The search for Piper

This is from Karin Tarqwyn, the professional searcher. Today was her final day.

Today was a long one and we were able to cover a lot of ground but also ran into places where we either were not allowed or could not get to. We had to leap frog over properties and around barriers. I was never so glad to have a mail carrier helping me… Chris… you are amazing! Every time we ran into an obstacle she knew how to get to another place where we could scan for scent… I could never have covered the ground we did today without her.
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Although we covered a lot of territory it was also a little disconcerting as Piper’s scent is now at least 2 ½ miles south east of where she went missing from. All in all… Piper herself has most likely covered 8 to 10 miles or more. The K9s are used to following scent trails based on a scent alley… truly more like hunting dogs than foot step for foot step man trailers. This is what we need in this work and today really exemplified why. Much of the area Piper has covered is passable by a small dog but not by a large one. That said…. there were several areas of fencing where not even Piper could get through. I am sure in her travels she has pinballed off the many square wire fences as she journeyed on.

The map shows in detail how we worked through the day. Today’s color is pink. We tracked over 3 miles today but I am sure Piper ran several more as she covered similar ground.

Based on todays search results I have to consider Piper in an elite group… that of the extreme roamers. Those dogs that have no bonded interest to their surroundings so they hit the road and travel great distances. My experience with terriers is that sometimes they do spiral and come back into the area but sometimes they do not and just continue their travels in a haphazard fashion. It is important to note that when a dog is on the roam they live in the moment… they are not human they do not have a plan or an agenda or motivation to get somewhere. The environment and circumstance decide which way she will go next.

Find Toto donated a broadcast today and they called a 3 mile square area to include the city of Galena, the Galena Territories and residences to the south where we tracked today. They are a great company… I work with them a lot in a very specific way. We customize all our work and broadcasts to the specifics of each dog and search area covered.

We have three volunteers who have stepped up to takeover when I leave and MariBeth just arrived from Chicago. I will continue to help guide the search efforts but I have some very tired dogs who are ready to go home… I am pretty tired too. Chis... one of the volunteers has an incredible dog I have been working with the last two days… She has been able to discern Piper's scent accurately… tell us when she has it and can track her as well as tell us when she does not have scent. She has worked along side Cade, Mason and Brodie and she is an exceptional dog. Chris will use Faith to help with the search when she is available.

We should keep the signage up and efforts alive. At some point Piper will slow down… but no… I cannot say when but I will tell you that we have recovered tougher cases than this… The key is to keep the awareness up in the communities.

Keep the faith… Be well.......
Karin, Cade, Mason, Brodie and Paco

Piper--"This was an excellent day!!!"

News tonight from Karin! We are very excited!

This was an excellent day!!! The little dog paw prints in the nature reserve were Piper’s. Mason and I hiked in to scan them for scent ( over a mile away and with 21 degree temps), and Mason picked up her trail and ran towards the river. It was pretty exciting… and makes so much sense!

Lead dog Cade had sore feet. They are cracked from the hard crust snow and ice and I really thought he would not be able to work today. He was not happy about this. The dog shop in town had these disposable booties called "Paws" and they worked wonders. We put those on and Cade was ready to go. He and I went up to the bridge and walked in under the bridge. Cade picked up Piper’s scent and tried to run across a frozen marsh… Piper being smaller could do this. .. Cade and I not so much! We continued on up against the mountainside and then the scent trail turned up a logging road. We checked this with three dogs… it was Piper’s trail and it went into a private agricultural field. We were told not to go any further so we had to figure out another way in… tough when there are hundreds of acres.

With dark setting in... we looked for a way to get near the field. As we came around a bend in the road Cade began crying and howling. We had been driving for about 35 minutes and he was riding happily in the back when all of sudden he let out howls. I thought he was sick… so I stopped the van and ran to see what was wrong. The big brown dog bounded out of this crate and ran to the field to the west. He did not seem sick so I gave him Piper’s scent and he took off like he was shot out of a cannon. It was now dark and we could not see very well… Cade had Piper’s scent and he was trying to tell us to stop! It was pretty amazing. He has done this one other time… still it is pretty amazing! We will start here tomorrow.

The maps… The work we did today is in blue. The orange lines indicate the most likely path Piper has taken to get around. Where it says “Cade detects scent” is where Cade began howling in the van and then ran to the Southwest in the field. The yellow line- the half circle- indicates Cade’s maximum distance based on other cases… meaning Piper’s scent has to be inside that radius for him to detect it.

Also Kris the mail carrier has been helping me in the afternoon. The woman is amazing she knows every little dirt road and meandering path up here. She has been a big help.

Hold a positive thought ... The ice and hard pack snow are wearing on us… Tonight I fell on the ice and landed on Paco… not out in the icy woods but in the parking lot of all places. Landed on my butt… thank God for padding. Really scared Paco… me too.

Keep up the prayers and energy

Karin, Cade, Mason, Brodie and Paco

News from Karin!

We got an email from Karin last night and the news is much more hopeful than we originally thought. Here is Karin's email to us.

The word is definitely getting around. Today I was stopped on the road four times... once by a police officer as I was re-hanging signs that had blown down on Highway 20. All were people who had seen the signs or heard of Piper's plight... even the police officer stopped to see if there was anything he could do...I thought for sure he was going to ask me to take down the signs but he flashed his flier of Piper and offered to give me a lift back to my car... this is the response we need... and we are getting it!

The first map shows only the work we did today (does include yesterdays track in red). The lime green lines indicate new trails where the dogs found Piper's scent. We found this new trail from Powder House Hill Rd... it is a continuation of the ravine... It is where the ravine goes under the road, turns into a creek and then goes out towards the river. All the dogs picked up Piper's scent in the new area... each coming at it from a different direction. This is how I confirm the information by giving each dog a different area to start from. When they all end up in the same place.... we know this is a trail. Cade and Mason each tracked up a long driveway from Powder House. Brodie came from the opposite side of the creek and ended at the trail Cade and later Mason would find. No one was home at this house and it looks as if no one has been there for a few days. I looked around and left food near the driveway just in case.

As the railroad tracks were adjacent to this new trail we drove to the river entrance and began scanning the tracks from a 1/2 mile away. The perimeter scans for scent are indicated in pink. At about 1/4 mile Cade alerted that he had scent and ran up the tracks towards the new trail. He ran a little past it and then alerted that he no longer had scent. I had him circle back and he went back to area of the new trail near the house. At this juncture... it did not look like Piper's scent continued down the hillside onto the tracks. We did the same perimeter scan on Powder House with Cade and Mason. Each dog went to the old ravine to the south first and then tracked up across Powder House Rd., up the long driveway and to the creek to the west.

Based on the new information I put up more signs in this area so anyone driving by has to see them. The problem in the area where we have been working is that there are very few people that live up there.

I received a call in the afternoon from a woman who said she saw Piper but she did not know what day. She only knew that it had been about 6:45 in the morning. Another gentleman stopped as I was adding signs in the area and said his wife had seen Piper the same day as his neighbor so just his neighbor had called. It turns out that all these sightings are in the same court... the same court the witness from yesterday lives in. Based on this I took the dogs to the court and gave each scent. All three dogs tracked across the court, behind the far house and headed north into the ravine. This is about where we ended our trail yesterday but about 200 yards to the west through some very thick woods. The witness who called today confirmed that his was the path and direction the little dog she had seen had went in.

Today I also got a call from a great volunteer, Jim Webster. He has agreed to add signs to the downtown and area on the other side of the river. He has a jpg. of the sign we are using and is making his own copies… Thanks Jim! He has also agreed to be a local contact should I leave and we need to keep the search going.

In additions Kris the mail carrier for the area has stepped up to help us. She is not only carrying around a Piper flier in her mail truck but went out with a friend and hiked back into the nature preserve with her labs to see if she could see anything. The nature preserve is about a ½ mile past the area where we found Piper’s scent today. And did I say… all of these places are only available on foot… yep… no way to drive…so hoof it in and hoof it out. Jus like the railroad track scans we did today. Only one way in and out… no roads. Anyway, Kris believes she may have seen what could be small dog prints in the snow out in the nature preserve. Tomorrow, we will check this possibility for Piper’s scent.

Sorry this so lengthy but I am receiving emails from people all over who are praying and crossing their paws for Piper’s recovery… We all appreciate your thoughts and energy towards this goal.

Mommy and I think this is good news and we are ever hopeful that Karin and her team or rescue pups will be able to get on a new trail of Piper's today!

Thank you all for all of your support! We are trying our darnest to get this little girl home!

The Trail Runs Cold

Here is the latest update about Karin's search for Piper---I wish I had better news everyone..

They had tracked since 8:30 this morning. Karin did get calls from 4 people who all saw Piper on Thursday morning in that same area. She was on the road and ran through a couple of yards. Karin cant pick up her scent where she left the area or came out of the Ravine. She is going to put up more signs up but at this point without another sighting she isn't sure where to begin tracking her. She has pretty much exhausted her search in that ravine. The dogs will keep picking up the old scent where Karin has been. She feels we have to have another sighting by tomorrow afternoon or it is time to quit. I think she is concerned about coyotes. She just cant find a place where Piper left the area. She tracked in the yards, abandoned house, on the road, checked a bridge looking for scent of where she walked out of that area. She couldn't find one.

We need to say prayers that some new piece of evidence--a sighting, etc comes tonight or with one last push with the dogs in the morning. Otherwise, if Piper is out there alive, we just have to pray a good person come across her path and is able to get her.

Thank you so much friends. We are still not giving up hope. If we have done a good job of getting the word out, there is still a chance for a new call or other info to help us find her.

Hugs and sincerest thanks to you all.

Another Update--A PIPER SIGHTING!!!

There has been a confirmed Piper sighting!
It was last Thursday, which is many days past, but at least we know that she has been seen now. And it goes exactly with what the tracking dogs picked up today.


The red line in the middle of this picture is where the tracking dogs smelled Piper's scent. This is along a ravine headed north. Tomorrow they will continue where they left off. The yellow markers are where she has checked for scent, but there was none...

Please continue the prayers!

Just added--3/1/11
Friends--I just got he word that our money is running out to pay Karin. We got together the money to get her to Galena and keep her there the past few days (paying hotel, etc). Today is her third day and the final day we have money to pay her...we are so close! Can you help by donating to WFTRM and by spreading the word??This is day three and Karin won't stay out with her dogs more than 5 anyway...but we may just need to keep her there another day..we are SO CLOSE and don't want to give up now! Please HELP if you can!

Piper Update

Thank you to all my friends for helping to get the word out about little Piper, the rescue dog lost in Galena, Illinois.

We've heard from Karin Tarqwyn today a few times. The people in Galena don't seem to care much about Piper being missing. Most businesses won't let her put up signs or flyers. My mommy has sent out dozens of emails to businesses asking for their help in putting up signs and just forwarding the email picture of Piper for get the word out--but only one--the Museum and Historical Society said they would help. No one else is interested. Kind of makes you wonder what is wrong with these folks, doesn't it?

Mommy also called the Galena Gazette today to let them know that a nationally recognized tracker was in town doing an investigation...wouldn't you be interested in finding out about it if you lived in that town and someone like Karin Tarqwyn were there with four tracking dogs? But no, they don't want to do a story--they just want $100 for a small advertisement instead. Karin even went there herself, but they aren't interested. Makes mommy want to cuss..

Here is an update from Karin---

"The going is tough here... deeper snow down in the ravines and it is very hilly.... and where Piper's scent is... it is very remote. I have to track in... then walk out and then take another tracking dog in (to learn more as they each have different skill sets that add to what I can learn). I think in all I walked about 4 miles today... trudging through the snow... I am tired.This morning I thought I had paw prints in the snow from a very small dog... thought it might be Piper but Mason... the foot step tracker said no. Now I think it may have been a coyote pup. However... Piper's scent continues deeper into the woods. Tomorrow we will begin work to the north of where we ended today hoping to pick up her scent up n ear Powder House HIll Rd... going towards the river. As yet... we have not found Piper's scent near any streets or inhabited areas other than where she escaped from. "

We just have to keep the faith everyone. Please keep praying for Piper and pray for Karin and her tracking dogs. Please pray that God uses them to find Piper.

America's Most Recoginized Missing Dog Expert

We've done everything we know how to do to help find little missing Piper in Galena, Illinois. Well, short of one thing. Calling a professional who is trained in finding missing dogs. Someone who could come in with scent dogs and track her. So that's exactly what's going to happen. Karin TarQwin is America's most recoginized missing dog expert. Tomorrow morning she leaves her home in Nebraska with 4 scent dogs headed for Galena Illinois to try to help us find little Piper.

I'll be honest folks--the K9 PI is expensive. We are all pitching in whatever we can--$10, 20, $30, $50 or whatever to get the very best shot we can at her return. Please click HERE to go to the Wire Fox Terrier Midwest website if you can help at all and please share the news with your friends.



No worries if yoiu can't help monitarily right now--many folks are strapped--but please share to word. More people who are aware of her, the better chance we have.


It was 17 degrees in galena last night--20 degrees tonight. It snowed there today and calling for a bit more tonight. If she has any chance at all, we have to act quick.

Piper needs your help!

Friends--we need your help!

There is a little girl wire fox terrier who is LOST and really, really needs help.

Piper was recently rescued from a Missouri puppymill. She was adopted on Tuesday, Feb 22 and the new adopters stopped for something to eat and when they went to get her out of her crate, she got loose. They were in Galena, Illinois (just southeast of Dubuque, Il.) She has a collar on with tags and is chipped, both have the Rescue's phone #



Piper is very timid and small. She is very curious – when no one is looking – and will come to you but cowers all the way. She gives your hand some loving licks and then quickly backs up. Piper is 4 years old and weighs 16 pounds.

The Rescue can be contacted at ccswires@netins.net if you hear anything at all about her or live nearby and can offer to help in anyway by posting fliers, etc.


You can read more about Piper on the Wire Fox Terrier Rescue Midwest site. Click HERE!


Please help us get the word out. This baby girl needs desperately to be found.
Thank you!!!!

Mackie is out of surgery

From Mackie's mom--Mackie had to have surgery this morning...Thank you for your prayers! I just got the call that Mackie is out of surgery! The doc said he is doing okay. His intestine was a bit more comprimised than he had hoped, but he pulled out a baby sock from him so i can put the fear of a mass or tumor aside. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS!! He had left those blasted socks alone for hte past few years and I guess he is back at it. I will have to gate off the laundry room!
Now our boy is on the road to recovery. Thank you ALL!!

Prayers for Mackie

Finnegan here---just wanted to let you all know that my big brother mackie is in the hospital tonight and sure could use some prayers. He was vomiting yesterday and was slowly going downhill today when mom and dad called the vet and asked her to meet them to check him out. They did and xray which looks good. His pancreas looks good too (whatever in the heck that thng is..) but his white bloos cell count is high. They have him on fluids and antibioticss tonight and have kept him despite mom and dad begging to find someway to let him come home (see Mackie has anxiety and hates to be crated or kenneled and doesn't do well in strange places expecially without my mom or dad) The doc siad something about sedating him some so he isn't fully awake all the time, but mom and dad are worried and it sure feels wierd around here without him. So if you are praying pups, how about a shout-out for my brother Mackie. Pretty sure he can use all the help he can. oh, and mom could probably use a valium too...just sayin'

Well, you asked!

Mackie's mom here---
I just wanted to share with you all the scene here this morning. I had Emme in her high chair in the kitchen having her breakfast. Mackie is sitting next to her chair because Emme has started eating those puffs and many of them make their way to the floor to him (he's no dummy!)
Anyway, I feed the baby and when she is done, I put my hands out to ask her if she is ready to get out---"Up?" I ask. "Up?" So Mackie stands up on his rear legs and puts his arms in the air. You just have to love and old, wise dog!!!

The original gruff puppy

Today we learned of the passing of the original gruff puppy and my sweetheart, Opy.



There are no words that will help her loving pawents now, but we are saying prayers for them, brooke and Greg and her new baby brother, Benson.



Rest in peace dear sweet girl. You will be missed by so many.

Missed me by this much...

I think winter has arrived on a massive gust of wind. Its very cold and blowing very hard here. For some reason today is the day that dad chose to get on a ladder and clean out the gutters and mom chose to climb out on the roof to put up the Christmas wreath. I would never be so foolish, but still, I seemed to be the one at risk today.
Mom coaxed Finnegan and I out into that wind to go pee and went inside to check on Emme who was fussing. I did my business and came to stand by the back door on the top two steps. In a few minutes, Dad came to let me in. I strolled in, dad called Finnegan who was playing his usual hard to get, dad called again and Finnegan came running just as hit hit the bottom of the stairs as large tree limb fell from high above (from our 100 year old plus pecan tree which is HUGE!) and it fell on the top few steps--just where I was standing a few moments before and where Finnegan was running to and next to where my Dad was standing (although he was covered by the porch.)
So thankful the big guy upstairs was looking out for us!

The times, they are a changin'

Well guys, I'm not sure if any of my friends are left out there, but I'm still here and wanted to say hello! my mom finally let me get back on the confuser after almost a year. I think all of you know that my mommy was pregnant so I guess she had a good excuse, but geez--a guy needs to stay in touch with his friends and all.

Just to update everyone, we have a new family member. Mom and Dad call her Emme. Here's a picture of her.

(they say "Emmy" but spell it "Emme" and I say "stinky" and spell it "stinky!" hehehehehe)She was born in June and will be turning 6 months old next week. She is a cute little thing, but I'll tell you that she's taken just about all of my alone time with my mommy. Sometimes I like the little squirt because she seems to think that Finnegan and I are the best things on the planet and laughs her head off at our antics(and let's face it, the kid is on to something there), but then othertimes she makes loud noises and seems to want to be the center of attention all the time and I'm just not sure that I care for that. I mean come'on grow up already!

Finnegan is a real do-gooder because he is always doing things like laying his head in the baby's lap and making her giggle and stuff
and mom always gives him a big "awwwwww! Finnegan you are the bestest sweet boy!"
Yuck! I could lay my head in her lap and stuff too, but mom and dad won't let me get near the little squirt. They keep saying something about my record. (I know I can sing and all, but I've never even been in a recording studio so I have no idea what they are talking about.)

Anyway, we are settling in a bit more these days so I hope mom stops making excuses for why I can't get online. I hope all my friends and their people are doing well despite all that's going on in the world today.

Hugs to you all and Happy Holiday's!

Mackie

Wow! What a Nose!!

Merry Christmas everyone!! I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday and are able to spend it with people and furry one's you love the most.

Mom asked me to let her have a little space on my blog to tell a funny story...
Hi all..just wanted to tell you about Mackie's nose..We have learned in our home that we can't put Christmas presents under the tree for the boys because Mackie will open them. He goes around smelling each present and knows which are his. So, we've been getting the boys Christmas presents last thing before Christmas. We went shopping last night and I had Mackie in the kitchen feed them dinner when Steve brought the bag in the house, took it upstairs to our bedroom closet. I was planning on wrapping them today and putting them under the tree early tomorrow, like Santa. When Mackie was finished eating he came out to the living room and the nose went in the air. He walked around smelling everything---all the presents under the tree, each bag and stood on his hind legs to look on table tops. Soon he went to the bottom of the stairs and sniffed...it lead him right upstairs, into our room and to the closet door where he pawed the door and commenced to whining. Darn that terrier nose!!

Anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS! We love you ALL!!

This is from last year, but mom said I should post it again just because its snowy here and this is here favorite picture of Finney. He is a handsome thing, I must admit!

Drop a bomb

Mom and Dad dumped some big news on us this weekend. I know mom has been pretty sick for a few months now and she finally told everyone why...seems that me and Finnegan and Ollie are going to be big brothers cause mom and dad are expecting a human baby. Pretty exciting I think cept I know that a human baby will take a lot of time away from us...hope mom remembers that we were here first!
We are happy for mom and dad (expecially when mom's not sick!)and hope that this means there are going to be more toys in the house for me to play with! heheheh!

It's My Birfday!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to tell you all how excited I am about my birfday today! I'm 9 years old today and my mom is so happy about how happy and healthy and young acting I am. Mom promised that tonight I get to go to dinner with she and dad and then to Petsmart to pick out my birthday presents and then the very best part...I get to go get ice cream.
I'll post pictures tomorrow! AFTER ice cream! YUMMY!!!
Happy Birfday to me, Happy Birfday to me!!

Prayers for the sick and for those who have left us...

We have recently lost two good WFT friends, Einstein was a true gentleman who lived in NC with his mom and dad and little sister Missy Pearl. Missy Peral was a puppy that mommy was taking in to foster and she never made it here because her mommy, Kate met her while transporting her and asked my mommy if she could adopt her right then and there! So Einstain lived out his days with a sweet little sister.
We've also lost Terrence, or T-Boy who was Jennie Bear's WFT and a loved one at that. Terrance was not even 7 years old and suddenly became ill and when rushed to the vet, it seemed he had a form of cancer that moved quickly and took his life.
We are sending prayers for Terrence and Einstein and their families. It makes mommy so sad to know what they are going through.
Now I have to ask you to put on your prayer hats or whatever people do to pray and help us pray for my dear friend Snickers who is gravely ill. We also want you to join us in taking part of a Worldwide Moment for Snickers. See more info below from Jake and Miss Fergi who have organized this moment for Snickers.....


As you may know

Miss Snickers is struggling

Mightily

Along with her family.



(The best place to keep up with updates

is Gussie’s blog.)



Last night looked as if it might have been her last.

This morning she rebounded with improved symptoms.



She is far from out of the woods

But she and her family

Including her gentle and loving brother Butchy

Have been granted another day.



We can’t help but believe

that part of the improvement is because of

The support and love that have surrounded her

From all around the world

Thanks to the linked paws

Of her blogging friends.

The Power of the Paw



We are asking everyone to set your alarms

And at exactly 11:00 PM GMT on Saturday 14 Nov 09

(Go to this link to find what time that is for you)

5:00 PM Saturday evening in Iowa

as Snickers' family sits down to eat

Turn toward them (in the central USA)

And join together in a silent minute

Of prayer, meditation, contemplation, reflection

Whatever feels right to you.



Followed by whatever means of communication

You choose.



Arrooing

Barking

Howling

Yipping

Yapping

Wooing

Meowing

Mewing

Purring




To wish and send Miss Snickers and her family

whatever is in your hearts

That will help them feel the Love and Support

They need right now.




Personally, we’ll be praying for a Miracle.



Then




Blow a Kiss

and send your Love and Prayers and Best Wishes

to Miss Snickers and her Family

and they will feel their arrival

in the breeze.




OK?

We believe it will help.

And we'll do anything in our power right now

To help.




Love,

Jake, Fergi, MomaSally and NinaGirl

We are so close, but still not there...

Mommy has been working to get two wire fox terriers up to Maryland from an AL shelter. She was able to get one of them moved on the 25th..."JJ" is safe despite being fairly underweight and the vet considered him severly dehydrated.
Anyway, she has transport for the remainng dog, "Foxy" this Thursday if she can get him from Tuscaloosa to Atlanta. He has a ride out of Tuscaloosa, but still need help with the leg half way out from Tuscaloosa into Atlanta. He needs to be there Thursday to catch a ride on this transport north to get into foster and so we can find him a new home.
If any of you or someone you know can help, please let me know...wiredformackie@yahoo.com...."Foxy" really needs help and we are so close to getting him...