Finding Ella - 8/15/2009

The day started the same, with me getting up at 6:00 a.m. to drive over to Alameda and check the humane traps and walk around looking for Ella.

At around 8:00 a.m. I went back home to take a shower and get ready to get more fliers made, and then go meet my friend Janie at McKinley Park to put up more signs.  Janie and I met up around 10, re-canvassed the area, and ran into a girl named Desiree, who I had only met over the phone and email.  She has a little golden Cockapoo and feeling my pain, has been on the lookout for Ella.

At noon I met up with my friend Astrid and her husband Manuel, who were going to re-canvass Park Street for me.  We chatted for a while, then I went to the Alameda shelter to check on black lab, the Oakland shelter to check for Ella, ran a few errands and then went home to rest a bit before going out again.

At around 3:00 in the afternoon I got a call from a man who had just seen my flier, and realized that Ella was the dog that tried to come into his house the night before as he was cooking dinner, and had left the door to the backyard open.  He shooed her away, and then saw her hanging out in the backyard later that night when he took out the trash.  He gave me his address (which was on Pacific, between Walnut and Oak) and promised to cook dinner with the door open again in case she came back.

While another close call, it was a better sign.  To me it meant Ella was getting tired of life on her own, and for whatever reason, was ready to trust a stranger for some help. 

I went to my sister's house to pick up her dog Cole.  She went to Tahoe and I've been using Cole as a "magnet" dog.  Cole is Ella's first playmate in her life with me and she has known him since she was 10 weeks old. 

I was especially tired as we got in the car last night.  My plan was to go straight to the house she was last seen and start calling for her.  I looked at Cole and said, "We're going to find Ella tonight and bring her home, right?"  He looked at me and wagged his tail when he heard her name. 

When I got to Alameda I went straight to Pacific.  As we approached the block Ella was last seen on, Cole started to act up and made a lot of noise.  "Is this a good sign?" I wondered.  He could barely wait to get out of the car.

We started walking down Pacific towards Park, slowly, taking time to call deeply into each backyard, one by one.  Two doors down from the sighting, I called.  I heard a very familiar bark, but there have been a lot of those.  I called again, and it seemed like the dog I heard was in a house three doors down from the sighting.  I looked up at the window, and out of the corner of my eye to the left, I saw her run out of the backyard.  Ella.

She stopped about 15 feet away from us, dead in her tracks.  We just looked at each other for a minute and I said, "Ella, it's mama and Cole!"  Cole is what really did it.  She ran to him right away, then she looked up and me and jumped up on me.  I got her leash on her as fast as I could and gave her a huge hug.

Now, this is where the sobbing should have started, right?  But I was more stunned than everything else.  After spending at least four hours a day looking for her for the past 18 days, here it was, a simple, five minute search and BAM - there she was. 

I had to spread the word.  I called Nicol first, my friend whose house she ran from, just two blocks away.  I got her voice mail, which I expected.  Nicol is a wedding planner, and I thought she was probably working, but I walked the dog over to her house, just in case.

Called my sister - voice mail.  Called my parents - voice mail.  Called Dylan - voice mail.  then I just shot a picture of her with my phone and posted it to facebook.  "Look what I just found!" the caption proclaimed.

Theresa Castro, my Alameda Guardian Angel who filled her work days keeping an eye out for Ella everywhere she went, was the first person I got live.  Her family cheering in the background, and the two of us crying on the phone.  Many more calls took place, including one to Diana Barrett, the Animal Control officer I've been working with, but who has been on vacation for the past week.  When she gets back on Tuesday, I hope my voice mail is a happy "welcome back" for her.

Eventually, the word got out, I started getting calls back, comments back.  Today I got a call back from Dave, the Oakland Tribune reporter.  He wants to meet Ella on Tuesday and do a follow up story.  I called everyone else in my phone today who I've never met, but who have called to check on Ella.  The call made their day.  There's one more person I need to get a hold of.  She's an "unknown caller" on my phone, and I wrote her number down on one of the numerous slips of paper that have grown out of control the pas few weeks.  Dovey, I will try to call you soon.

Ella was filthy.  Ella is ultra hairy, but feels bony under it.  Ella has a really nasty sore paw and is wearing the cone of shame to keep her from it.  Ella was really, really thirsty, very hungry, and exceptionally tired (she's sleeping again now). We have an appointment at the vet first thing tomorrow morning.  I'll probably make an appointment for them to groom her later this week.

I learned and re-learned a lot of things over the past few weeks, which I will share in due time.  But right now, I just can't stop looking at my dog, and listening to her make her familiar puppy noises while she dreams. 

Thank you again, so much everyone.  It's back to life, back to reality....and I can hardly wait!

Comments

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You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren?ˉt afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

[Matt Lloyd]

Wonderful news!! I am so happy for you and Ella! I can not imagine what we would do if Leyla went a wondering! You have been so strong over the last two weeks, Ella is very lucky to have such a caring, resilient, persistent and loving mommy!

If you have any proactive advice for other people please post lessons learned!

Horray! Matt

[timmmii]

So happy to hear such a happy ending! i lost my cat Frank for several days 5 years ago and i thought i had lost him for sure. The joy to experience the reuniting of you two is unmatched. Very stoked for you and your dog, Ella. :) :) :) cheers!

[Ann McLaughlin]

There is good in the world, Gina! I am so happy that you and your pup are reunited again. Thank you for letting us all be a part of this big adventure and I'm so, so glad that it has this wonderful ending! :)