A Lost Dog's Journey Home
A Lost Dog's Journey Home
“Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” – Vivian Greene
Apologies for the lateness of my post! Ken and I just returned from meeting our newborn granddaughter for the first time. Everything in life seemed to take a back seat to that. Grace and I are back in Santa Fe now and happy to share our latest Pawsitive Impact post. The following article was originally published in the October 2024 edition of Greet Eldorado!
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Four years ago, I adopted Grace, a 50 pound, “New Mexico blend” from a hoarding case in Rowe, NM. Grace always travels with us but my aunt was turning one-hundred-years old so we decided to take an overnight trip to Los Angeles for the celebration. A dear friend who has rescued and cared for hundreds of dogs, and who Grace knew well, volunteered to pet sit. We never could have foreseen what happened next.
As my husband, Ken, and I waited in L.A. for our return flight, we received the call no animal parent ever wants. “Grace ran away, and she hasn’t come back.”
Lost in the Wilderness
When we arrived at Glorieta, our friends were already there, shouting Grace’s name. Ken and I joined the choir. I was certain if Grace could hear my voice, she’d come back. But as the sky darkened, my heart sank. That’s when my friend Krista said, “Why don’t you call Conrad?”
Conrad Mahaffey is a local hero. A man with a deep love for dogs and a knack for trapping and reuniting them with their human guardians. Over the phone, Conrad’s reassuring presence and expertise inspired my confidence.
“Are your friends shouting for Grace to come back?” he asked. “Of course,” I answered, thinking this was the obvious thing to do. “Tell them to stop,” he replied.
What Conrad suggested was counter-intuitive. Grace and I have a close relationship and have been inseparable since day one. What I didn’t know was that a lost dog, whether skittish or confident, can instantaneously shift into fight or-flight mode, a stress response sparked by fear. Firecrackers, thunder, hunger, frustration, even an urgent need to pee can trigger their brains into panic mode.
Conrad informed me that yelling for Grace would make her feel hunted, like prey. “It’s the biggest mistake dog guardians make when looking for their dogs. If she’s panicked, she won’t recognize you and can run away. Be invisible,” he advised.
I don’t own an invisibility cloak, but Conrad advised that if I spotted Grace, not to call, whistle or run after her. Calming signals like yawning, singing softly but indirectly, avoiding eye contact, and getting low to the ground are non-threatening gestures that increase the chances of luring a dog. A crunchy bag, a sound dog’s associate with treats, can also help. We set up a scent station with our clothes in a wagon wheel pattern that led to water and where we would sleep that night in nearly freezing temperatures.
“My gut tells me she’ll be back,” said Conrad before signing off. “Be patient. Stay positive. You’re on Grace’s time now.”
Early Morning MIA
It had been a restless night. My mind had filled with images of my girl running into a bear, coyote pack, or mountain lions that call Glorieta their home. Before we made neon posters with Grace’s photo to post on the road, I took a hike, hoping she’d pick up my scent. My heart leaped into my throat when I saw Grace trotting over a rise.
“Grace!” I nearly shouted. Conrad’s previous advice sealed my lips closed.
Thinking this might be my only chance to get her back, I planted my butt on the ground, looked up at the pines, and sang. In my peripheral vision, I saw Grace stop and turn as if ready to flee. I sang a little louder, adding her name to the lyrics. Finally, I saw what I hoped for–recognition. As I stood up, Grace bolted towards me then launched herself, knocking me over. I laughed and cried as she licked me and barked wildly into the air as if to say, “I found her, I found my mom!”
Eldorado’s Lost Dogs
How many times have you driven past a stop sign only to see a poster with a lost dog on it? Have you found a dog then felt dismayed when you realized they weren’t wearing a tag and you have no idea who to contact? Help your neighbors and your beloved dog by micro-chipping your canine and keeping an updated tag and a GPS tracking device on their collar.
Prevention is key! The Retrievers Guide to Lost Dogs (https://www. theretrievers.org/resources/) is a fantastic free resource that outlines the best steps to take if your dog is lost. If you are looking for expert advice to guide you or need more advanced help that requires cameras and humane traps, contact Conrad Mahaffey: 505.603.0052. conradmahaffey@gmail. com. Our dogs take great care of us. Let’s do the same for them!
Carlyn Montes De Oca is a multi award-winning author, animal advocate, and Substack blogger living in Eldorado at Santa Fe, New Mexico. www.AnimalHumanHealth.com.
