Fostering…. Chicken Soup for the Soul.

How do you fill a void in your heart where your pup had made his home? That is and has been my question for the last 6 months. Wilson has left a HUGE hole in my heart and although he will never be replaceable, and the search is still very active, I have found that by giving love to other labs in need, I am able to somehow fill a part of the void with my nurturing those in need. Wilson himself was a rescue and he would be proud to know we are helping more of his friends.

Caden was my first foster and will always have a special part of my heart. Caden is a lab mix who came to me thru my friend Ann who was contacted thru Lab Rescue of the Labroador Retriever Club of the Potomac. Caden came in as a stray and was seriously underweight and HW positive. He underwent treatment for HW and I had to feed him 3 times a day in order to start a healthy weight gain. Caden is such a love bug. He loved to cuddle up on the sofa while we watched movies. I took him to the Mid Atlantic Land Rover rally where he got to play in the woods, camp and meet other pups. Caden was ultimately adopted by Ann and is living a happy life with her other 2 dogs and her boyfriend’s 3. A pack of 6 makes for a very active and playful environment for him, full of love and adventure!

Sam is my second foster. My friend Jane, who works with Lab Rescue of Greater Richmond and I went to pick him up as he was an owner turn in. Sam is VERY overweight, so I immediately put him on a green bean diet. Sam has become my shadow. He follows me wherever I go and has a very silly and almost mischievous personality for a 6 year old lab. Sam is as gentle as can be and a quick learner. He is excellent on and off a leash. Sam has already lost almost 7 pounds in the last few weeks that he’s been with me.

I am fairly confident that Sam will find a wonderful forever home for the holidays and I will continue to foster Labs in transition. It is very difficult not to fall in love with these guys and quite honestly, I would love to keep each and every one of them… but then I think about all the other labs out there that need a foster. If I adopt now, I couldn’t keep on helping, and although it is hard to give them up, I know in my heart that these pups will ultimately find the love and happiness they deserve in their new forever homes.

Wilson is and will always remain my Number One and I will never give up on finding him. Each pup has his or her own personality and I have been blessed with getting to know them for who they are. They are gifts. They make me laugh. They give me hope. They share such a tremendous amount of love with me. They help to fill the void.

How to Catch a Lost Dog

Do not expect a dog that has been away from human contact to act like he used to when you come across him. He may act aloof, giving the impression that he is a stray, a feral dog, abused, or aggressive. He may be fearful, and will not come even if it is his owner who is calling. Here
are some tips if you come across a lost dog (hopefully Wilson!)...

Never chase the dog. Move away from him, calling him to follow.

Stay calm when you see the dog, and call him in a soft voice. You may want to try using phrases he gets excited about: Want to go for a ride? Want a cookie? Where's your ball?

Sit or kneel. The dog will probably be frightened, and these postures are less threatening. Open your arms when you call.

Try to face slightly away from the dog. Let him approach you from another direction.

Of course, the first thing to do is CALL ME IMMEDIATELY if it looks like Wilson...

Lure him in with meat... mmm...raw,yummy meat or some smelly treats.

Wilson is a pro at playing hide and seek…this we know!

As recently as 2 days ago, we have had multiple sightings in the upper Cedar Plains Road and Hadensville areas. Sharon, Ann, Annette, Gary, Angie, Jennifer, Chelle, BJ, Billie, I and so many others have responded to sightings to no avail. By the time we get to where someone “saw him 5 minutes ago” he’s already somewhere else. Where IS he?? The folks that were taking care of him on Cedar Plains Rd said he just didn’t come home one night – they thought he could easily find his way. Did he get disoriented after they picked up his buddy Remus and left him to find his own way home? Did he find a really, really good scent to scurry after and just lost his way? Did he simply have so much fun that he wasn’t ready to come home that day on June 7^th? I have been learning a ton about animal behavior from vets, animal advocates and zoologists. I have learned that it is not unlikely that after about 72 hours, dogs can typically go into “survival mode” and tend not to act as domesticated as one might think. Obtaining water and food become their goal and surviving the elements in nature becomes their main focus each day. Becoming more un-trusting of their environment is also not uncommon. Poor Wilson.

So the good news is that Wilson has been spotted several times trotting thru the back yards in the area. Is he being fed? Being taken care of? Or is he doing the best he can to survive every day alone? Is he ok? Is he happy? Does he miss his big fat bed and his chi- chi, baby, squirrel and pink octopus toys? Does he need his little feet to be taken care of? Does he need a big fat hug?

Wilson turned 6 last month. He missed his birthday party. What is it going to take to bring him home?

Where are you???

Wilson..

Where are you? Are you roaming? Who’s got you? Are you happy? Are you eating well? Are you having fun? I love you and I miss you and I want you home with me! Please help us find you.

It’s been over two months and we are not giving up until we find Wilson. He’s out there… we just need help spreading the word. The in-pouring of emails and phone calls has been phenomenal and I thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes! We worry that out in the country, internet access is not so readily available so distributing flyers and talking to as many people as possible is the key as well.

Where can he be? I drive from Richmond to Goochland, Oilville, Sandy Hook, Hadensville, and surrounding areas almost every day and thank all my friends who venture the trek with me. We have gone out as early as 4am and have stayed as late as midnight in hopes to see him wondering before or after the heat of the day.

Where is he?!

I really miss Wilson sitting on the front porch with me as I have my early morning coffee or my evening chats with friends. I miss his prancing along side me for our walks thru the Fan – my walking him and his walking his stuffed chi-chi. I miss going to the river and watching him fetch GIANT sticks – retrieving them from the end so it looks like he’s smoking a giant cigar. I miss watching him watch the “squirrel fest” in my back yard. I miss his “high five.” I miss having to wake him up in the mornings for our early walks. I miss buying giant bags of the healthiest holistic dog food I can find because he has skin allergies. I miss watching him run up ahead when we hike, only to turn around and wait as if to say “come on mom.. hurry up!” I miss brushing him. I miss his loud groans when he is content lying on his bed. I miss camping with him..and although he is so big, he never hogs the tent. I miss taking him on offroad trips in “his” D90. I miss his big goofy face looking up at me waiting for the next fun adventure. I miss reminding him to use his “inside feet” as he walks thru the house. I miss his sitting on my lap. Yep, his favorite spot – I think he must think he’s quite a bit smaller than he actually is!

Please.. I just want him back.

If it were not for hopes, the heart would break. - Thomas Fuller

Thank you all for your words of support and encouragement! Wilson has so many people wishing/praying/hoping for his safe return home.

I went out for a walk
It was so lovely in the sun.
Chasing the leaves, I was having so much fun.
Jumping and climbing I could have done it all day.
When I stopped to rest, I realized I had lost my way.
I love and miss you and want you to know , it was nothing you have done.
I just got carried away with playing in the sun.
Please try not to worry too much about me.
I can look after myself, and in a way I am free.
Although I'll never stop looking for a way home, we will never be apart.
I will always feel your love for me, deep within my heart.
It may be all we have for now, but it's enough for me.
Cause you'll never know when I'll walk through your door
and expect you to have my chichi.
love,
Wilson

Team Wilson!

A big Mahalo Thank You to Sharon, Krista, Drew, Jodi, Lee, Joan and Ann for spending the day Sunday in the search to bring Wilson home. Although we did not actually see him, there are several promising sightings reported in the Hadensville and upper Cedar Plains / Forest Grove areas as recent as this morning.

Over 1000 fliers and posters were distributed to Goochland and Hadensville area residents. We learned that it is not uncommon for dogs to be running and neighbors to be feeding them. Awareness that Wilson is actually "missing" and not just a neighbor dog roaming is our goal at this point. We are hopeful that someone will see him, knowing he is missing and will hold onto him for us so that we can bring him home.

We thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. Please feel free to post any sightings, suggestions or comments. I just really want him home.
thank you!!
Wilson's mom

P.S. On her search for wilson, Krista found a dog running and was able to catch it and bring it back to it's owner.
BIG THANKS TO TEAM WILSON!!

Possible Wilson sightings!

If anyone lives in the Shelton Ridge Subdivision
and sees a choc lab with orange collar, please let me know asap. Shelton Ridge is in Hadensville off of Route 250 (Broad St.).
We have had two recent sightings of Wilson. Thank you for any information!

HELP FIND WILSON THIS SUNDAY, AUG 3

First of all, i want to THANK YOU ALL from the bottom of my heart for your support. I know Wilson would lick your faces, or well...sit on you (his weird way of showing his affection) if he knew how loved he was.

Wilson is an amazing boy. He's been my best friend for the past 4 years and is so terribly missed. He was about a year and a half old when he chose me to take care of him. i taught him how to swim (i know, weird for a lab not to know how to swim) and i taught him manners. He is a true gentleman and knows the rules of good behavior. All he wanted was to make sure i was happy and he stood by my side, hung out in Fan coffee shops with me, went shopping in carytown with me, and ventured on hikes and off road camping trips with me. If i could rewind the time i would give anything to have him with me safe in Richmond.

I feel very good about finding him. With the positive energy each of you bring to my life, i feel Wilson WILL be found.

That said, at the encouragement of Ann and Sharon, we are pulling together forces to hit the Goochland area HARD. I have been numerous times (thank you Drew) and have hit most areas piece by piece in hopes of someone leading me to him. I have had dreams of my finding him prancing toward me as if nothing was ever wrong.

There have recently been a couple sightings in the Haydensville area as well as the Dogtown Rd area... Could it be???

So.... I would love your support in gathering forces and finding him this Sunday August 3. We are planning to meet at 9:15 at the Panera Bread on Broad Street (11703 W Broad) and I would like to treat everyone to their Sunday morning cup of coffee before we head out by 9:30.

Wilson was staying with friends at 3330 Cedar Plains Road in Sandy Hook. He went missing on June 7th. Just shy of 2 months ago.

There are 5 main areas to search..
1. Haydensville - (thank you Terry and Joan for your information about the recent sighting at Sheldon Ridge)
2. Millforest 2, Sandyhook - apparently, Wilson had been scouting around there from time to time while staying at the Dearden's.
3. Dogtown Road - from Whitehall to Hwy 6
4. Goochland - route 522 from Sandy Hook into Goochland
5. Cedar Plains Rd from White hall to the very end - the road that Wilson lived on for approx 5 weeks before he went missing

I will have maps and supplies ready..
If you would like to invite additional friends, please feel free to. let me know so that i can have additional "search packets" ready...and again THANK YOU!!!!!

big hug,
Christina