Where's Josie?

after i dropped off the flyers to heather i took the long way home. at the corner of 84 and wetmore i saw a dog sitting in the road (on wetmore). it was clearly not josie, but i wondered if it was her lookalike from that area (this would be a couple miles east on 84 from the spot the dog matching her description was seen last night). turns out this dog belonged to the house on the corner and was just hanging out in the road b/c the grass was wet, but in talking to the owner i found out that he had seen a dog matching josie's description heading east on the north side of 84 just past wetmore at about 3:00 this afternoon. i gave him a flyer with a color picture & he said it did look like her but the fur looked a bit more brown. it's been raining like crazy here, though, so it could have been wet fur and/or mud. the woman last night described the dog as more golden as well. i'm thinking there's a good chance it was the same dog....whether or not it's josie, though, i just don't know.

this evening i spoke to a woman who saw a dog who looked similiar to josie hanging out on the eastbound off ramp at the rt 193 exit off of 90. the sighting occurred at 7:27. she said the dog looked like josie's picture, but darker (but was wet). this is not far down 90 from where i saw that dog several weeks ago. i'm guessing this is the same dog i saw, but i never was able to say for sure that that dog was *not* josie.

we looked pretty thoroughly, but didn't see anything out in the kingsville area. then, while we were flyering some of the businesses in that area, i got a call from a geneva police officer that they'd brought in a dog that somewhat matched josie's description. after talking with him i was pretty sure it wasn't her, but went out to have a look. it was definitely not her, and i rather doubt it's even the dog people have been spotting. this dog is darker, although wet so it's hard to say, and probably more of a beagle/shepherd mix. i took some pics, but it was dark & rainy and she was in a kennel...can't see anything. also, the area she was picked up (roosevelt st., in geneva) is quite a bit north of where the dog matching josie's description was seen this morning, and on the other side of downtown geneva. and this dog has a black collar on. she's also definitely a much older dog, and i got the feeling she would surrender to a pursuing human pretty easily...didn't seem like she'd want to take her chances on her own. the officer was very helpful but had no way of knowing how long this dog had been loose...but i'm guessing it wasn't long.

oh, and the adult bookstore was the next place we were going to flyer when i got the call from the geneva police officer. figured i throw it in there to juice things up a little.... :)

My husband and I fliered the area west of 534 and south of 20. There weren't many newspaper boxes, but we put fliers in those few we saw. We mainly posted on telephone polls at the corners, with special attention to crosswalk areas on 534 and 20. We got fliers up in several businesses that were open late and handed fliers to several people out walking their own dogs and/or playing and working in their yards. Nobody has seen our girl. One lady said she works in Austinburg and already knew all about Josie because we have a flier up at her workplace. Good job getting the word out guys!

Posting this email from Dawn...

just spoke to a woman who just saw a dog matching josie's description heading west on clay st. by clay mill rd. the dog was running along the side of the road, a little ways back. had medium length fur which was wet. face looked just like josie's. wasn't able to tell if there was a collar b/c she was driving past her. i'm on my way out the door now, & will call from the car.

~dawn

dave & i flyered the harbor area & wade ave. we had two people in the harbor area tell us they had seen a dog matching josie's description. one was a woman who said she saw a dog on 6th St. three days ago...looked like josie...was in the company of another dog who was wearing a chain. the dog who looked like josie was not wearing a collar and seemed very shy.

the second sighting was a man dave spoke to at the norfolk & suffolk(sp?) railroad office. he said he saw a dog in the railway yard across the street, also three days ago. he described the dog as white with some tan in her fur, a shepherd/husky mix. she was accompanied by two brown puppies! (as much as i have to admit this is probably not josie, i do love the idea of her having puppy friends :))

i just spoke to a girl who saw a dog matching josie's description last friday (yes, last....not the one before...) at that same house on sherman rd. where we were tracking her the week prior. she said josie was sitting at the edge of a ditch. the girl, who was riding her bike, tried to get her to come to her, but she ran off towards the house. the girl said josie appeared healthy, but dirty.

i just spoke to a woman who saw a dog matching josie's description last thursday on wade avenue in the ashtabula harbor area. she got a flyer in her mailbox over the weekend & called to tell me about the dog she saw. she wasn't able to get a close look at the dog; it ran from her. but, you never know.... :)

(posting this on behalf of cindy)

Debbie & I went out at 8am this morning to continue flier-ing in the Geneva area. We received a phone call from Dawn at close to noon that there had been a sighting at 8:40am this morning on Blake Road (We had a bad cell signal and I mistakenly thought she said Lake Road) between Ashtabula and Kingsville. So we went out and drove all around the Lake Road area.

We put up some fliers on poles and talked to a few people;

but also received a call from Nancy about a man who saw a dog he thought was Josie two nights on his way home from work (approx. 1 am) on Foreman Road underneath the 90 underpass. So we headed to check out that. The last night he saw this dog in that area was Friday night/Saturday morning at 1:00am. We fliered and talked to some people who lived in that surrounding area, but no one had seen her.

Heather talked with the fire department again today, but could get no information. They could not tell us where they found the dog, who found the dog, or where they took the dog, or how long that dog had been missing, so we still do not know if this dog could have been some of the reported sightings we've had that people thought were Josie.

After I checked emails and found the mistake between Blake and Lake Road, I went back up and put fliers up on Blake Road, which is not that long of a road. I think I will concentrate on that area with fliers tomorrow night instead of my original plan of heading up Route 45 to Lake Road and then heading toward Kingsville from there.

My concentration on Monday night will be to get fliers out. I truthfully believe that driving around in hopes that we see her is not beneficial at this point. I would rather get the fliers out and get everyone in NE Ohio aware of Josie and let them sight her and call us.

Heather will be out on Tuesday and Thursday night this week. Unfortunately I leave for Dallas on Wednesday and won't be back until late Sunday night, so any sightings after Monday night will have to be referred to Heather, Nancy or Dawn. Anyone that can help flier at any time, please let Dawn know and she can pass the word on to others.

Cindy

got a message that was left on my home voicemail around 8:30 this morning that a woman saw a dog matching josie's description on blake rd. she said the dog was with another dog & that she gave the dog a biscuit. no other info. i'm guessing this is *not* josie, b/c it just doesn't sound like her m.o.: blake rd. is near a crowded area, josie seems frightened of other dogs, & i doubt she'd let someone get close enough to give her a biscuit. i talked to cindy & she & debbie are going to check it out this morning, but i think we all doubt it's her.

from debbie:

Tuesday - a lady saw her walking on Tibbets Rd/Sherman on the sidewalk. Another man also saw her this past week, he couldn't remember the exact day but swears it was Josie.

We have flyered most of Geneva, but still have areas to be done. If you go to the Clay/Sherman sighting - go up Sherman towards Geneva, it is 1.2 miles or so from where she was then sighted on Tibbets.

We are heading out early and I have to leave town by 3-4pm tomorrow. I need anyone that will help search tomorrow. We are CLOSE. Heather and I both have a good feeling. I'm going to go up to Geneva on the Lake as well tomorrow just to make sure flyers are up there, and Heather is getting them to the police department there tomorrow via email. She's also going to get ahold of the Fire Dept tomorrow - as the lady tonight told her to call back 1st shift tomorrow. That way we can confirm the sighting on Sanborn and Austinburg/Ashtabula Rd, was NOT her.

i got a call from a woman who saw a dog matching josie's description get picked up by the saybrook fire dept. at the intersection of austinburg & sanborn roads early this afternoon. i called the fire dept., & the man i spoke to confirmed that they picked up a medium sized brownish dog, he was unsure of gender, but the dog was returned to its owner who lived in the area. so of course i'm wondering....maybe *that* was the dog who was spotted in the area?

heather is going to follow up with the fire department & see if she can get more info regarding how long the dog had been stray, etc. (all things that of course crossed my mind *after* i hung up the phone :( )

we'll keep you posted!!!!

~dawn

we have this update from the marvelously determined debbie, who has come all the way from vincennes, indiana (josie's hometown) to help in the search:

POSSIBLE SIGHTING. Both Heather and Cindy and I talked to these same people who were out on bikes looking for their lost kitten which they found by the way. 2 nights ago, WED, the 19th Intersection of Warner/Plymouth (Plymouth Township), they spotted a dog under a porch. The kids did first and stated it looked like a "wolf dog". The dad then came out, and got a glimpse of her enough to see she was light colored like Josie, and had no collar. The dog took off.

Now this area is not to far from the Arthur Rd./W. Morgan sighting, and isn't far from the last sighting of Austinburg-Ashtabula/Sanborn Rd. Intersection. It is my sincere opinion that Josie is traveling NE off Interstate I90. Houses back up to 90, but between the houses and 90 are wooded areas, and easy access for Josie basically to stop where she wants and enter any housing district that she pleases.

i spoke to a woman who saw a dog she feels certain was josie about 10:30 last night at the intersection of ashtabula-austinburg rd. & sanborn rd. she described the dog extensively & i'm pretty sure it's her. m.o. fits too...she sat & watched the woman until she called her name, then ran away.

the woman was going to go back out to put some food out in the area she saw her in. i told her that what we really need is for someone in the area to begin to earn josie's trust. she was interested in helping, and also said she'd speak to the neighbors in the yards she'd seen josie in :)

Here's another pic of Josie, taken by Jennifer F. on her leg of the transport. It shows her coloring better, & gives an idea of how she looks when her ears are up rather than down. Thanks Jen!

this morning around 9:00 i got a call from a woman who had seen a dog matching josie's description at the intersection of morgan rd. west & arthur rd. in plymouth. she had gone out with a leash to try & catch her, but her dogs chased josie & she ran. she is going to keep looking, & is telling her neighbors all about josie as well :)

i went to that area & drove around for a while but didn't see anything. i spoke to a girl that had seen her, but it was back at the save-a-lot warehouse a week ago. she will call if she sees her in the area. the interesting thing is that this area is behind where i saw the dog by the highway whenever that was.

i'm thinking the sighting of the dog in mechanicsville was not her. while i was down there this morning i saw two dogs in the bar parking lot. one looked vaguely josie-like (i know it wasn't her, i saw his winky, lol. but i can imagine someone thinking it was her based on the photo & description.).

thanks so much for all the reports, both here & on the phone.

i got a call from the humane society. someone called them to report a sighting of josie at the corner of mechanicsville & idlewood. this is a couple miles south of where she was last night. problem is, they didn't say *when* she was spotted, so i don't know whether she headed south last night, or whether she came from the south prior to last night. i'm trying to find out & will keep you posted!

We're desperately seeking a completely fenced yard in the Clay St./Sherman Rd. area in which to corner Josie. She is allowing us to get close to her, but not close enough to actually catch her. If you live in the area and have a completely fenced yard you would allow us to attempt to lure her into, please let us know!!!!

I got a call this evening from a very nice woman saying that a dog matching Josie's description was hanging out under a tree in her yard! This was at the corner of Clay St. & Sherman. Volunteers were dispatched immediately but Josie did not want to be caught. We followed her around...slowly, calmy, no chasing...at a distance for a while, but she remained just out of reach.

Fortunately the people whose yard she seems to like are very kind, and have agreed to put food out for her while we try to earn her trust. So now all we can hope is that she doesn't leave the area, & that she is careful crossing Clay St. (which sadly did not seem to be the case from what we saw). Please do continue sending us updates & sightings....it will be your input that helps us catch this little girl!

I've heard from two more people in the Clay St. area who saw Josie on their way to work this morning! One saw her at the corner of Clay & Brown about 7:00, the other at Clay & Sexton at 7:30. Thank you *so* much to everyone who's contacted me with sightings...it's really eased all our minds to know Josie is doing okay. :)

[click on map to enlarge]

about the same time, about the same area. a woman called the apl this morning & tammy called me with her info....just spoke to her, & the dog she saw was headed west on the south side of clay street between sexton & miniranch trail at about 7:45 this morning. she said josie was definitely following the road, but staying about 12 feet away from it (what a relief). she said she was trotting along at a good clip and looked very determined! :)

i just spoke to a woman who saw a dog she feels certain is josie at the intersection of Clay & Pelton this morning around 7:30. she said josie was sitting right under one of her flyers! she feels certain it's her....i told her about the yellow lab that's been spotted in the area & she was certain that the dog she saw was *not* a yellow lab. sounds like there really are two of 'em! anyway, josie sat at the corner for a minute or so while the lady spoke to her, then ran north into a cornfield. which sounds about right...

Humane traps have been set. They are checked regularly and wildlife is released unharmed.

Dirt and mud has been checked for paw prints. Some have been found, but there is no way to tell if they are Josie's.

Food that has been left has been eaten. No way to tell who or what ate it.

Walkers have covered the area clear to Coffee Creek and beyond.

Flyers and handouts have been given to locals nearby, including homeowners, businesses, and churches.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has been notified. They say they will check to see if any of their workers on I90 have seen Josie.

The State Highway Patrol has been notified.

Ashtabula Dog Warden, Ashtabula APL, and Ashtabula Humane Society have all been notified.

Rolling Rescue and Operation Roger have been contacted, given Josie's blog and will post to their truck drivers that frequent Ohio area for us.

Download it, print it, hang it, make it into paper airplanes and throw at your neighbors! 103k pdf.

(This list will be somewhat vague because I'm going from memory. Reports of future sightings will go into more detail.)

• Saturday 7/1- 6:45pm - Josie slips her collar & runs south from the Pilot Station at the intersection of Rt.45 & I-90 in Austinburg, OH
• Saturday 7/1- 8pm - Josie is spotted by a man grilling south of the Austinburg Rehabilitation Center on Rt.45. The man reports the Josie ran north from his yard into a wooded area south of the Rehabiliation Center.
• Sunday 7/2 - 5pm - In the woods behind the houses on Clay Street...between the houses and the nursing home. SE corner of Clay and 45 - Dawn and Steve
• Sunday 7/2 - 9pm - in the field on the NE corner of Clay and 45...between Clay and the Pilot station - Dawn
• Monday 7/3 - morning - reportedly at McDonald's
• Monday 7/3 - afternoon - reportedly in field on SE corner of Clay and 45
• Monday evening at about 9pm, behind the houses on 45...the NE corner of Clay and 45 - Dawn
• Tuesday 7/4 - morning - in field on NW corner of Clay and 45 - Sevilla
• Tuesday 7/4 - 6:30 - reportedly in field S of Pilot station on 45
• Wednesday 7/5 - 8:30pm - in field N of Austinburg Rehab - Dawn and Cindy
• Saturday 7/8 - morning - reportedly at the Comfort Inn on 45, north of I90
• Monday 7/10 - 9pm - reportedly in Austinburg at Jewels' Dance Hall
• Monday 7/10 - 11pm - Dawn & Dave glimpse dog which *could* be Josie running into the woods on I-90 between the 231 & 232 mile markers, eastbound.

Thank you so much for your concern for Josie. We're obviously all very worried about her, and are committed to her safe return. We will be posting several times daily with sightings, but you can help by adding any sightings of your own in the comments section.