Valentina's rescue!
here are the details as best I can remember...it all happened so fast that the 2 hour timespan really seemed liked 20 minutes when you were living it.
There were a lot of sightings today....the flyers worked...greyt job everyone!!!! !
Amazingly enough, with all the activity, Valentina continued to stay around the Draper St. area and didn't run as spooky hounds tend to do. The park/woods behind Draper St were pretty low key as compared to the walking trails, hiking trails, etc of the surrounding park.
A sighting came late this evening that she was seen at the woods of the house on Draper st where one of the traps had been set. Since this seemed to be her favorite spot....we(myself, Bobbi, Terri and Artie) got a game plan together that we would present to her an "approachable" opportunity. Basically, me and my greyhound Diane were going to pick a spot in this man's backyard and sit there and be non-threatening to Valentina and her safety zone to see if she was ready to come to someone.
When we got to the house on Draper St. the man informed us that him and his neighbor had just run their dogs in the woods and there was no way she was back there because they would have seen her. So Plan A just got shot down! A call then came in that she was sighted at Winthrop St...so she had moved out of her safe zone, but I felt very strongly she would try to return back there. Decided to take Diane and we walked to the right along the edge of the woods thru the backyards towards trap #2. Came to a spot that was very quiet and serene...with a little path leading off into the brushes just off to the side towards Winthrop st. Thought that would be a good place to stop and hope that the path was part of her "return path" to her safe zone.
We were just sitting there...Diane was talking as she always does And all of a sudden out pops a little head from the path. Valentina froze and surveyed the clearing area. She saw us...saw her target of the next part of the path and went on her way. She was now heading towards trap#2. Bobbi was staying close by me to help as originally I was going to sit with my back facing the woods...and Bobbi would give the "scratch the elbow" signal if Valentina was behind us.
Valentina headed towards the trap...she sniffed it first...then I think I startled her a bit as Iwas trying to gain sight of her again and she zipped past the trap and Bobbi and back into the woods! At this point it was very obvious that she was not going to be captured by coming to someone...so we prepared the traps by removing the shower curtains(as Michael had advised) so she wouldn't feel entrapped by them and putting the magic sardine trail into the trap and then some in the bowl.
We waited and were watching and soon Valentina came out of the woods again about 4 houses down from us. She just came to the grass edge and laid down with her front legs stretched out. You could tell she just wanted to rest....to rest that leg. It was obvious she was tired of all the running she had done that day.
As we just started towards that yard...she went back into the woods. Diane and I sat at the back of that yard hoping she would come out...really knew it was a slim chance, but with dark setting in...we just had to try. Bobbi posted herself at a house to give her view of trap#1 and a view towards trap #2. Terri and Artie and I think some neighbors at that point were posted along the sidewalk to watch if she came out to the street.
It was getting closer to dark and I was thinking "okay, we will check the traps get them ready and figure out how to watch and that is the best we can do tonight." Then all of sudden, out she pops again! This time at trap #1 at Dan's house or 3125 Draper st. She had gotten a sniff of the sardines by now and the traps were appealing to her. She looked at the trap and then looked at Bobbi and them who were at a safe distance away from her, but it seemed as if she was contemplating them with the trap and decided it wasn't a good thing and moved on towards trap#2.
Along the way she found some dog food that Bobbi had set out on the path between the traps. She ate that and headed on her way. At this point none of us could see her as she rounded the bend towards the 2nd trap. I think Terri and Artie were trying to walk further down the block to find a yard they could see thru to see the trap. I met up with Bobbi and we wanted to check it, but something seemed like we should stay away from the woods and try to do it from a safe distance. Even though Bobbi knew we couldn't go further along the sidewalk and see back there....she appeased my stubborness and walked with me and yes, she was right...we couldn't see it from the street!
So we walked back several houses til there was a no fenced yard and we could get to edge of the woods to walk the path to trap#2. It was very dark by now...we were walking with flashlights and as we were rounding the bend....I heard the rattling and the yelps that Terri also described in her post. I looked at Bobbi and said "she's in the trap...that' s the bowl rattling!!!! "....and ran til the trap was visible and yes, she was in there!!
She was quite frantic and yelping and pawing at the trap. Diane was talking to her and then the neighbor dog started barking and the noise level was a bit much. Terri and Artie had gotten there so I asked Terri to take Diane back to my car. The neighbor came out and I asked him if he could put his dog inside...we had her in the trap, but she is very scared. I got the answer from him of "you know I live here"....and Terri and I both begged him to go along and he did and I am very sure now he understands the importance of the request.
I just wanted to calm her down so she wouldn't hurt herself in the crate, so I got down on my knees about 20 feet from her and just kept talking very nice and upbeat to her. Anytime she would look away to take in the surroundings( which was making her frantic) I would look more deeply into her eyes and talk even sweeter to her. I just kept talking and scooting a little closer to the trap and was able to keep her focused which settled her down.
At that point she was actually calm enough that she laid down in the trap and was having a real tough time keeping her eyes open.....she was just soooooooo tired. Bobbi got her car as close as she could. The neighbor, Janet's husband and myself picked up the trap and as Janet lit the way with her flashlight as we all escorted our little Egyptian Queen to her awaiting car.
We had a group hug(neighbors included!).. ..everyone was so helpful and all the neigbors were so happy she was found. Next we were in route to take her to NGAP's kennel. Got there and Puffy and another nice young gentleman lifted the trap out of Bobbi's car and carried her into the surgery room. Valentina came very nicely out of the trap. At that point she was very okay with us and what had happened, unlike how frantic she was when initially caught. She was given some nice fluffy bedding, water and food...but really all she wanted was to go to sleep We all took turns petting her and kissing her and telling her what a smart girl she is to survive all of this. She just took in all in with very heavy eyes. I am sure she is snoozing by now and very deserving of many naps so she can catch up on her rest.
Overall, she was in good shape. Nothing life threatening going on that required an e-vet trip. Her little leg has taken a toll from all the travel. A bit swollen at her wrist and above it. A little oozing from the suture line...and turned slightly outward. You could tell by her nails that for some time that leg hasn't been a straight step for her...rather to the side. Guess as she did with everything on her adventure... she did what she needed to do to survive. What a smart girl!!!
What was so different as opposed to our greyhounds was her movements. Very stealth-like. ..hunter- like...and she never really feared us....just always looking for the next path to get a safe distance away. Every movement was very calculated and she didn't exert all her energy at once...her survival instincts helped her to use her energy and resources very wisely.
A BIG "THANK YOU" to everyone!!!! These moments don't happen unless the flyering and the face to face contact is made with the neighborhood to bring in all those sightings. Truly a greyt job by all. We all just wanted her safe and sound...that was the goal....and we got our happy ending
Barbara from France
http://levriersyvelines.site.voila.fr/ 
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