Dog people know how to party!

Hello everyone!

The party was wonderful and we had a terrific turnout.  Thank you all for coming and bringing so many fun and delicious treats for Spot and Rainer - it was like Christmas came to our house twice this year!

For all those that could not make it, you were missed but no worries because I do believe this shindig is going to become an annual event in the Rosato household.

I really want to give everyone more details on the party but when I try to reach back to recall the specifics of Saturday night it's a blur.  In retrospect I realize I underestimated the effects of my sleep deficit and was on overload with happiness.  All I remember was having a blast and the feeling of  joy while celebrating Spot's homecoming with new friends and old. 

Oh yes, there is one detail that stood out; Spot's feet did not touch the ground for a good hour and a half as he was held, cuddled, petted and lovingly passed around to his many rescuers and friends.

It's particularly funny when I think back to the defensive, frightened little dog that barked and ran miles from everyone that attempted to help him.  The Spot you all saved melted like butter into the arms of all of the huge-hearted heros and heroines at Saturday's party.

One final administrative note; I have been taking down "Lost Dog Spot" flyers like crazy but if anyone sees one would you please rip it down, if you are able to do so?  Thank you!

If I don't see you before, see you January 21, 2011 for the annual "Welcome Home Spot" gathering and be ready to party like a big dog! :)

Marianne

Photos from the Party

The celebratory party rocked! I'm dying to tell about all the amazing people that were there, but I'm guessing that Marianne wants to do it. So I'll just share some photos taken by Nadene:

Marianne & Spot

Spot & Marianne

One Happy Family

Spot Loves His Monkey

Spot & Rainer, Buds Forever

Spot & Rainer, Exhausted

Sam, whose tracking dog Salsa found Spot's final location

Nicole and her husband Jeff, who at risk to their own lives, saved Spot's life by stopping him from going on to the 395 ramp

Shelly, one of two sighters that saw Spot in Del Ray

Kelly, a stranger until she spent all of Recovery Day helping out

Addison (Diana's oldest daughter) and Spot, sharing a moment.

Christine with new friend Rainer.  Spot is only the latest in a long line of lost dogs who Christine has helped recover.  You rock, Christine!

Reunited and it feels so good!

If I live to be one thousand years old it would not be enough time to properly thank everyone and to show the depth of my appreciation and the extent of my gratitude.  To all the kind-hearted, compassionate and caring people out there who helped bring Spot home, thank you from the bottom of my heart, without all of you there would've been a very different end to this story. 

My "million-dollar dog" is ecstatically happy to be home and just as happy to be back in the paws of his big brother Rainer.  I'm not sure who got more kisses from Spot, me or Rainer.

Was at the vet this morning and am pleased to report that Spot was given a clean bill of health.  I had to go to work but left Spot at home with a full belly and cuddled up under the covers with Rainer.

So many people called and helped and exhibited random acts of kindness to me and Spot.  I have many, many thank you's to extend but on this initial posting I have to thank Nancy, Nadene and Donna as the architects and foundation of this rescue. Their effort and dedication was so strong you would've thought Spot was their dog. 

Jennifer was unflagging on the crucial rescue day (yesterday, Thurs) and Christine was out fliering her butt off when I needed that help the most. 

My long-time and very dear friend Tracey was amazing and came from an hour away to put her time and energy into the search all day and into the evening on Monday, 1/15. 

My new friend Diana and her three truly incredible little girls; Addison, Maeve & Reece - they were key to what transpired on rescue day.  Diana's kids are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside and believe me, that is saying something!  Let me tell you, Addison, Maeve and Reece won the Mom Lotto having Diana as their mom.  It's easy to see where these kids got their huge hearts and loving spirit. 

Speaking of new friends, Ron and Kelly are both angels that flew into my life on rescue day.  Driving me and Rainer around as we were desperately seeking Spot, Ron walking for hours in the cold with his stunningly beautiful (and well-dressed) Italian greyhound, Kelly bringing me a most delicious sandwich, water, bowls, dog-food and even napkins and the offer of using her place for bathroom breaks, a cup of hot coffee and somewhere to get warm. 

My neighbor Sue, running errands, helping in every way she could. 

And of course, Rob, another old friend, who worked so hard and smart to get our furry boy back home. 

Last but by no mean least, Trackers Laura Totis and Chewie (http://www.ljttraining.com/); so diligent, so hard working, so very good (they came out to track Spot twice) and the incredibly impressive Sam and Salsa (http://www.puregoldpettrackers.com/) who made January 21st rescue day instead of Thursday.

I have much more to write and tell everyone but they keeping asking me to do work at my work - weird. Gotta keep the kibble coming in.  I'll leave you for the moment with a reiteration of the invite to come to my "Welcome Home Spot" party on Saturday night.  I'm throwing this soiree together very last minute and it will be uber casual but we need to celebrate!  Come one, come all and meet the fruit of your labor, Spot.  Please do come, even if you were just following the blog, I want to meet and thank everyone!!!

See you all tomorrow night!

Marianne

Follow-Up - The Final Track Map

Just heard from Sam and Salsa, who sent the map of the track, and a "doctored" version of an older picture of Spot and his buddy, Rainer.  (Thanks to Marianne's sister for the great photos of Spot with Rainer, and Marianne promises to always have more photos of Spot on hand in the future!)

Well, I'm so happy that last night's track was so fruitful and had such a happy ending. Attached is a PDF of the track.

I also found this picture on the blog page that seemed so appropriate for the reunion that took place last night. Rainer did his part in the find by confirming Salsa's indication that Spot was in the community garden. I was really impressed how calm Spot was once he was caught. His mom handed him to me to hold him for a few minutes and I was covered with very sweet kisses all over my face.

Congratulations to the entire team who came together to track, poster, take calls (and charge Marianne's dead phone), and driving around the area looking for the ellusive Spot. (sometimes with all of their kids helping too : ) Fantastic teamwork!

Thank you all,

Sam and Salsa

 

Click here for a larger version

Spot is in Marianne's Arms!!!!

6:15pm:  No details yet, and trust me I'm dying to get them too!! Will post the story asap!!!!

9pm:  OK I'm settling in to write it up . . . .  give me a few minutes . . .

So you've seen the updates I've been able to post throughout the day, whenever Nadene could speak to Marianne or anyone on site, and then email me. Apparently all day long, they were only a short time behind him, wandering around the area there. They would walk up to someone and hand them a biz card, and the person would say, "I just saw that dog" -- and this happened over and over again. Some people basically joined the search and spent the rest of today, unexpectedly and for total strangers, searching and putting up posters and handing out cards.

Then there was a lull in the day that was difficult for Marianne and the volunteers because the minutes stretched on and on with no one else saying they'd just seen Spot. So we broke down and called Sam, with Pure Gold Pet Trackers. We knew she was working another job, and hated to think about the lost cat that she was trying to trap . . .  but we were desperate. The weather was going to get bad, and we were concerned about him getting away from the area altogether. So I just called Sam, took a deep breath, and begged her to come. And she immediately said yes! (I hope the cat's owner isn't reading this blog!!!!)

She & Salsa had to come from a distance away, like SE DC I think, so by the time they arrived, our estimate is that we were about four hours behind as they were starting the track. Since I wasn't there and I don't have the lay of the land, I'm not going to try to give the details of just where they went. But I understand they basically did about a five mile track up almost to Crystal City and back (to S Glebe), and remember that Spot is a 15 lb dog with little legs, and he was stopping along the way to sniff and pee and poop and maybe pick up a snack if he found one. Salsa on the other hand is a golden retriever hot on his trail, and she was moving. With such a hot scent, she was on a mission.

There came a point at which Salsa started acting "funny" enough that Marianne had to stop and ask why she was acting that way. Sam calmly explained that it was because she had never -- never -- been on such a hot track! Her actions basically indicated that Spot was pretty much right there somewhere, and Salsa thought he might jump right out at her! Sam actually had to take Salsa to the car, and remove her from the scene so she didn't do something that caused Spot to flee.

It sounds like it all went down while Sam was taking Salsa to the car, and when she came back, Spot was in Marianne's arms, if I got that right! It was something about that he was seemingly -- and he was! -- right on the other side of a fence, not that she could see him. But on Sam's instructions she started saying something like "OK Spot, time to go home now." I guess after a minute of that, Spot honed in on the source of that sound, and he started making some kind of squeaking noise that showed her his precise location (I think there was some vegetation that he was hiding in, maybe). And I think the fence was a low fence that she was able to reach over and pick him up since he was, by now, propped up against it with his front legs.

It sounds wonderful, and I'm anxious to get all the details of the story from Marianne! But I know he is home now, safe and sound, and he's got some decent food and water by now. And there are plans for a visit to the vet in the morning. Of course you'll get the vet's report here, and pictures!

And a celebration has already been scheduled for this coming Saturday, at 7pm -- all you have to do is wear polka dots!  Send an email RSVP and we'll send you the address and directions by email!

Nancy Despeaux