by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know shy, fearful and stressed animals will either fight or take flight? Have you noticed the uptick in newly homed lost dogs and the need for outside professional assistance to bring them to safety? At the first opportunity these types of dogs will run away not even knowing what they are running from or to, ending up in what is called “flight mode”. They cannot be approached and will not accept a helping hand, keeping what they consider a safe distance away. Chasing them is fruitless. Keeping tabs on them via sightings can be a life saver.
A recent adoption or purchase of a young, female German Shepherd ended up in near tragedy when this dog escaped from her new home in Greenville a few
weeks ago. She was sighted in Westtown and then Pine Island. On December 27 at 3am Animal Control was called to respond to a residence during the blizzard for a shepherd on the deck. Upon arrival within seconds the dog took off. From Pine Island she made her way to the Village of Warwick. Sightings were being reported and Buddha Dog Rescue had been contacted. Thanks to security cameras, the Shepherd ended up at an unoccupied house in a remote location so a trap could be set and monitored by Buddha Dog Rescue. This professional pet finder, Nicole, lives an hour and a half away yet didn’t hesitate to make the journey in hopes of ending this Shepherd’s journey. She pulled an all-nighter but to no avail. With no action at the trap and the report of a loose Shepherd matching the description of the young female, on Sunday, January 4th, Nicole was in route from home intending to pull the trap. As she approached the road to the driveway she received a call from the vacationing homeowner reporting that the dog was there! So she planted a path of liquid smoke leading to the trap, stayed a safe, out of sight distance away, monitored via her phone and it worked!! The young Shepherd was safely captured!! After nearly two weeks on the run with 
Nicole on her trail waiting for the dog to find a place so she could set the trap. An exhausting and exhilarating capture indeed!
Our organization was immediately contacted and Animal Control responded to transport the dog, trap and all, to the shelter. With the help of a couple of volunteers who had also helped during the sightings, she was transferred to a quiet isolation kennel where she remains until she acclimates to her new surroundings and caregivers. Her rescue was posted on Facebook, yet no one came forward to claim her. Her 5 day wait period as mandated by New York State Law has since expired but she will not be available for adoption until she’s ready and no longer a flight risk which may take several weeks or longer. As we begin the New Year with renewed hope for happy homes for all of our homeless pets, so does this pretty, young female German Shepherd we named Flo-Jo!
Pet of the Week:
