Capturing Scruffy

I saw a facebook post about Scruffy, a scared foster dog escaping the foster carer’s backyard. A yard with very high fences. (Sunday 30th).

I asked questions and advised on facebook then private messaged the foster carers, they said he had not been with them very long.

While chatting to Melanie she said:- “He literally just came back into our yard to eat his food (we are so happy he knows where home is) but then he got startled by my partner hopping up to go around the house to shut the back gate and ran off again. Two good things are that he knows where home is and that he has tasted that we left some yummy dinner for him that I’m sure he will want to come back for”.

There was quite a bit of back and forward discussion trying to work out what was the best approach after Scruffy had appeared in their yard and eaten food, and after Melanie told me :- “My partner is currently sitting in the car in our driveway so when he does come back he can shut the gate behind him and then I can let our pups out to play with him/ distract him from the back door”.  We discussed other options and what to do when or if he comes back.

I then said :- Keep me updated to see if the plans work, In case we need to help, if we can, by bringing a huge motion sensor trap to put in your backyard.

During the discussion I talked with my Milly’s team mates, Jo and Mark, about what was going on and they said let us know, as we can either take the trap and gear and set it up early tomorrow morning or early evening. 

Scruffy’s Foster carers updated a facebook post on Monday 31st May, after advice and Scruffy coming back into the yard at 7pm the night before on the Sunday 30th May, and taking off again. 

PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH.
Hi everyone I really appreciate everyone that has seen him this afternoon and let me know. I just want to really put out there to NOT approach him. It will scare him more and currently he is being road safe and knows where his home is and we are hoping he will come back to a dog trap we have set up  in our backyard. Please continue to call me when you do see him as it is so reassuring to know he is in the area.

He is still not home however did come home at around 7 last night on his own free will but got spooked and ran again. We left food out and it is all gone this morning. Millys search and trap group are coming to set up a cage this morning in our yard.

IF YOU SEE HIM PLEASE DO NOT APPROACH, he is very scared and may get spooked and run onto the road. We believe he will come back tonight for more food and we don’t want him scared off. Please instead contact me or comment on this post.

It was decided to bring the gear and trap up 1st thing in the morning the Monday the 31st May.

Scruffy was seen a few more times throughout the day, wandering around. Sadly that night he didn’t come back to the yard or trap. However when looking closely at the photos, he did peek over the fence. Cheeky boy. 

The next morning Tuesday 1st June, he was caught on camera at about 7.15 am eating the food outside the trap and then running off again.

The foster carers, Melanie and Lochlann replenished the food and not long after, BINGO!!

Scruffy was safely in the trap and secure.

Facebook posts:-  June 1st. 

From Scruffy’s Foster Carers Melanie and Lochlann :
Home & Safe
Big thankyou to Milly’s Search and Trap Community Group and Wally’s Doggie Rescue – Community for all the support and help

As well as a big thankyou to everyone who shared and helped us through this page

We are so pleased to see him home and he is so happy to see his brothers again.

Facebook posts:- 
Lyn said:- So happy for you guys and Scruffy. Great work. Thank you to my fellow Milly’s Search and Trap Community Group founders , Jo and Mark, who didn’t hesitate to grab all the gear and drive from Kariong to Gorokan early yesterday morning, to set up the trap.

Jo-anne Wright said
Lyn Joy I am so happy that he is now safe. But what a cheeky, cheeky boy just love that picture of him last night that our camera took of him peeping over the fence. It was like watcha doin’ . Then to see him go in the yard this morning at 7.17am and walking in that trap at 7.29. Just love this trap no stress on the animals he was really so calm.