Burketon

Sophie's been sighted 4-5 times by a guy who lives at 1200 Burkten (which is right by Chillum Manor Road), most recently at 5:45 today. He's willing to let us use his yard to help capture Sophie - it's fenced and she's entered it before. Daphne's on her way out there now and we hope to set up a feeding station and maybe a trap in his yard.

SEARCHING: 5/12/08, 7:30 pm. BIG VOLUNTEER PUSH FOR TONIGHT: infrared gear

The local volunteer fire department has agreed to assist us tonight with their infrared gear. Hopefully they'll be able to pinpoint where Sophie is and we can focus in on that spot.

To do this safely, we need as many people as possible to surround the area to avoid having Sophie dart out into a road.

Things to bring:
-rain gear and boots
-extra leash
-blanket

Please meet at Langley at 7:30. 6522 Sligo Pky, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Call 301-775-2270 with questions.

Folks joining us so far:

Daphne
Sheila
Mihaela
Denise
Tricia and sister
Chrissy and hubby

FLOODING RISK: trap shudt down at 10:00pm, 5/11/08

The trap is not far from the creek. The neighbors tell us that the area where the trap is located has not flooded in 30 years--but we still want to check the trap frequently.

We're going to shut the trap down at 10:00 pm. We may re-open it tomorrow and will need help to monitor the water levels after that. If you can help, please let me know! 301-775-2270

SIGHTING: 05/11, 12:15 pm

We had two sightings today at 12:15ish, Chillum Manor Road and Dayton, South of 410, on the west side of Riggs Road. There's a dead end on Chillum with a grassy area around there. This is near the area where the trap was originally set.

UPDATE: 5/11, am

There is not a lot of news. My family and I were out from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. this morning ... We saw Trish and Rebecca and we all walked at different times throughout the park area, up and down the creek. We also drove throughout the area. We also drove around where Daphne and I left fliers yesterday off of Riggs and Elson.... Unless Rebecca saw something, we (Trish included) did not see any signs of Sophie. Trish started around 5:00 a.m. I did leave out food yesterday by the bridge. It was totally gone this morning. I left our more today and scattered it around more. I also saw that there was still food remaining at the feeding post closest to Langley ...

We did have a momentary burst of excitement. As I was checking the feeding post closest to Langley on our way home, I heard a hound barking in the creek area. I ran down to the water and couldn't see the hound but I could tell it was on the creek, down closer to East West highway. We drove around on the other side of the creek and I ran along the embankment that is by the school. The hound was going crazy barking ... I thought if it were Sophie, she might be trapped in some way. Or, I thought it might be the pet detective ... I finally found the dog and it was with this guy dressed in camouflage that had what looked like a bigger beagle. He was giving her commands and she was locked on some kind of scent. I hesitated to talk to him in the event it was the detective. But, he got closer to the fence and I just quietly called out to him. I asked if he was looking for Sophie and he said "no." He indicated that he saw the signs for her but he was not looking for her? I have no idea what he was doing because he was going through some significant brush ... perhaps training his dog? I just asked if he did have any sightings of Sophie to call the number on the flier ...

If there are anymore organized efforts, just post them to the blog ... Thanks, Shawn

SEARCHING: 5/11, 6:00 AM

Rebecca is heading out to search for Sophie around 6:00 AM. Mihaela will also be out around that time for an early morning search.

UPDATE: 05/10, 5:45 pm

Thank you to everyone who came out today! We have the area really well fliered now and we're in great shape to keep track of where Sophie is.

The trap is now wrapped in a tarp and should stay nice and dry, and the feeding stations are well-stocked.

Hopefully we'll be able to bring this girl home soon!

IDEA: Restaurants

Restaurants around the area that have grease containers outside should be noted and questioned if they have seen Sophie. Hounddog

SIGHTING: 5/10, 5:45 AM

We saw Sophie at about 5:45 this morning - she was crossing Riggs Rd., heading towards Langley. As soon as she saw the car, she turned around and crossed back over Riggs (in the crosswalk!). We headed out and made a left on East West Highway, and she was just coming out of the houses next to the park (off of Chillum Manor Rd). She crossed East West, headed towards the houses on that side, then went back across East West, and disappeared into the woods by the creek where the trap was originally set up. We have no idea which way she headed in the woods.

Information for search on 5/10, 11-4

Thank you for joining us to search on Saturday, May 10, 2008! We'll be searching and fliering the area from 11-4.

Please go to 6522 Sligo Pkwy, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, but park on the street. We'd like to leave the parking lot clear. Check in with us in the parking lot when you arrive. We'll help you get oriented and get you a map of the area.

Things to bring with you:

-Printed fliers both in English and Spanish (both attached)
-Tape, thumbtacks, or a staple gun
-Freezer bags to put fliers in to protect from rain
-A leash
-Stinky food--like hot dogs or cat food
-Your dog or foster, if dog friendly

Also, take a look at the link for the map of area sightings:

Call 301-775-2270 with questions! Thanks so much!

SEARCHING: 5/9, 2:00

Ruth is heading out to search with her dog.

FEEDING STATION UPDATE: 05/09, 11:15 AM

Feeding station at creek empty--other two feeding stations untouched.

SEARCHING/FLIERING: 05/10, 11-4

We need to get as many fliers up as possible since most have come down in the rain. Please, please join us to re-flier the entire area. Daphne will be there at 11:00. Akeeba will be there from about 11-1. Lori will be there 2-4. Julie, Beth, and Shawn will be there at 11:00. Kristen will be there at 2:00. Two different Ruths will be there for part of the day. Katherine and Aimee will be out for part of the day. Anyone else?

SEARCHING: 05/10, 4:00 AM on

Mihaela will be searching around 4:00 AM Saturday morning--would love some company.

SEARCHING: 05/09, 10:00 AM

Jason will check PG shelter this AM, then head over to the Langley area to search. Trysh is out searching currently.

SEARCHING: 05/08, 7:30ish on

Stephanie will be out to search around 7:30. All Dogs folks will be joining around 8:00. Mihaela will be there around 9:00. Daphne will be there very briefly around 9:00 to refill the feeding stations, mark them so they are easily findable, and show the locations to others.

SEARCHING: 05/08 approx. 4:15 pm

Diana W is on her way down from Baltimore to search - she doesn't have a cell phone with her but does have Mihaela's cell #. She'll be in the vicinity of the sightings listed on the googlemap for the search.

SIGHTING: 05/08/08, AM, Green Meadows

Mihaela got a call this morning, same general area we've been seeing Sophie--along the creek, east of Langley, in the Green Meadows neighborhood.

Directions for blog use

If you have a search idea, please name your post or comment: IDEA

If you have a sighting to report, please name your post or comment: SIGHTING, followed by the date and approximate location. For example, SIGHTING, 5/7, creek, Langley-side

If you are organizing a search group or will be out to search on your own, please name your post or comment: SEARCHING, followed by the date

Thank you!

Welcome

Sophie was lost from 6522 Sligo Pkwy, Hyattsville, MD, 20782, on May 2, 2008. She is a Homeward Trails Animal Rescue dog, lost in unfamiliar territory. We've seen her almost every day since she's been out, but we've never had enough people on the ground to be able to catch her.

Sophie is a sweet 50 pound hound mix. She looks like a large beagle. She is extremely shy and is avoiding people. If you do see her, please do not try and approach her. Rather, call us immediately at 315-751-7777.