Matilda/Tilly (formerly Toot)

This story is told from Lisa’s perspective – One of Tilly’s guardian angels. It appears she had many in the community who tried to help her in some way. Milly’s Search, Trap and Rescue were contacted by Tom, after many had tried to help this little lost scared dog on the NSW/Victorian Border. 

I first saw a post on Facebook around late April 2021.
My thoughts were someone must be looking for this little pup. As most dogs get reunited with their owners when these posts appear on facebook I didn’t give it anymore thought.

A few days later she appeared again, with the comment   “ tried to catch her and put in her in car but she ran off”.  Unfortunately this became the norm.

Every time I came across a post it pulled at my heartstrings, pulling harder each time.

I honestly thought someone who lives over in Mulwala, as it’s a 15 – 20 minute drive from my place, would do something but if they were, they didn’t put it on Facebook.

I started thinking no-one is going to do anything, I have to do something but didn’t know what to do.

My daughter Leanna decided to create a map of her movements to try and work out where she was frequenting and posted it on Yarrawonga Mulwala Lost and Found Pets page.  This showed a huge area this little lady was travelling from rural, industrial and suburbia. 

This sparked a conversation on Facebook with people commenting on where they had sighted her.  We learnt her name was TOOT and from the photos on Facebook she is a Schnauzer. She had been rescued by a Mulwala family and had only had her 2 hours and then she ran off.  She was due to be put down and that is why the Mulwala family took her.

From all the sightings and people who had pulled up in their cars and tried to rescue her I knew I was dealing with a feisty girl and it would take a miracle to get her.

Then one day I came across a comment who mentioned Milly’s Search and Trap Group and Floyd Payne.  The comment suggested that if someone was willing to try and catch her that they could perhaps supply a trap and offer guidance to catch this girl.

After reading the suggestions I blurted out to anyone who was listening at home that it would be up to me to do something as no-one else had commented or volunteered. I couldn’t stand the thought of her being out for so long in this bitter cold running around, along and unloved.

I felt overwhelmed as I knew I was taking on a mammoth task with feeding regularly, working fulltime, sand to identify prints and staking out but my heart overrode my head.

And so it started and all happened very quickly.  First task to McDonalds to get cheeseburgers and I chose 3 spots that I thought she may frequent.  First spot near the tip and channel as tip could be a source of food and channel water.  Second spot a large intersection where she had been spotted and third spot near the “Welcome to Mulwala” sign where a lovely lady by the name of Vivienne had commented that she had been sighted there twice.  I learnt that this lovely lady had left a plastic tub with a blanket in it for shelter and a bowl of water and food was always there. 

When the weekend came my husband, David, also volunteered to arrange a load of sand so we set off laying it out, screening it off so we could easily recognise prints.

Vivienne and I started messaging each other and soon worked out morning and evening visits to help the other.  It was great as Vivienne lived not far from the area.

When returning the next day there were prints in the first spot but found out they belonged to a Kangaroo who I’m sure enjoyed the cheeseburger.  The prints at the second location belonged to a bird but the prints at the third location were identified as a small dog.  This gave us hope!!

I went over every night after work but as the days were getting shorter it was just about dark when I got there.  I would drive around for about 45 minutes trying to spot her.

One day I drove over and saw 2 ladies riding horses.  Later that evening one of the ladies commented that she had sighted the dog just before I had been over there in the paddock next to the third feeding station.  So close yet still so far.  Again this gave me hope but also I felt despair as I was starting to think we would never be lucky enough to catch her.

I kept checking my phone to make sure I didn’t have any missed calls, but nothing.

Vivienne was doing the Saturday morning check which was great.  I went over just after lunch to check but nothing.

A sighting pops up on Facebook at approx. 9.30pm Saturday 12th June.  She had been seen adjacent to the Mulwala Water Ski Club, I felt so much disappointment!!  She was so far away from our 3 areas and my first thought was we will have no luck.  This post was at 9.30pm but the sighting happened 49 minutes earlier.  I started thinking about the map and sightings and had a light bulb moment.  The railway line!!  She is following the railway line in, then out of town, this is her path!!  I felt better again as the railway line goes past sites 2 & 3.

Decided it was bed time at approx. 10pm.  My phone rings with a number I didn’t recognise.  A gentleman asked if this was Milly Trap and Rescue and of course I said yes and he said that he is at the trap and the dog is in there.  He said he has been following our progress and sightings and doesn’t live far from there and each time he passes he checks the trap. 

Excitement doesn’t explain my feelings!!!  My husband grabbed our coats and we were out the door.  The drive over to the trap site seemed to take forever.  The tension was building, what if it wasn’t her? What if it’s someone else’s dog? Where will she sleep? How will she be?  Will she be grateful or scared to death? Will she be aggressive?

We could see the gentleman’s headlights coming closer, we pull over in the sleety rain I hurry over to the cage with my torch, and it’s her!!  I can’t believe it.  I thank the gentleman and break Covid 19 protocol and give him a hug!! 

He’s really excited about it being her too.  I thank him again for waiting with her until we got there.  He said his kid’s check each time they drive past to see if she’s in there.  I really cannot believe our luck, second night and she’s in there!

The gentleman and my husband carefully put the cage on the back of the Ute, we wrap it in a water proof tarp to keep her dry and rope it down to keep it secure.  Again the trip home was soooo long hoping she was okay in there.

Sunday 13th June morning dawns and we are all pleasantly surprised, she did not make a noise last night.  Probably suffering from exhaustion.  We let our dog into the garage to meet Tilly and there’s a tail wag from her!! She follows our dog Sarah, right behind her like a shadow. 

Now it’s time to make this girl more comfortable.  I call our local Vet and they are only on call.  I explain the situation and she advises she will be checking other animals at another vet clinic 30 minutes away and to bring her over mid-morning.

We visit our local pet stock store and purchase a cage, 2 leads, collar and a harness.  This girl is going to need all of these things to keep her from escaping.

We head to the vets, at first the vet advises that we will need to bring her back to have her coat dealt with.  She is in surprisingly good shape, a good weight, between 2 and 5 years old.  After further examination the vet advises as the nurse is there she will stay and sedate Tilly and shave her coat and do what is necessary.  We are so so grateful!

After a few hours we get a call from the Vet letting us know she will be ready to pick up shortly.  Her skin is in good shape, but has multiple grass seeds embedded into her skin between her toes and ears which have been removed.  She was treated with antibiotics and is in good health.

We arrive at the vets and the vet shows us the hair, it’s so matted, how painful that would have been for her.  The vet gets her out of the cage and puts her down thinking as she’s sedated she won’t go anywhere, wrong!! We play a game of chase in the vet clinic, she finally gives up and I pick her up and we head home.

Bath time!  She was remarkably well behaved in the bath.  At first she didn’t like it and eventually she relaxed, I think this is only due to her being sedated and still feeling relaxed.  She must feel so much better.

Her guardian angel Vivienne calls in Sunday afternoon to finally meet Tilly.  She is overwhelmed like the rest of us and feel so so lucky to finally have her.

(Note by Milly’s Admin Lyn). Tilly’s Guardian Angels. David, Lisa, Vivienne and Leanna

We put Tilly in the garage with the heater and lots of warm bedding but it’s not long and she has decided she doesn’t want to be alone!  No one is going to sleep tonight.  We put the bedding in our room but she is still wandering around the house and crying.  We put her on our bed and she sleeps for a little while, but still unsettled.  We shouldn’t be surprised after all she’s been through.

All of Sunday Tilly sleeps on the living room floor on her bedding.  She hardly wakes only to toilet and eat.  I’m assuming she’s exhausted from her roaming and the stress of her new abode!  I decide to sleep with her in our living room as she seems to be safe and settled in her bedding.  This goes well and I don’t hear a peep from her all night.

Monday arrangements are in motion to transfer her to her place where she will be nurtured and loved.

Monday and Tuesday nights I again sleep with her in our living room.  Tilly must be catching up on sleep as I hear her moving around at night, but she settles quickly and is an angel.

It’s time for this precious little girl to go on her next adventure. 

A long car trip for Tilly and I hope it goes well.  She gets to meet her new carers and I’m sure the relationship will blossom. 

I feel settled by the fact her new carers (Jo and Mark from Milly’s) will shower her with love and make her feel protected.  This little girl deserves all the happiness in the world.  Good luck Tilly, I look forward to watching you develop into a confident little lady, but my heart aches at the same time, miss you Tilly.

Message on Milly’s Search, Trap and Rescue Facebook Group by Jo:-

There is a lot of work we do behind the scenes and this is one of those stories. Meet Toot, now known as Matilda. Tilly’s plight is a sad one. She was about to be euthanized for what reason we can only guess. She was given a last minute reprieve and rescued by a local man in Mulwala on the NSW/VIC border. Thirty minutes after being rescued she escaped and her adventure began on 15th April in Mulwala.

On 2nd May we were contacted on our fb page about her situation and asked if we could in any way. We immediately applied to join the local fb pages and while awaiting approval caught up on her story. As soon as we were accepted we advised on the importance of posters, feed stations and trying to keep her in one area etc. After we found out who the rescuer was we reached out to him to offer any advice or assistance we could to help him with her capture. 

The amazing community and in particular a small group of people set out to help her.

As Tilly had not yet found her safe space she was sighted in multiple areas – bushland, industrial estates and even a ski resort. Reports of sightings were mapped by Lisa’s daughter Leanne which helped all involved to track her movements. When she finally settled in the one area feed stations were established to keep her there. A month ago sightings were few and far between. For the next 2 weeks there were no sightings at all. Then Tilly decided to come out of hiding.

It was decided a trap was the only way this girl was going to be caught. With the help of Vivienne, Lisa  and her family, feed stations were re-established using high quality food to keep her in the area until the trap could be purchased and delivered. As a trail camera was not available we used a layer of beach sand to track paw prints to the feed station. This unusual method worked well.

On 10th June the trap arrived and on Friday afternoon it was put in place by Lisa and hubby David. Then it rained, keeping Tilly in hiding that night and the rest of us nervous.

With much nail biting and phone watching we waited and waited. Our reward came at 10PM Sat night when Matilda walked into the trap and into safety. Special thanks to the gentleman who noticed Tilly in the trap and stayed with her until help could arrive. Matilda’s long road to rehabilitation will now begin.

After talks with the ranger who spoke with the owner, Matilda will now be signed over to us. She will then be transported to the Central Coast and placed in the care of Claws n Paws Rescue to which we are extremely grateful.

We would love to thank Tom, Floyd, Vivienne, Lisa, Leanne, David as without you all this girl would not have the chance of a wonderful new life.

Message from by Tracey Fitzsimmons:-

 I would like a big shout out to our 2 leading founding members who make Milly’s possible Jo-anne  and her hubby Mark  for their huge effort today. These 2 amazing ppl drove from the Central Coast this morning to halfway to the NSW/Vic border to pick up the little lost dog toot who is now Tilly, you guys are amazing. So come on supporters let’s all give them some love and thanks. Also to the amazing people who caught Tilly and drove from the border halfway to meet Mark and Jo. What an amazing effort

Facebook post from Milly’s Search and Trap Group

Absolutely. They are amazing. They put so much heart, souls, time into everything.

Milly’s wouldn’t exist without Jo and Mark. 

And to all those who helped with Tilly (Toot). You did such an amazing Job, from Tom contacting us through to others watching out for this little dog. 

For Vivienne continuely feeding and in contact with us. Listening taking on board all the advice. 

To David, Lisa and Leanne. Thank you for also feeding and looking out for Tilly. For taking her into your home, hearts and back and forward to the vets and going through all the stages and lack of sleep. 

Floyd, I know you often do not like to be mentioned. But your help and support is priceless 

Great work everyone. 

We are only as good as our supporters and communities who care and help. 

Admin Lyn

Coming soon – the next part of Tilly’s story since she arrived on the Central Coast NSW 17th June, 2021.

Snippet – “Its not been easy trying to gain this girls trust, to teach her she is safe and shouldn’t fear everything, in particular humans and noises. All sorts of noises. 

From standing just shaking in fear if a human is close or she is unsure. From a new person entering the house, no matter how quietly and calmly. Her little legs just shake. She fears someone patting her, and has to approach on her own terms in her own time. 

It has been one step forward, two steps back. Bit by careful bit. One new thing over and over. Jo and Mark have learnt so much and given so much love and time to Tilly to help her. She feared going outside, and would have toilet accidents. She just didn’t want to go outside at first. Rain, wind, and any noise would make her quiver in fear and run and hide. Even after 10 days of good progress, the travel crate was brought out to take her to the vets. She heard the door rattle and hid under the bed for an hour. She then hid elsewhere for hours. She just shut down in response to her fear. 

You will see via the photos, and some videos, how she has advanced helped by love and a little dog called Benji. She has a long way to go. But she is learning to play and be a dog and take interest in things”.