We tend to get a lot of calls on our line, and unfortunately we can’t respond to all of them — there’s simply too much follow up for us to do! So while we listen to everything that comes through and log the calls and place markers on our map, we tend to call when we have specific questions.
So far we’ve had two calls today: a dead dog/dead fox and a possible sighting — a dog who looked like Mari chasing a deer in the Fells. It’s tough to get a lot of data from a running dog in the woods — the caller left a specific time and location and described what he saw, which was awesome, so we’re logging it and seeing if anything else pops up nearby. Again, the goal is to figure out where she’s hanging out and set comfort stations to try to lure her to one spot before setting traps. We can’t set random traps because as we’ve seen, the Fells has all sorts of creatures from racoons to fisher cats to coyotes, as well as off-leash dogs, all of whom have visited the feeding station in the past!
Does Mari chase deer? Yes. The only time we ever “lost” her before was when she was hiking with Andrew, saw a couple of deer for the first time in her life, and took off. She apparently chased them across the Fells (according to a biker who saw her) and then came back 10 minutes later. Andrew, of course, was freaking out the whole time and thought he was going to have to call me saying he’d lost Mari. He’d started after her, then decided to stay on the trail and yell for her, and she came back exhausted, panting like crazy, and thoroughly pleased with herself.
Honestly, sol? Three deer? All by your 20-lb self?
Could this be her? Sure. Could it be another dog who got away from its person to chase deer? Yup. I like to think it’s her having a terrific chase and then catching her breath up on some rock before taking a nap, but we can’t really know without other sightings.
Running dog blur
Run like the wind Mari – you go girl!
WOW!! I have followed Mari’s story since the beginning but never posted until now. As I sit here in tears, I am thrilled with todays turn of events! From this picture it sure looks like a doggie who has been out and about for quite awhile. The ears look slightly dirty as do the legs!! You go girl…having a blast while your army searches for you!! I have faith she will return to you and SOON!!
Annindita,
Hi – its Meredith from the day we picketed together! I saw a small creature chasing a larger creature (that I thought at the time might be a deer) on Friday evening just before dark in the fells. I didn’t call you because it was just too far away for any clarity on my part and it did not occur to me the small creature could have been Mari. I did not see any humans nearby, but again, I was fairly far away. I am only posting this in case the location is at all similar to your post. I was on one side of the middle reservior (north-northeast side) on a no-name trail and I saw the rukus on the far side of the reservior (north-northwest side) near the fire road. The closest fells entrance to this area would be Hillcrest Parkway and Fells Rd. at the north end of the fells. Sorry this is is lame and vague – but since I read your post, I felt like I should say something!
Thanks, Meredith! Different area, but I’ll mark it. Who knows?
If you do ever see her, please email or call us directly. We’ve been trying to keep sightings off the blog so we don’t change traffic patterns at the Fells and crowd her out. No worries about posting this — could’ve been a coyote or a fox or another dog for all we know — but if you happen to see a dog you’re pretty sure is her, ping us
Shoot! I meant I was on the north, north-west of the middle reservoir and the rukus was on the north, north-east side by the fire road! Sorry.
OK…so, is this photo of the dog the caller spotted chasing the deer or an older one of your Marisol before she went missing? So many are wondering…I just know Marisol is close and believe you will have her home soon!
Ah — I see the confusion. I meant “could this sighting be her?” not “could this photo be her?” The photo is of Mari playing with us. The caller didn’t get a photo. This photo was just to illustrate how hard it is to get good info from a running dog blur.
Oh please let the sighting be Marisol! She looks so happy in that old photo lets hope she is doing the same thing today and someone spots her again. Hugs to you all.
I was hoping that was a Marisol sighting. But I understand this is a pic of Marisol doing her thing ‘running like the wind’.
But I hope the sighting most recent turns out to be good.
Always thinking of you and Andrew and Marisol.
We may not know one another. But we are friends in spirit.
I wish always the best possible outcome for you. Which is finding Marisol, esp now with nicer weather.
Cheers from Canada!!!!
still hoping for the best and checking in all the way from Cali. I know it must be so tough, but you guys are the most loving parents! If she wants to come home, she’s got the best one in the world to go to.
If this sighting was actually Mari it cheers me up a bit, because 1) she has the strength to chase after a deer (which means she must be doing okay health-wise), and 2) she did something she thinks is fun (which means she may decide to come out again and play with same-sized dogs she sees in the Fells, which would result in more sightings and the development of a pattern). Hopefully the next sightings will be a little closer and of Mari in slow-mo!
AH, I also thought the photo was one taken recently, as she ran by.
Wouldn’t it be great if every sighting was accompanied by a cell phone photo or video, even? I always carry my phone! If we all had iPhones, we could plot our location AND send a video. A challenge to all those walking the Fells; be ready for the photo op!