LOST DOG: Tronsen Meadows area, Blewett Pass

My wife was separated from our beloved dog "Rainy" yesterday while touring near Tronsen Meadows Trailhead at Blewett Pass (about 1/2 mile east of the summit).

Rainy, apparently, thought it would be a good idea to have a go at chasing a few deer. An adventure from which she has not returned.

She is a female Husky / Border Collie Mix about 4 years old. She likes treats.

If seen or found please contact me. We are worried sick and dearly miss our friend.

You left a note on my car today. My dog and I toured up to the bottom of Sidestep Hill and then across the top of Tronsen Meadow and back to the trailhead with no sign of Rainy. Can you be more specific about where she went missing? We could go back tomorrow and look around.

Thanks Glenn. We just got word she was seen this morning on the highway around 2 a.m. by a plow driver near Ruby Creek, which is a considerable distance north from where my wife was parked. We are hoping she was picked up by a motorist or made it to a house nearby.

To answer your question, she went missing while my wife was skiing one of the ridges northeast of the trailhead, visible from the road, only about 15 minutes from the TH. Sorry I can't be more specific but it sounds like she might be out of the zone of where anyone might be skiing anyway.

Thanks Glenn. We just got word she was seen this morning on the highway around 2 a.m. by a plow driver near Ruby Creek, which is a considerable distance north from where my wife was parked. We are hoping she was picked up by a motorist or made it to a house nearby.

To answer your question, she went missing while my wife was skiing one of the ridges northeast of the trailhead, visible from the road, only about 15 minutes from the TH. Sorry I can't be more specific but it sounds like she might be out of the zone of where anyone might be skiing anyway.

You left a note on my car today.  My dog and I toured up to the bottom of Sidestep Hill and then across the top of Tronsen Meadow and back to the trailhead with no sign of Rainy.  Can you be more specific about where she went missing?  We could go back tomorrow and look around.

Glenn, we talked with Pete's wife today.  She was headed toward the new cell tower straight up from the lower parking.  When we saw your dog's tracks we started calling for Rainy but then soon realized that the track behavior was one of a dog staying near its master.

Hello Pete, we talked with Kat and then went further back in the basin and saw no tracks of a dog.  In fact, Pico mentioned, "maybe Rainy is headed for Leavenworth."  Hence the Ruby observation I guess.  Hopefully she is in a home in Ingalls Cr/Peshastin area and the rescuers are looking to find a notice from you wherever things may get posted in your community.  So sorry that she still is not reunited with you yet, but hopefully making it to Ruby, and potentially beyond, is a good sign.  We're holding out hope for you, may you soon be reunited with your dear friend.
John

Thanks John.

Rainy is still missing. Most likely she's lower down, but if anyone is out this weekend please keep an eye out for her.

I've been up at Blewett skiing and looking for her the last couple days and the skiing is pretty good. The snowpack is definitely funky but I haven't noticed any slide activity. Though where I was skiing still had a significant amount of terrain anchoring. Just play it conservative.

Good luck. Have you left some of your worn clothing (with your scent on it) near where she parked and maybe near Ruby creek and the road? From what I've heard about lost dogs they tend to be pretty freaked and some may not approach strangers (not all - just two weeks ago a lost dog hopped right into the car my wife was getting into as if to say "take me home please!!!") but if they find one of these clothing stashes will often tend to curl up by it and wait. Hopefully she is still oriented toward where your wife parked. We tried helping a guy find a dog that had been lost up at Silver Peak (booked when idiots started lighting fireworks on the ridge nearby last July) and no luck on this day after the dog booked. He was a dog sitter not owner, and the next day the owner returned home and drove up to hunt. IIRC he found the dog on his return to his parked car at the same pullout where his buddy had parked. I suspect the dog was not far when we were hunting and calling in that same area but was not interested in approaching us - in fact, our calling was probably counterproductive (see below). My heart goes out to you and your furry child.

Edited to add: these folks may be able to offer some tips and other logistical help (and they have a Seattle chapter): Missing Pet Partnership They also have tips on recovering lost dogs linked from that page. In case she is indeed on the panicked side, here are tips from there both for you and for anyone else who may see her out there:

Do NOT Call a Panicked Dog!

One of the worst things that you can do is CALL a stray dog or panicked dog! That's because if too many people have already tried to capture the dog, calling him becomes a "trigger" that can cause him to automatically take off in fear when anyone, including his owner, calls him. Instead, make some type of other noise like clearing your throat or fake a sneeze to alert the dog to your presence. Then look away, which is a submissive gesture. You can even fake like you're eating food on the ground, and we suggest that you have a baggie of smelly treats like pieces of hotdog or liver treats. Sit down on the ground, or even lay flat on your back and pat your chest. Do anything other than staring straight at your dog while walking towards him! One of our volunteers captured a tiny terrier that ran from her when she called him but he came wiggling up to her once she laid flat on her back and patted her chest. Another of our volunteers captured a panicked dog by getting out of the car with a Frisbee and started tossed it back and forth with the dog owner as they both just ignored the dog. WHEN YOU FIXATE ALL OF YOUR ATTENTION ON YOUR DOG AND THAT DOG IS IN A "FIGHT OR FLIGHT" MODE, HE WILL BECOME EVEN MORE TERRIFIED THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO CATCH HIM! So work to get his attention and then do something with food as you sit or lay down flat and work to attract him to come to you.

You should also know that when dogs are in a full fight or flight mode and their adrenaline is flowing, the olfactory section of their brain closes down. That's why sometimes when you try to feed a hotdog to a panicked dog it won't eat it. So sometimes the food will work, sometimes it won't. It depends on the dog and what level of panic he is in. Also, some dogs will immediately recognize their owner by their scent but other dogs won't. Kat recently blogged about why you should NEVER call a panicked dog.