A one-and-a-half-year-old dog who went missing in the Vernon area on Nov. 21 is finally back safely indoors once again.
Grace, a black Labrador cross, went missing with her leash still attached. She had just been placed in foster care for socialization when she escaped.
Temperatures in the Vernon area dipped below -17C most nights and staff at the BC SPCA Kelowna branch were worried about her.
“Having Grace back safe and well is the best Christmas gift ever,” says branch manager Suzanne Pugh. “We can’t thank everyone enough for all of their help and support.”
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When Grace went missing, staff and volunteers immediately began bombarding the Vernon community with publicity to try to get Grace home, including flyers, local media appeals, door-to-door campaigns and social media posts on Facebook. After a massive co-ordinated search effort set up by BC SPCA staff, Grace’s activity was tracked.
“We knew she kept returning to one specific location. We worked with the homeowners, who were fantastic and worked with us every step of the way – even activating a security surveillance camera – and were able to set up a feed, water and shelter station, placing bedding from her sibling in the shelter,” says Pugh. “As soon as we had video footage confirming it was Grace and not a wild animal eating the food, we were able to set up a humane trap Thursday morning.”
Late last Thursday night, Pugh received a call from the homeowners saying the trap had worked, and Grace was taken to Fairfield Animal Hospital, where staff were expecting the lovable escape artist. After a thorough examination, they found Grace to be in incredible shape, given the time she spent out on the streets in such weather conditions.
“We couldn’t have asked for a happier ending to what could have been a very tragic story,” says Pugh. “It was truly the entire community’s efforts that got our Grace home, safe and warm and happy.”
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