Renewed hope! But if today's sighting was Izzie, she's spread herself even thinner accross the area, having now popped up around five miles north of most of the areas where we've been concentrating. This sighting was in Newport, and we have put fliers up there. So the people who saw her knew to call us.
The sighters' bad fortune - both being home sick with the flu - was our good fortune in that they were in a place where they could see Izzie. What they saw was actually three dogs; one that looked like Izzie, a Jack Russell and a third that looked like a min pin -- all small dogs of similar size. This is not the first time Izzie has been seen with other dogs.
One of the sighters had seen the JRT by herself several days ago, and that dog may be the same dog that is featured on fliers in Newport for a dog missing since earlier this week. The Jack Russell's home is in an area where Izzie may have been sighted about two months ago. So if Izzie is wandering around in no discernible pattern, as it seems she is, and is returning to some of the same areas over and over, this may be an example of that.
This possible sighting can be seen on the sighting map.
Update: from canvassing people in the area, we now have two additional sightings in the general area of this sighting! That sighting was from mid-day, and we have another one from a few hours earlier in the morning that was also all three dogs, and a final one from a few hours later that was just Izzie.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
This Week
Izzie isn't showing herself to people that know who to call, so no sightings since before the last update. But we know that she is still out there, still trying to find her way home, still confused about which way to turn to get there.
Knowing that there are still so many people that we need to spread the word to, a wonderful benefactor has stepped in this week to provide some funding help. We are encouraged that by increasing the number of people that are aware of Izzie's plight, we are closer to connecting with those that we are certain must be seeing her, and can tell that she needs help, but who can't catch her and don't know who is looking for her.
Meanwhile, we're still going out every day to search, talk to people, and check any feeding and scent stations we have going. It gets more difficult with every passing day, and especially those that are rainy and cold, since it's obvious that these are the days that Izzie is most miserable.
We'd like to have Izzie home before the three month anniversary of her departure, but it's not far off.
Knowing that there are still so many people that we need to spread the word to, a wonderful benefactor has stepped in this week to provide some funding help. We are encouraged that by increasing the number of people that are aware of Izzie's plight, we are closer to connecting with those that we are certain must be seeing her, and can tell that she needs help, but who can't catch her and don't know who is looking for her.
Meanwhile, we're still going out every day to search, talk to people, and check any feeding and scent stations we have going. It gets more difficult with every passing day, and especially those that are rainy and cold, since it's obvious that these are the days that Izzie is most miserable.
We'd like to have Izzie home before the three month anniversary of her departure, but it's not far off.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Update through 12 weeks
Today, Saturday, marks 12 weeks since Izzie has been missing. Twelve long, difficult weeks during which Izzie has remained as central to her family as she was before she left! It hasn't been fun, but the days have been filled the only way they could be filled - working every idea imaginable to find Izzie.
Since the sightings earlier in the week, Karen has been walking the area, talkng to as many people as she can find to tell about Izzie, or remind about Izzie, or find out who might have seen Izzie. She was able to speak to mostly everyone who has property that backs up to the new search area. They all have cards and know of the recent sightings in their neighborhood.
At one point, Karen could swear she heard Izzie's bark! She could hear a small yappy dog barking, and a dog barking which sounded like Izzie. But she still hasn't caught up with her.
With muzzle loading season starting Saturday, meaning turkey and deer, we were really hoping to have Izzie back home. The obvious fears are for her safety, of course, but because Izzie may be scared out of the area.
There are feeding stations which Karen is checking each day. They are moved around whenever a new opportunity presents itself. For example, when Karen found a fallen deer, which Izzie could feed on, she placed a camera at that site for a few days. The camera caught vultures and also another stray dog, but no Izzie .
There were other calls and emails of possible sightings that kept Karen busy, but none that have panned out.
Since the sightings earlier in the week, Karen has been walking the area, talkng to as many people as she can find to tell about Izzie, or remind about Izzie, or find out who might have seen Izzie. She was able to speak to mostly everyone who has property that backs up to the new search area. They all have cards and know of the recent sightings in their neighborhood.
At one point, Karen could swear she heard Izzie's bark! She could hear a small yappy dog barking, and a dog barking which sounded like Izzie. But she still hasn't caught up with her.
With muzzle loading season starting Saturday, meaning turkey and deer, we were really hoping to have Izzie back home. The obvious fears are for her safety, of course, but because Izzie may be scared out of the area.
There are feeding stations which Karen is checking each day. They are moved around whenever a new opportunity presents itself. For example, when Karen found a fallen deer, which Izzie could feed on, she placed a camera at that site for a few days. The camera caught vultures and also another stray dog, but no Izzie .
There were other calls and emails of possible sightings that kept Karen busy, but none that have panned out.
Upcoming -- a postcard mailing to a large population of Blacksburg that might have seen Izzie, but who Karen hasn't been able to catch up with.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
3 Sightings!
Finally!!!! More sightings!
Canvassing of the area around where Keisters Branch Road and Nikkel Lane meet, by Karen, have produced three sightings, all within shouting distance, all in the last 24 hours.
Hope abounds!
Oh, a word about Izzie's collar, since one of the sighters didn't call because the collar he saw on the dog didn't match the color of the collar on Izzie's photo . . . In Izzie's photo on her fliers and cards, she is wearing a red collar. When she disappeared, she was wearing a green collar. The color of the collar that the man saw on the dog that looked like Izzie was green.
Having said that, please disregard the collar color anyway! There are any number of ways and reasons why Izzie might now have a different collar or no collar at all. Please just call if you see a dog that could conceivably be Izzie.
Thanks once again for all of your support! It's making a very difficult job just a slightly bit less difficult.
Canvassing of the area around where Keisters Branch Road and Nikkel Lane meet, by Karen, have produced three sightings, all within shouting distance, all in the last 24 hours.
Hope abounds!
Oh, a word about Izzie's collar, since one of the sighters didn't call because the collar he saw on the dog didn't match the color of the collar on Izzie's photo . . . In Izzie's photo on her fliers and cards, she is wearing a red collar. When she disappeared, she was wearing a green collar. The color of the collar that the man saw on the dog that looked like Izzie was green.
Having said that, please disregard the collar color anyway! There are any number of ways and reasons why Izzie might now have a different collar or no collar at all. Please just call if you see a dog that could conceivably be Izzie.
Thanks once again for all of your support! It's making a very difficult job just a slightly bit less difficult.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Rain Rain Go Away
Like so many dogs, Izzie detests weather like this rainy and windy weather we've been having. Come to think of it, the other dogs that Karen has often seen roaming around haven't been showing themselves, either - most likely for the same reasons. Once the rain lifts, it seems that the chance of seeng Izzie will improve.
Calls have been coming in this week with sightings of dogs that might be Izzie, and every one is checked out thoroughly. Sorry to say, none of them have been Izzie. In a way, it disguises how long it's been since there was a really good sighting - more than ten days now.
Saturday, October 17th, marks 11 weeks since Izzie disappeared. It's been hard being with out her, and surely she missed her family as much as she is missed. And it's hard just knowing all of the time with her that has been lost and can never be gotten back.
But the hope and the faith is still where it always has been. Besides making rounds all over town, talking to people and making sure everyone knows who to call when they see Izzie, we are planning a postcard mailing. Everyone in town needs to have their own copy of Izzie's picture and the contact information. There's no telling where Izzie will pop up next.
Calls have been coming in this week with sightings of dogs that might be Izzie, and every one is checked out thoroughly. Sorry to say, none of them have been Izzie. In a way, it disguises how long it's been since there was a really good sighting - more than ten days now.
Saturday, October 17th, marks 11 weeks since Izzie disappeared. It's been hard being with out her, and surely she missed her family as much as she is missed. And it's hard just knowing all of the time with her that has been lost and can never be gotten back.
But the hope and the faith is still where it always has been. Besides making rounds all over town, talking to people and making sure everyone knows who to call when they see Izzie, we are planning a postcard mailing. Everyone in town needs to have their own copy of Izzie's picture and the contact information. There's no telling where Izzie will pop up next.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
And Today Is Another Day
OK so that dog wasn't Izzie, but the hope was nice while it lasted.
And then an email came in late last night from a couple that had just seen a dog that may be Izzie. Live, hot sightings like that are obviously the best! Since it was around midnight, that may be the reason the couple emailed rather than calling.
Please keep in mind -- it's never too late to call in a live sighting. I guess if you remember at 2am that you saw Izzie the day before but forgot to call in the sighting, that call can wait till the morning, or email is fine. But if you are able to call while you see Izzie or within minutes, please don't be concerned about the hour being too late to call!
Also, if you can take a picture of the dog you see with your phone and email it, that would be very helpful too.
Thanks to everyone for your support. It's helping much more than you know.
And then an email came in late last night from a couple that had just seen a dog that may be Izzie. Live, hot sightings like that are obviously the best! Since it was around midnight, that may be the reason the couple emailed rather than calling.
Please keep in mind -- it's never too late to call in a live sighting. I guess if you remember at 2am that you saw Izzie the day before but forgot to call in the sighting, that call can wait till the morning, or email is fine. But if you are able to call while you see Izzie or within minutes, please don't be concerned about the hour being too late to call!
Also, if you can take a picture of the dog you see with your phone and email it, that would be very helpful too.
Thanks to everyone for your support. It's helping much more than you know.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Whatever You Have to Cross, Cross Them!
We have some hope in the form of a new "sighting" call earlier today, although if the dog in question is Izzie, that must mean that the recent sightings may not have been her.
Someone that picked up a notice recently has a friend that found a dog matching Izzie's description, and the friend has been giving the dog a home. The caller has seen the dog a few times in the past month as he visits the friend every several weeks.
The caller will be visiting his friend later today, and will call to say if the dog is or is not the long lost Izzie.
Everything is crossed now!
Someone that picked up a notice recently has a friend that found a dog matching Izzie's description, and the friend has been giving the dog a home. The caller has seen the dog a few times in the past month as he visits the friend every several weeks.
The caller will be visiting his friend later today, and will call to say if the dog is or is not the long lost Izzie.
Everything is crossed now!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
And more sightings!
We are happy to report another couple of Izzie sightings, confirming that she hasn't turned to fairy dust! She's out there! Karen has been able to jump right on each sighting, and to go to the areas and speak with the people that have seen her, and others in the area, some of which have also seen her. And Karen is updating the map with the sightings.
But honestly, I'm having a hard time keeping up with where the girl is going! It looks like she's still moving around a LOT!
So the message for now is -- wherever you are in Blacksburg and the surrounding area -- please be on the look-out for Izzie. Do NOT be surprised if you see her; don't think that a sighting can't happen to you. It can . . . and hopefully yours will be the one that provides the link that is needed to bring Izzie safely home.
Stay tuned; all indications are that there will be more. But, what will it be, and when, and where???
But honestly, I'm having a hard time keeping up with where the girl is going! It looks like she's still moving around a LOT!
So the message for now is -- wherever you are in Blacksburg and the surrounding area -- please be on the look-out for Izzie. Do NOT be surprised if you see her; don't think that a sighting can't happen to you. It can . . . and hopefully yours will be the one that provides the link that is needed to bring Izzie safely home.
Stay tuned; all indications are that there will be more. But, what will it be, and when, and where???
Monday, October 5, 2009
New Sightings! 10/4 & 10/5
Saturday marked nine weeks since Izzie went missing -- the first Saturday in August.
Following a busy weekend packed with new visits and revisits to all sighting areas and feeding stations past and present, and pretty much any place that ever had something going on since Izzie went on the run, there have been a couple of sightings -- one Sunday evening and then earlier today. Karen is checking on the latest sighting as I'm writing this update.
Our travels over the weekend included a visit to a couple that had seen Izzie in August, and they have offered a couple of dog houses they are not using. These will be great complements to feeding stations, so this offer is greatly appreciated and those dog houses will be picked up for this use!
We also found out about the dog we'd been calling Scruffy, who is one dog that Izzie has been seen traveling with. Scruffy is an owned dog named Gypsy that was caught all the way over at the feeding station, on that camera there, a good distance from her home. Meanwhile, another dog that we saw as we were out and about is one that we know to live quite a ways from where we saw him (or her). So knowing that the dogs in this area that Izzie has been seen with are such travelers does make it easy to see how much she must be moving around.
We've received a call from the US postal service regarding the fact that we've been putting fliers in US mail boxes which is, as it turns out, illegal. Mea culpa for this! We won't be putting any more fliers in mailboxes, and we are looking for more ways to make sure that everyone knows who to call if they spot Izzie.
Following a busy weekend packed with new visits and revisits to all sighting areas and feeding stations past and present, and pretty much any place that ever had something going on since Izzie went on the run, there have been a couple of sightings -- one Sunday evening and then earlier today. Karen is checking on the latest sighting as I'm writing this update.
Our travels over the weekend included a visit to a couple that had seen Izzie in August, and they have offered a couple of dog houses they are not using. These will be great complements to feeding stations, so this offer is greatly appreciated and those dog houses will be picked up for this use!
We also found out about the dog we'd been calling Scruffy, who is one dog that Izzie has been seen traveling with. Scruffy is an owned dog named Gypsy that was caught all the way over at the feeding station, on that camera there, a good distance from her home. Meanwhile, another dog that we saw as we were out and about is one that we know to live quite a ways from where we saw him (or her). So knowing that the dogs in this area that Izzie has been seen with are such travelers does make it easy to see how much she must be moving around.
We've received a call from the US postal service regarding the fact that we've been putting fliers in US mail boxes which is, as it turns out, illegal. Mea culpa for this! We won't be putting any more fliers in mailboxes, and we are looking for more ways to make sure that everyone knows who to call if they spot Izzie.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Mid-Week Update
On Wednesday, additional photos of Izzie were shown to the woman that had called in last Friday's sighting, and she's 100% sure from those photos that it was Izzie that she saw. This is good news since it had been a little while since we'd been sure that Izzie was out & about being seen. It provides new direction, a new area to concentrate in, and I for one am feeling brand new hope.
The feeding station and borrowed motion sensored camera were moved from the first site -- which seems to have been feeding everyone BUT Izzie -- over to the new area on Tuesday. It's getting some action and hopefully, it's Izzie. Besides the smell of the food to draw her there, a dirty shirt from the house was also left there to assist in that.
But not ones to wait around for Izzie to show, Izzie's supporters have been covering a lot of ground in this new area, talking to landowners and distributing fliers, and also searching in case Izzie is stuck somewhere. Next up, they will be there at the end of the workday today to catch people arriving home from work.
The feeding station and borrowed motion sensored camera were moved from the first site -- which seems to have been feeding everyone BUT Izzie -- over to the new area on Tuesday. It's getting some action and hopefully, it's Izzie. Besides the smell of the food to draw her there, a dirty shirt from the house was also left there to assist in that.
But not ones to wait around for Izzie to show, Izzie's supporters have been covering a lot of ground in this new area, talking to landowners and distributing fliers, and also searching in case Izzie is stuck somewhere. Next up, they will be there at the end of the workday today to catch people arriving home from work.
New Izzie Poster!
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