Scout, a black labrador retriever

Lost dog, owner reunite after four weeks

Pet survives month on her own in northeast Boulder

By Jean Spencer, Camera Staff Writer

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Andrew Newman with his dog, Scout, on Wednesday. With the help of a cyclist, Newman, of Boulder, found his black Labrador mix after the dog had been lost and injured for four weeks.

BOULDER, Colo. — When Andrew Newman scratches the belly of his 3 ½-year-old dog, Scout, he no longer takes it for granted. His black Labrador mix — and best friend — went missing for four weeks and survived on her own in northeast Boulder.

Last week, Newman and Scout were reunited, and now the two can cuddle and play once again.

“I can’t believe I can hold my dog in my arms again,” Newman said.

Scout ran away early June 24 after being hit by a car. Newman’s father, Robert Newman, had taken her out for a late-night walk when a car “came out of nowhere” at about 30 mph and struck Scout. Her collar and tags were knocked off at impact. The car — and the terrified dog — fled the scene in opposite directions, Robert Newman said.

“I ran after her and tried to keep up with her,” he said. “But she went over a hill, and I lost sight of her.” He called his son, and the two searched the area with flashlights into the morning — the beginning of a four-week, “night-and-day” hunt for the missing dog.

Andrew Newman, who got Scout as a puppy, hung nearly 500 fliers throughout his northeast Boulder neighborhood, on nearby bike paths and up and down Pearl Street. He published “missing” ads in the Camera, the Denver Post and Craigslist. Even after Scout had been missing for 30 days, Newman said, he never lost hope.

“I couldn’t sit and watch TV or read a book without thinking that she was out there somewhere wanting to come home,” he said. Then, on Friday, Newman’s phone rang.

Tanya Kaplan, of Boulder, spotted Scout as she was biking on a trail about two blocks from Newman’s home, 5505 Valmont Road. She had seen a “missing” flier and thought the black, wandering dog resembled Scout. She called Newman.

Newman said he left work early, went to the area of the sighting and called Scout’s name for the umpteenth time, hoping she would finally come.

“And when I turned around, there she was, looking right at me and wagging her tail,” Newman said Wednesday, as Scout crawled under his chair to rest.

Newman said he almost didn’t recognize his dog when he first saw her. She had lost about 12 pounds, had bite marks along her body from possible coyote attacks, had a chipped tooth and a broken toe.

At the Arapahoe Animal Hospital, Dr. Greg Hayes amputated her broken toe — which had developed an infection — and stitched up her wounds. He said her survival was remarkable.

“With the amount of coyotes and mountain lions in that part of town, it is amazing she survived,” Hayes said. “It just shows you how strong some dogs are.” He said Scout had most likely been feeding on small rodents to stay alive.

To ensure Scout doesn’t go missing again, Newman has had an identification microchip embedded under her skin and ordered her a GPS collar, which can track the dog’s movements and send Newman e-mails, text messages or voice messages regarding her whereabouts.

Kaplan, who owns a Lab mix, said she was delighted to have helped reunite the friends, and she refused Newman’s $500 reward offer.

“I’ve lost a dog. I know what it feels like,” Kaplan said.

Source:

http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/29/lost-dog-owner-reunite-after-four-weeks/