Squirt, yorkie

Lost dog reunited with delighted and worried owner from Kansas

Sept 4, 2009

Squirt’s back in Kansas, but what an adventure he’s had.

Rose Johnson, owner of the 11-year-old Yorkshire terrier, probably thought the 10-pound pooch ended up as a snack for an eagle or coyote after the dog went missing during a visit to Langlade County earlier this summer.

“Squirt decided to go on a walkabout without Rose’s permission,” Pat Anderson of the Langlade County Humane Society, said. “For weeks, a frantic Rose drove all over looking for him. She reported him missing to the police and the Langlade County Humane Society but finally had to return to Kansas without him.”

The Yorkie was tiny, but tough. There were regular sightings of Squirt around the Bass Lake area, Anderson said, and people aware of the situation left food on their porches and decks, hoping to capture the little absconder.

“He was scared and quick and couldn’t be caught,” Anderson said.

And he walked a long way on tiny paws, traveling from Bass Lake down Highway B to Bogus Road and probably plenty of points in-between.

Finally, after three weeks on the lam, Squirt showed up at Wayne and Donna Jester’s home and, after getting treats twice a day for a while, allowed himself to be caught.

The Jesters notified Anderson, who got in touch with Johnson.

“Rose had kept calling the humane society for updates and was ecstatic to hear that after three weeks, her dog had been found,” Anderson said.

Johnson, accompanied by her grandson, Jacob, jumped in her car and made the 14-hour trip from Kansas to Antigo for what Anderson termed “a tearful and happy” reunion.

“She had to turn around and drive back the same day, Anderson said. “She gives a million thanks to everyone who tried to catch Squirt.”

Anderson said that if Johnson had not reported her dog missing to law enforcement and the humane society the outcome could have been very different.

“A good lesson was learned from this experience,” she said.

Source: http://www.antigodailyjournal.com/full.php?id=9094