By Catherine Kavanaugh, Daily Tribune Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Mixed lab makes it through winter, 12 miles of busy streets
FERNDALE – A dog that ran away on Jan. 7 -- the day after she was adopted -- somehow survived the coldest and snowiest days of winter and is back with her foster care guardian.
Laverne, a Labrador retriever mix last seen on Laprairie Street on Jan. 13, was found 12 miles away in the area of Telegraph and Schoolcraft roads in Detroit.
The 4-year-old brindle dog had fended for herself 65 days, crossed busy mile roads and freeway overpasses, and depended on the kindness of at least one stranger.
“A nice lady had been feeding her in her garage for a week and called the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society,” said Tracy Balazy of Dearborn, Laverne’s foster care guardian and soon-to-be forever home owner.
Balazy was in the process Tuesday of adopting Laverne – a dog she had fostered for five months and then with some reluctance gave up to a Ferndale couple so she could give temporary shelter to another homeless dog.
However, absence made Balazy’s heart grow fonder of the shy, mild-mannered Laverne. The volunteer with the Dearborn Animal Shelter never stopped looking for the dog and even offered a $250 reward, which was later raised to $500, for her return.
Balazy left 500 fliers at Ferndale houses and businesses in the area of Livernois and Eight Mile roads, where Laverne’s first adoptive owner said she rushed past him and out of sight the day after he brought her home to his girlfriend’s house on Gardendale.
The search was on. On one bitterly cold weekend, 10 people fanned out across southwest Ferndale to look for Laverne. They were encouraged by two sightings, one from an Allen Street resident who said the 50-pound dog had been picking through his garbage.
Balazy said she was relieved to learn the timid and skittish Laverne had some street sense. It made it easier for her to stay hopeful during days of single-digit temperatures, nights of sub-zero wind chills and all of February – the second snowiest month on record.
“On some days I’d go looking for her I’d be all bundled up and I’d be freezing,” Balazy said. “One time there was ice on the inside of my car window. I wondered how Laverne could stand it.”
Balazy went through a lot of fleeting optimism on her searches.
“I imagined all kinds of scenarios,” she said. “I’d call for her and think she might come out from an alley. I’d see paw prints and try to follow them but they always ended at a shoveled sidewalk.”
As much as the cold and snow, Balazy was worried about Laverne crossing busy streets. Not knowing which direction to turn, she expanded her searches into Detroit and as far north as Clawson and Troy. Ferndale residents also stayed on diligent guard for Laverne.
On days when it was fit for man and beast to be outside, Balazy would take her rescued dog, Uma, to look for Laverne. The pair had become fast friends and Balazy figured if anything could lure Laverne out of hiding it would be the furry black mutt who had become her creature of comfort.
Every time Balazy saw people outside in Ferndale, she would show them a flier with Laverne’s picture.
“They would say, ‘Oh yeah, we know about this dog. We’re watching for her,’ ” Balazy said. “Other times people would call me and say your flier is still hanging, should I leave it? Did you find her? Everyone in Ferndale was so helpful. The community is great.”
Balazy was volunteering Saturday for the Dearborn Animal Shelter at a home and garden show when she learned Laverne had been located and was waiting to be picked up at the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society, Detroit – one of the many places she had left a flier.
“I was shocked,” Balazy said. “They recognized Laverne from a flier but she has a microchip and they could have easily scanned it, too.”
Balazy and Elaine Greene, executive director of the Dearborn Animal Shelter, went to get Laverne immediately. They had a low-key reunion.
“Laverne was just sitting there quietly. She was always very gentle and it was just business as usual,” Balazy said. “She’s in good shape, too. She weighs the same as when she took off, maybe even a little more.”
Balazy’s husband, Chris, has a theory.
“I bet she figured out where every little old lady who feeds feral cats lives,” he said. “Laverne probably muscled in and had her fill.”
When Laverne and Uma saw each other for the first time in more than two months, the dogs nuzzled. Laverne is staying very close to her buddy these days. She ran behind Uma when a neighbor stopped by to welcome her home.
“We’ll never know for sure what Laverne has been through,” Balazy said. “I’m just thrilled she was found safe.”
The woman who called the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society is eligible for the reward along with the two men sent to retrieve Laverne.
How did she make it so far? Balazy said Laverne might have hid by day and roamed at night when traffic was lighter.
On Tuesday, Balazy was going to fill out the paperwork to adopt the mutt who miraculously made it back to her after some trying months and miles.
“She’s lying on the couch – very much a dog of luxury,” Balazy said. “We’re both much better now.”
Source: http://www.dailytribune.com/articles/2011/03/15/news/doc4d7faaf4dea3d368760606.txt?viewmode=default
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