familiar people and dogs

Well, this weekend, we tried to bring some of the people and dogs that Dimples knew to hopefully bring her out of survival mode and back to the comfort zone that she knew when she was with her caretakers/brother. She did appear to come fairly closeby when the little boy who spent a lot of time playing with her at the shelter sat on her favorite mattress with her littermate. He really felt as if she wanted to approach but is just too afraid of humans and can't get past that fear.

We are going to try a variety of approaches in the coming day to see if we can capture her in a manner other than a normal box trap. Although many dogs may eventually enter a 'haveaheart' type trap, she doesn't appear to see it as a source of food but instead fears it more than she is hungry. Her fear of being in an enclosed cage keeps her from entering it and she would rather ignore the food and starve than enter the box and give up her freedom. Dimples may be 5 months old but she is still has great willpower.

We are going to continue to spend the week trying to get her back into the arms of safety and into a nice foster home but if it doesn't work out, we will need MANY volunteers on Saturday to help monitor the perimeter of her yard to ensure that she is safe while we go to plan D. Please plan on coming out to help if it is at all possible.

No luck last night.

This is getting really difficult. She is becoming more skittish and wary of her surroundings. I'm starting to think that the best way is to hire a pet trapper. To do that, it is REALLY expensive and we don't have the funds. If anyone has maybe a few thousand dollars lying around that they don't want, it would be fantastic because we need a non-traditional box trap of some sort. Or maybe you lived in the wild and know how to set a trap that captures but doesn't hurt anyone? If so, I think Dimples needs you now.

volunteers really needed Saturday night from 11 pm -1 am

We are going to try two different capture plans tonight and need your help. if you have 2 hours tonight to help us, PLEASE, we need you more than ever. If you are available, please plan on coming out tonight from 11-1 for some action and hopefully a capture! Give me a call and I'll give you the details on what I need help with.

Thanks in advance!

'smarter than the average bear'

Dimples was seen several times during the day on her 'mattress'. Neighbors were outside at night making fish soup and she arrived in their backyard to observe and hopefully get invited to dinner. Still unable to get her to approach any closer than 5 feet away from anyone. We tried a new approach with the trap by NOT covering it with the tarp. Well, that didn't work either. Dimples is apparently afraid of entering any enclosure that is too confining. She will not go any further in than just before the trip plate regardless of the food inside. We tried plan b and attempted to trap her in a nearby porch. That didn't work either, as she wouldn't come close to the building. One good thing to come out of last night's surveillance is that we found out where she goes at 12:15 am every night! She actually returns to the catering place that backs up to Austin Vet. Every morning at the exact same time, a man is tasked to clean the catering truck and throw out the trash. He observed him watching her from the dumpster. This is the farthest away from her mattress and den area that anyone has actually seen her. So, we will be moving to plan c. Just not quite sure exactly how that one will play out or any details yet.

dimples is eluding capture

We tried to trap her last night until 1 am again. She is completely wearing me out with her late night antics but we refuse to give up. She is staying in the same area and she left the area again at the same time in the morning to go for her walk/hunt. She refuses to go into the trap even with chicken and beef inside. She looks around warily and only goes in far enough to get her head and leans her body in. Since she was captured in a dog house, we are starting to think that she's scared of the long cavelike tunnel. New approach tonight. Fliers are still needed in the neighborhoods around the school and parks up there.

so close and yet so far away

We arrived at her 'home' last night at 5:30. She wasn't observed until after 9 pm which is very late for her. Usually the spanish speaking residents a few doors down see her around 7 pm at the latest. We trudged through thickets of briars and poison ivy and located what we think may be her den but she wasn't there. Moved the trap to nearly directly in her patch and made sure to fill it with great food. She didn't fall for it. She came back 3 times and each time she'd eat the food leading into the trap but wouldn't seal the deal. Finally, near 1 am, we left and will try again tonight. We need help flyering around the high school, nearby parks and churches. She appears to be expanding her travels. I also need help with literally sitting into the late hours and monitoring the trap. Catching raccoons and cats isn't helping the situation at this point.

Dimples is still in the area!

Tonight, we made visual contact twice. Both times, they were in the same area as every other night. One big problem is that I learned tonight that the area where Dimples is living is going to soon be demolished. We need to get her back before that happens or she's going to definitely go on the run due to the commotion of her hiding spots being razed. I'm going to keep in contact with the property owner so that I can be notified of when exactly that is going to happen.