NH Dog Missing For One Year Recovered In Nashua

March 19, 2011 1:24 PM

The spring door worked and Gypsy was captured in the kennel. (credit: Granite State Dog Recovery)

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NASHUA, N.H. (CBS) — A dog that had been missing for exactly one year was recovered early Friday morning in Nashua, N.H.

The group Granite State Dog Recovery says it was notified nearly two weeks ago that there was a dog living along the Merrimack River with a group of feral cats. A family had adopted the dog last year, but she escaped shortly after adoption.

NH Dog Missing For One Year Recovered In Nashua

Gypsy checks out the camera in the kennel. (credit: Granite State Dog Recovery)

The team set up a kennel and food in it to attract the dog. They also put a camera in it to watch the dog, which they named Gypsy.

Holly Mokrzecki of Granite State Dog Recovery said they would stake out the kennel from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. in hopes of catching Gypsy, and the first few nights the dog went into the kennel only long enough to grab the food dish and pull it all the way out.

On the twelfth night of the stake out, Steven Sprowl of the NHSPCA rigged the kennel with a spring trap and baited it with a marrow bone. Gypsy couldn’t resist, and at 3 a.m. the door closed and Gypsy was captured.

Mokrzecki says Gypsy was taken to the Humane Society of Greater Nashua where she she the dog was happy and greeting everyone with licks and “smiles.”

Gypsy was recovered in Nashua, N.H. Friday after being missing for a year. (credit: Granite State Dog Recovery)

Gypsy tested negative for heartworm but positive for lyme disease.

Mokrzecki says Gypsy will go up for adoption through the Humane Society of Greater Nashua within the next few weeks.

metoo

If the dog was missing for that long, the Society must know who he belongs too?
Don’t the owners want him back?

Jayp123

I was wondering the same thing.

Marie

I was also wondering that as soon as I read the story – they know how long the dog is missing but they ‘re going to adopt it out?? Ludicrous – find its owners if they still want the dog- if not, then fine adopt it out!!!

Brandy

I agree how are they putting it up for adotion when it is already owned??
RLD

Because the people who owned it before clearly weren’t responsible enough to not let the dog end up living on the streets.

Junior Bean

Sometime things happen that you don’t expect. We adopted a dog from the humane society and when we went to work that first night she climbed out a 5 ‘ high fence and escaped. It took us a week and a half to coax her into coming to us (she was running loose in the country). Sometimes you have to have time to get to know an animal to know what to expect from it. We ended up having this dog for fourteen years – she died last May at 17 years old.

Beth

The adopters gave up looking for her after 1 week..so she will be going to a new home..
Mal

If it was missing that he belongs to someone. Otherwise how did they know he was MISSING???? Title of the article makes no sense at all, but I guess I’m not surprised.
Nic

The dog was adopted a year ago and then escaped 30 min after adoption…neither the place where she was adopted from or the family put much effort into catching her, so she has been loose and fending for herself for 1yr. Despite everyone knowing where she was. Very sad.
Sue

This is a great story of people committed to helping a dog that had been left to fend for itself. She survived 2 NH winters outside alone from what I’ve read. For a dog who almost had a forever home a year ago, who then had to survive on her own in the harsh NH winters, to finally have a shot at a true forever home once again – this is great news!! Good job to all who helped!!
WS

One of my rescued dogs escaped the first day I had him by digging out of my fenced yard. I had turned my back for just a second to answer my phone. Even though I was lucky that he didn’t go far (probably wanted to stay near my other two dogs), and came back on his own while we were out looking for him, I would not have stopped looking for him after just a week. However, it’s hard for some people to remain that committed to a dog that doesn’t seem to want to stay with them. Or, they may get another dog quickly to placate heartbroken children. What people need to realize is that dogs do form bonds, and may just be trying to get back to something familiar even if they end up getting lost instead.
Gail @Odd Dog North

Holly is wonderful……Granite State Dog Recovery is the best. Thank you for always being there Holly when we call on you for help.
Steve Sprowl

this unfortunately happens all the time with new dog owners. The dogs slip the collar and are off and running.. When you adopt a new dog, make sure the collar is snug so it won’t go over the dogs head or buy martingale collars for them..They are a lot safere and the dog can’t slip out of it.. Never chase them, you cannot out run a dog and you will drive them far away..
The owner in this case gave up looking for the dog and it is considered abandoned and the humane society can reclaim the dog and re-adopt it. Kudos to Granite State Dog Recovery for their efforts..
Sara

It’s interesting that the dog was living with a group of feral cats. Lost and alone all of them. Guess they know how to take care of each other better than people do.
Katherine Dutcher

i hope she finds a good home-maybe one with cats!
Julieann

i have rescue dogs. whether they “escaped” 30 min or 30 days after i adopted them, there was a reason i adopted them…because i wanted them. there is no way i would have just given up. It is very sad what has happened to gypsy. Obviously the people who adopted her really did not want a dog. Maybe she was better off on her own. Gypsy deserves a family that will love her unconditionally. You feed your dog,walk your dog, play with your dog and love that dog, that dog will be your best friend and give you the same unconditonal love for life.

Belle

AMEN!!!!

Alicia

What about the cats?

pat

feral cats can’t be integrated into a home. I’ve seen places where the feral cats are left food and kennels, picked up to be vaccinated or spayed, yet left to live in their little communities. It seems to work out.

Roger

Definition of a feral animal is one which has escaped from a domestic or captive status and is living more or less as a wild animal. My cat was a feral cat for years as I understood it, until she became pregnant and decided to nest in the laundry closet at the condo I used to live at. She was very nasty indeed, but it appeared the kittens were in distress because of the Florida sun. When she finally left the nest to search for food, I carefully, without touching, pulled the litter into the air conditioned area. She came immediately and was very nasty until she found her kittens. After a few days it seemed she got the idea of why her kittens were moved and became less nasty. As time went on, though very protective, she got used to me (and I had no interaction with her except leaving food and water). 6 weeks into the ordeal, as I was sitting close by, she came up to me and sat on my lap. I was horrified, because she was a nasty cat. Now it’s been 9 years later, and a move to NH, she is very well domesticated and prefers to just – stay indoors with the her best friend – another domesticated cat.

Feral cats can be integrated, it depends on the cat!

charlie

i am guessing the humane society wont let them have the dog back because they lost it.
Les

Yes, What about the cats!! Was he protecting them, maybe?
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Belle

I’m still looking for my dog who escaped almost 2 years ago (damn beagle noses!!)…I will never give up!!! He has a tatto form the humane society and a microchip…I spent every waking moment for a month searching, spent almost a1 grand in automated calls, flyers, ads, etc… i still drive around the are I think he may be. Because of his personality someone has surely taken him in….Hpw someone could give up so easy is beyond my realm of understanding.
Cynic

There is a Woman on the South Shore that traps feral Cats.Has them vacinated,Spayed or neutered then returns them to where she found them.
She has been doing this at her own expense for years.
One thing I have learned about Cats over the years is you can’t rush a Cat. You have to be very patient and one day when you least expect it, it will be rubbing on you leg marking you as ot’s teritory.