Kizzie went awol within 6 days of Adoption. This is our diary of events and a map of the area
Greyhound Welfare received an enquiry from Jackie in Usk for a cat friendly female in April 2007... Pending house redecoration.
The home visit revealed a delightful life style just waiting for the right dog. There were no suitable girls in kennels. We sought help from Angie in Llanelli. Greyhound Kizzie has six undistinguished places in Southern Irish races under her belt and had come into rescue from the Swansea Track. She had tested cat friendly and was in Foster Care.
We all considered her a good choice.
In the meantime, Jackie and the Foster Carer kept in touch. Arrangements were finally made and Kizzie was adopted on Thursday 17th May. Although very wary she is a sweet natured girl and was impervious to the cats. She began to settle nicely into her life in Usk with visits to the family business at Brooklands Garden Centre, Raglan whenever Jackie went along to assist.
Tuesday 22nd May
There's a quiet lane at the side of the Centre that leads to the fields beyond and Kizzie was on her third outing in the lane when suddenly, at 3.15pm she pulled away and Jackie lost hold of her lead. As Jackie bent to pick up the lead poor nervy Kizzie made off into the right hand fork of the lane and disappeared.
Possibly lured by the semi-wild life of her youth amongst the woods, fields and livestock of a rural area.
We all began searching for her
22.5.07
At 3.15pm Kizzie goes missing with no further sightings that day. (55)
23.5.07
At 4pm Kizzie is sighted in the lane but makes off across the fields when pursued by Jackie's son.
24.5.07
Kizzie's Foster Carer drives from Llanelli to Raglan to search the area. No sightings.
25.5.07.
Kizzie sighted on the road, described as A40 (dual cariageway) but more likely to be the Abergavenny Road.
26.5.07
Three sightings of Kizzie in Tregare. (95)
12.30am 4.30am, 5pm in fields. About 6pm in the Churchyard and 7pm in a driveway.
30.5.07
About 7.30pm in the fields behind the Garden Centre. Almost back to base !!
no
no
Our Dog Lost messages.
Kizzie Returns to the "Missing" area
Update 31.5.07. Kizzie sighted in a field belonging to Cefn Coch Farm at the back of Brooklands Garden Centre by local lady walker, Helen at around 7pm on 30.5.07. Rang owner Jackie in response to a Missing Poster and kindly walked the route again when we arrived later that evening.
This is the best news we've had so far and means Kizzie has done a complete circle of about one and half mile radius and is almost back where she started. Spoke to the farmer's wife who already knew about Kizzie and our search for her.
Helen told us that Kizzie had trotted away up the hill in no particular hurry ... looked fit and well ... still wearing her collar and lead ... just not inclined to come back and not seen again by the time we left at 10.30pm. Many thanks for the messages of support and incouragement received from well-wishers. Just praying she doesn't go round again. Food trail to the Garden Centre maintained.
Owner Jackie has had her first decent night's sleep since Kizzie went missing.
Update 1.6.07. Kizzie sighted at around 5pm on 31.5.07 in fields behind Brooklands by lady walker who called to her. She started to approach and then changed her mind and trotted off. Still looks fit and well. Hope she will give in and come home soon. Have received offers of large dog traps from Many Tears in Llanelli and Cara in Carmarthen and may have to accept if this goes on much longer. Many thanks to all well-wishers. PA
Update 2.1.07 from Greyhound Welfare. Kizzie sighted again at 4pm in the same place as yesterday. Has been around Tremadoc and Cefn Coch land for the last four days and has been bin raiding in one of the farm yards. Food now being left there. Farmer's daughter has managed to speak to her and hold her attention for a few minutes before she made off. The farmers are being very understanding and are our best friends in this effort. They have asked that volunteers and their dogs do not wander over their land and disturb the lambs and other livestock. Think we must respect their wishes and rely on their experience with skittish stock to capture our girl. Since Kizzie loves cars and the security they offer will hopefully be found in the back of a truck very soon. PA
FOUND SAFE AND WELL AT TREMADOC BY FARMER JEFF
AND HIS FAMILY AT ABOUT 7.40PM. 5.6.07
We get there ASAP and find Kizzie curled up in the back of a landrover with Jeff's wife. (Although Jeff called it a truck) Still wearing her collar and what was left of her lead. Many thanks to everyone. Apparently none the worse for her travels ... in fact more confident. At home she was still indifferent to the cats. Vet check tomorrow. Tonight is for small meals, gentle hugs, soothing words and thanks to whatever or whoever you believe in.
Update 6.6.07. We took Kizzie to the vet for a check up this morning ... Obviously a bit thinner than she should be ... otherwise all ok. He advised 4 small meals a day. Kizzie prefers 8. She met several dogs and male owners in the waiting room and was quite happy to exchange sniffs and accept pats. Whatever was lost while she was so timid seems to have been found again ... but she still ignores the cats. We're just so thankful that she came back unharmed and on her own terms. We travelled on to the Garden Centre for more welcomes and then off again to replace our LOST posters with FOUND, MANY THANKS EVERYONE. Took us until after 2pm to get around the Raglan shops and Tregare. Kizzie spent her time alternately snoozing and munching in the back of the car. Many thanks to the Dog Lost team and everyone who offered advice and support, especially Milly's Mum .. we followed the "hottest girl in town" approach with amazing results. During the last two worrying weeks we were kept hopeful by almost daily sightings and support from other Greyhounds in Wales Groups and associates. Special thanks go to Alain at GRW, Sue in Bristol, Margaret in Gloucester, Helen and Gina in the South East and Kizzie's former foster mum Judy who travelled from Llanelli to join the search.
Jeff and family weren't the only farmers involved and we mustn't forget the others but it was his barn that Kizzie chose to be found in and he gave us most of the sightings ... so he's our hero. Owner Jackie will be going around with personal messages of thanks over the next few days. Throughout it all Jackie has been wonderfully positive. Surely the last thing she expected from her home offer was 14 days of worry and no greyhound.
What we would have done next. Since we knew Kizzie was staying local ... a mass mail drop all over Raglan
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