Where's Josie?

In Josie's honor: A harness fundraiser

2007-04-13T12:13:00.000-05:00

As the weather starts getting warmer, I'm reminded of all the time our little group spent last summer searching for Josie. Many of us gave up pretty much our entire summer in hopes of finding this poor girl. Since I live near the area where she was lost, I spend a lot of time thinking about what we could have done differently to ensure Josie got to her destination safely. I was the one holding the leash when she slipped her collar, and that moment is frozen permanently in my mind. I never want to go through that again and, much more importantly, I never want a dog to have to go through what Josie did. We've still not been able to confirm that she is safely in a home....if she is, that is great, but even if so there is no denying that she must have suffered terribly in the summer heat and rain prior to being captured. If she'd been wearing a harness rather than a collar, none of this would have happened.

Since Josie was lost, I've spoken to countless experienced transporters, and the suggestion I've heard most often is to use a harness rather than a collar, so that the dog can't pull free. Of course harnesses are more expensive than collars, and most of us who send dogs to rescue can't afford to buy harnesses for every dog. So we are asking for your help.

At the Ashtabula County APL, we've been sending increasing numbers of animals to rescue. And Vincennes Pet Port, where Josie came from, sends many dogs each weekend. We are currently seeking donations in Josie's honor to purchase harnesses for all of our transport dogs to help them get safely to their rescues and forever homes. Donations can be made via PayPal by clicking on the button below. Donations will go through the Ashtabula County APL and will be divided evenly with Vincennes Pet Port. Please note in the "Payment For" line that you would like your donation to go towards purchasing harnesses in Josie's honor.

Even a dollar or two is a huge help. I'm currently scouting out the best deal on wholesale harnesses, and would also appreciate any suggestions on that. Another way to help is to send any harnesses you may have that you aren't using to the Ashtabula APL:

Ashtabula County Animal Protective League
5970 Green Road
Ashtabula, Ohio 44004

I will disperse any donated harnesses evenly between Ashtabula and Vincennes. Donations via check may also be sent to the APL address…please note in the memo section that you'd like your donation to go towards purchasing harnesses in Josie's honor.

Thank you!
~Dawn

would the woman who called me about the dog at lorain county pound give me a call pls? i wanted to tell you something & i can't find your number :)

2006-10-30T10:58:00.000-05:00

we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming...

injured dog in geneva (not josie) brought to safety

2006-10-11T10:56:00.000-05:00

this dog was found in the trap this morning by the nice campground people. cindy took her to her vet. i saw the dog & it isn't josie, but at least we were able to get her off the streets before the bad weather hits tomorrow night. hooray for heather for being so persistent!!!! :) and thanks so much to the folks at kenisee campground in geneva for helping us catch this sweet girl.

injured dog in geneva

2006-10-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

an injured dog resembling josie has been spotted hanging out at the kenisee campground on rt.307 in geneva. heather was within a few feet of the dog, but it is very skittish & refused to be caught. we can't be certain whether or not the dog is josie, but regardless we want to get the poor injured thing to safety. we will hopefully be putting up humane traps very soon to try & catch the dog. and those of you who live in the area, please do keep your eyes open! the dog has a badly injured leg/paw. thanks so much for all your help!

the search continues

2006-09-01T08:15:00.000-05:00

thanks so much to everyone who has continued to keep us updated with sightings. we still have not been able to prove that the stolen dog is indeed josie, so we are following up on any leads we get. also, even if it was josie that was being held as claimed, it is not uncommon for stolen dogs to flee their captors, nor is it uncommon for people who steal dogs to become frightened of legal prosecution and release the dog. so she could very well still be out there.

sightings we have recieved lately have been in the following areas:

the North Kingsville exit off of I-90
Mechanicsville, by Grand River Manor
the intersection of Clay & Sherman in Geneva
Broad St. in Conneaut

volunteers have been searching these areas and hanging up flyers. please keep the information and sightings coming.....we haven't given up on our josie, and we won't!

article on Josie at Best Friends Network

2006-08-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

new article on josie in the star beacon

2006-08-20T17:31:00.000-05:00

Update on Clay St. sighting

2006-08-08T14:58:00.000-05:00

I had the poster with me. We all compared the picture with this dog. None of us thought that it was the same dog. She is more shepard than chow. Her fur looked shorter- she is shedding. Her muzzle was black. The color was sandy brown. She is quite shy -really unsocialized. My first impression was of a wild dog. I am guessing that this is the one who has been sighted in this area. I will alert the dog warden and perhaps a live trap can catch her- although she is pretty sly. However, I think that she will need to be tranquilized to catch. I was sooo certain on my way to see her and so happy that we might have found her! Bummer.

Nancy

2006-08-08T13:13:00.000-05:00

At 10:30 today, Aug 8th, there was a possible sighting of Josie on Clay Street, 3 houses down from Sexton. The dog looked very similiar to Josie, was extremely skiddish and would not come close to anyone that was by her.

We will continue trying to catch her in hopes of verifying if it is or is not Josie and to get her safely off the streets. If you happen to see a dog in this area please call Heather at 440-667-8710 or email her at heatherlipnis@... as soon as possible.

Thank you for any assistance you can provide,

Heather Lipnis

2006-08-07T15:26:00.000-05:00

These pictures were received on July 31, 2006.

8/7/06 Update

2006-08-07T12:52:00.000-05:00

To everyone involved in the search for Josie:

As of today, this blog will delete any and all comments and/or posts that are not directly related to the search for Josie.

It is our belief that Josie has been taken in by someone who claims to be providing a loving home for her. The people who have reportedly taken Josie into their home claim to be providing her with reasonable vet care. Unfortunately, we are unable to verify this information.

Photographs have been provided that appear to show Josie in a home. We take SOME comfort in this.

However, we have no idea who has Josie. We had been corresponding with an individual via email who has a warrant out for her arrest. But that person's identity turns out to be a lie, as the person whose identity was "borrowed" is in jail in Pennsylvania. If for no other reason than this lie, we will continue to search for Josie. Through this, we have learned that we are unable to accept the word of a stranger at face value. So unless the people who currently have Josie provide verification, the search effort will continue. This blog will update on where we are looking and where we are posting fliers.

As animal rescue volunteers, we take our committment to each animal very seriously. Part of rescue the follow thru.....you don't ever do something in rescue without being fully responsible from start to finish. The search for Josie will continue because we are responsible for making SURE she has a good home.

Rest assured, we have not forgotten that other animals need our help and we continue to involve ourselves in other rescue efforts (pulling, transporting, fostering, etc). But that does not lessen our committment to Josie, and following thru on the promise that was made to her...that she would have a better life.

Thank you for your interest and concern. Check back often for updates.

next steps

2006-08-04T23:24:00.000-05:00

please understand, the last thing we want is a fight. we all have other animal rescue responsibilities we'd love to devote more time to. but we need to make sure josie is safe, and since the person who has her refuses to prove it to us, we will continue the search. we will be heavily flyering the area we believe josie to be in, and contacting the vets in that area. there is still a large reward offered for josie's safe return.

and to the person who has josie...you and only you have the power to end this. just let us see the dog. that's all we want.

By request

2006-08-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

Someone posted here that Josie had been taken in by someone.

That was apparently followed up by some emails.

Deb requested pictures.

The people emailed pictures to Deb.

The consensus of the group of people who know Josie is that the pictures are, in fact, Josie.

The people who have Josie refuse to provide any further verification that they are an appropriate home for Josie (location, vet reference, etc).

That's it...that's all we know for FACT.

since you asked....

2006-08-02T20:14:00.000-05:00

i know not everyone reads the comments, so i'm going to go ahead and post this here. if the people who have josie are in fact animal lovers with only the best of intentions for josie, they have no reason to fear or fight us. we're animal rescuers...no one is more devoted to the safety and well-being of animals than we are. without seeing josie in her home environment, we have no idea whether or not she is being well taken care of.

what do we want from these people? we want the opportunity to do a home visit. that's all. it's standard practice in the rescue world, and what would have been done for any family who wanted to adopt josie from the rescue group (not shelter) she was headed for. we have no interest in their money. no one who has been involved in the search for josie stands to benefit financially from finding her. there are vetting and pull fees to be reimbursed, but i will do so out of my own money if i can know josie is safe. and no, i can't afford it and yes, i've already spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on the search for josie. *that* is what you do when you truly love an animal.

without the opportunity to do a home visit, we have no way of knowing that she is not being kept chained outside, that she is not being deprived of medical care, that she is not going to be sold to research. we simply can't take someone's word in an email that she is loved and healthy. furthermore, although the pictures we have seen do seem to be josie, there are a few inconsistencies we can only verify by actually seeing the dog they have. we would hate to think josie could still be out there and we weren't looking for her because we thought she'd been found.

if the people who have josie have nothing to hide, they should allow a home visit. that's all we want.

update on Josie's status

2006-08-02T13:51:00.000-05:00

We are now able to confirm that a person or group of people do indeed have Josie. Unfortunately, they are refusing to let us know where they are keeping her, so we are unable to verify that she is in safe environment. If anyone has any information that could lead us to where Josie is being kept, please let us know. There is still a reward for her safe return.

Of course, if we are able to verify that Josie is in a safe and loving home, we would be thrilled to let her remain there. All we want is what is best for Josie. But the fact that the people who are keeping her are unwilling to let us see her or the conditions in which she is being kept makes us very, very nervous for her.

possible sighting this afternoon in monroe

2006-07-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

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.

a sighting, an adult bookstore, and a trip to the police department

2006-07-27T21:59:00.000-05:00

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.... :)

Wednesday night update

2006-07-27T13:06:00.000-05:00

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!

Clay Street possible sighting

2006-07-27T10:43:00.000-05:00

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

THE ONGOING SEARCH FOR JOSIE

2006-07-26T08:48:00.001-05:00

So that we may continue to receive calls/tips about Josie - PLEASE keep these coming!! We are continuing to look for her.

Unless we verify on this blog that Josie has infact been found, please remember it is crucial that we continue to receive calls/tips from anyone who may have information leading to finding Josie. There will be lots of information posted on this blog, by the searchers and by people who feel they may have information regarding her whereabouts. We are following up on every lead and continuing our search until we know for sure she has been found and is safe.

If anyone can provide info on her, please continue to do so. We also welcome anonymous tips that aid us in the search for Josie. You can email any of the volunteers or contact the phone numbers listed on the flyer. We need to continue to pursue every avenue to look for her and want to do so FOR JOSIE. This is a place to share helpful information in the search for Josie and we want to encourage that to continue until she is found.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERN, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

more sightings in harbor area

2006-07-25T21:52:00.000-05:00

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 :))

sighting from last week on sherman rd.

2006-07-25T18:23:00.000-05:00

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.

new flyer!!! print and post with wild abandon!!!

2006-07-25T12:28:00.000-05:00

Monday Evening Update From Cindy

2006-07-25T07:51:00.000-05:00

Monday night I went out by myself. Fliered Route 84 (I guess it's West) from Route 7 in Monroe Twp. to Kingsville where I got on Route 90. When I say Fliered I mean all newspaper boxes on my side of the road and any poles at stop signs ect. I then went and found the park in Geneva (Knights of Columbus). Debbie and Heather have that area very well covered. I drove around quite a bit and fixed any posters that had started to fall and stapled some to poles where I could. I then fliered paper boxes on Centennial Road, which came out of the park and lead me to Route 20. I got on Route 20 E and started at North Ridge Taxidermy and put a flier in every paper box and on every business door on my side of the road all the way to Route 45.

Traffic started to become very heavy and it was 10:30, so I headed home. On my way back I hit the other side of Route 84 that I had missed on my way up to Route 90 from Route 7 earlier tonight. Talked to a few people, unfortunately no leads. I also did drive down Blake again, and was planning on starting to flier on Route 84 off Blake, but too much traffic and getting pretty late.

possible sighting in ashtabula harbor last thursday

2006-07-24T16:56:00.000-05:00

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.... :)

sunday evening update from cindy

2006-07-23T19:10:00.000-05:00

(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

call this a.m.

2006-07-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-07-23T07:22:00.000-05:00

sightings in geneva

2006-07-23T01:52:00.000-05:00

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.

an interesting development

2006-07-22T22:03:00.000-05:00

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

Possible sighting from July 19th

2006-07-22T10:07:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-07-22T08:38:00.000-05:00

THE SEARCH FOR JOSIE, GROUP MEETING TO SEARCH FRIDAY JULY 21 AT 6PM IN AUSTINBURG OHIO - PLEASE HELP!

2006-07-20T19:00:00.001-05:00

Just talked to Debbie and Cindy. It's just about 8:00pm on July 20th.

We tossed around some ideas for the large group search we're hoping to organize for a search on friday night. Please crosspost the following info to Ohio Rescues groups etc so we can get together as large a group as possible.

The plan is to meet at 6:00pm in Austinburg a few blocks from the Pilot Gas Station at Bucks Bar and Grill. This is near to where Josie first went missing. Address below!

If you can help please meet there at 6:oopm and if you would like more info beforehand please email tommaneyfamily@comcast.net and I will relay your cell phone numbers to Debbie and the others and vice versa so everyone can meet accordingly. It's okay if you can't make it right at six!! We need all the help we can get! And we can put you in touch with the group even if you arrive after 6 at any time! Obviously the more people we have to start the search the easier it will be to organize into groups - please come help if you can - THANKS!

July 21st, 6:00pm GROUP SEARCH:
Meeting spot will be (off the route 45 exit off I-90) at:
Buck's Grill & Bar
2092 State Route 45Austinburg, OH 44010
Cross Street:Between County Hwy 16 and Miller St

of course we ask that you be courteous to the restaurant by trying to find suitable parking so our search efforts don't disrupt their business.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! Hope to see you there! We really need the help!!
~Josie's Rescue Team

UPDATE ON THE SEARCH FOR JOSIE AS OF JULY 20th!

2006-07-20T16:21:00.000-05:00

Updated Search for Josie as of 7/20/06

Hey all, this is Kim, I talked to Cindy and Debbie last night who were on foot search for josie in the area and they're pretty sure of the following in relation to the josie sightings that have been reported in and around the area where josie went missing:

Debbie feels strongest that Josie has left the area she was originally lost in, including the Sherman St/Clay Street area and that right now the Sanborn Road sighting (at the intersection of Ashtabula/Austinburg Rd) is probably where josie is frequenting most at this time (volunteers will be handing out josie's 'lost flyer' in this area and this of course does not mean she isn't going back to other areas she may have been spotted in). Looking at a map they feel she's been following a bike trail out that way northeast and several four wheeling and horse trails (i'll try to find a map of it) and that would be easiest for her to travel along to get to and from if she is coming back to the original area at all. Per Cindy, these paths run all over the Chapel Hill Golf Course Area and back towards the Save-A-Lot Warehouse. She could have also taken those. Also, she could have very easily crossed I-90 (we obviously hope she didn't and doesn't cross the highway directly but we do think she's going over it or under it through foot trails or bridges) but the direction that the last spotter saw her run (Sanborn/Ashtabula-Austinburg Road intersection) was directly into the woods that border I-90.

At this time I believe (and I could be wrong, I'll confirm again with the volunteers in the area tonight) that the last sighting of Josie was on the 16th. I am hoping volunteers may have seen her today but I will check in again later this evening if not tomorrow AM to confirm that her last known sighting was in fact July 16th.

I know the volunteers on foot could really use some help so if you're able to help even for a few hours to do some foot searching, I know it would be much appreciated.

******They are trying to plan a formal large group search on Friday evening July 21st, time and meeting place will be sent to anyone who can help! *********

Please email me at tommaneyfamily@comcast.net and i can give you her cell phone. Also while it is paramount that we find Josie, we are hoping to gather donations for her recovery and vetting that will certainly be needed once she is found. If you would like to contribute, please mention so when emailing me. Donations can be sent via paypal or mail. Thanks so very much! ~Kim

UPDATES TO FOLLOW !

Please note: we are trying to keep this blog as up to date as possible and unless otherwise posted we are most certainly continuing to search for her so please please keep phoning and emailing in those sightings, they are a HUGE help and we want to stress our appreciation to everyone for all they have done so far and continue to do to help in the search for Josie..
THANK YOU!

2006-07-17T07:38:00.000-05:00

another reported sighting!

2006-07-17T06:02:00.000-05:00

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 :)

new flyer

2006-07-16T19:16:00.000-05:00

2006-07-15T13:45:00.000-05:00

A new picture!

2006-07-15T13:40:00.000-05:00

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!

another reported sighting...plymouth area

2006-07-15T10:05:00.000-05:00

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.

possible sighting today

2006-07-14T15:31:00.000-05:00

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!

Wanted: Your fenced in yard!

2006-07-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

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!!!!

2006-07-13T23:40:00.000-05:00

So close!

2006-07-13T22:15:00.000-05:00

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!

More sightings!

2006-07-13T14:49:00.000-05:00

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. :)

2006-07-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

[click on map to enlarge]

and another one!

2006-07-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

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! :)

a new sighting!

2006-07-13T08:21:00.000-05:00

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...

Things that have been done

2006-07-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

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.

Josie's flyer to print and hang

2006-07-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

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

Sightings July 1st to July 11th

2006-07-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

(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.

Welcome to "Where's Josie?"

2006-07-12T09:56:00.000-05:00

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.