Tuesday, May 1, 2012

This video illustrates the basic method we used to catch Smilla.  In this video, Scott is giving it a try because we speculated that she could smell me when I drew near.  Scott might have been an unfamiliar scent not associated with capture attempts.  I don't think she heard Scott because his careful footsteps on the smooth grass would have been masked by the highway noise, the river noise, the birds, and the golfers.  She seemed to be asleep, but she would pop up when I would sneak within three feet of her.  I finally caught her by rushing the last ten feet and throwing the net on her even though she had gotten up and was starting to run.  Nothing went exactly as planned, but it worked. The map below shows the point of capture.
The map below shows Smilla's travels that we know of.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

We caught Smilla this afternoon after following her around the Twin Rivers Golf Course for about four hours.  The sedative pills slowed her down a little, but she never went into a deep sleep.  I tried sneaking up on her with a net several times as she napped in the grass, but she always woke up just before I got there.  On the attempt that succeeded, I sneaked up to within ten feet, and then lunged the last distance.  She still woke up before I got there, but I managed to throw the net over before she got away.  She was not happy to be caught, but we were elated to finally have her safe.

Thanks to the dozens of volunteers who tracked Smilla, and all the people who reported sightings of her.

Friday, April 27, 2012

    Smilla flier.  Please print some out if you might be in her area.


Smilla sighted Duthie Hill in Issaquah.  The map below shows where she was at 4:30 on Friday.

April 27th sighting in Issaquah

Smilla was seen at 6:30 this morning in Issaquah at Maple Street and SR 900 by someone who read the Snoqualmie Valley Record story about her.  Last night at the cemetery in Renton, I was able to get within two feet of her.  If I can find her location this morning, I have a plan for the next attempt.  Again, it is important that people NOT try to catch her.  It's not that I don't appreciate the help, but people keep trying things that have already failed.  I am getting to know her habits and preferences, and I have a high probability of catching her if she will settle in the right place.  Below is a map of sightings of Smilla since March 10th.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Smilla spent most of the day at the Greenwood cemetery at 4th and Monroe in Renton. I got within two feet of her, but I didn't have a good angle for the snappy snare. We'll try again tomorrow.
Smilla was last seen Wednesday, April 25th, around 11 AM.  A car was seen parked by the road, but no person associated with that car.  My theory is that the driver of the car stopped to help Smilla, and this displaced her from her safe haven.  Hopefully, she will come back to the Lake McDonald area, or we will get a new report of a sighting in a new location.  If you see Smilla, please do not try to catch her.  If you are able, put up fliers in the area that tell people not to disturb her while we plan the next capture attempt.  Please call immediately with any sightings.  206-xxx-xxxx.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Smilla stayed with the family at Lake McDonald for over 24 hours. She will come within a couple of feet of them. She looks thin but uninjured. I had a chance to see the property and the area, and we will explore trapping options tomorrow.


Monday, April 23, 2012





Smilla has been sighted in East Renton near Lake McDonald, 18 miles from Fall City.  We hope she stays put while we work up a plan.  Please do not try to catch her if you see her.  Just report her location.  If you live in the vicinity of Lake McDonald, please spread the word to your neighbors that they should not try to catch her, just report her location. 

Friday, April 20, 2012

Smilla was seen Thursday night, the 19th, near the Roadhouse Inn in Fall City, around 11 PM. 

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Yesterday, April 18th, we received a report that Smilla was hanging out in a pasture  near a home a few miles east of the center of Fall City, near the Fall City airport.  I took a "magnet dog" to that location in hopes that Smilla would want to play with him.  Then, the plan was that when he got closer to me, if Smilla came with him, I could slip a leash onto her.  It worked partially in that Smilla did run after my dog in my direction.  However, I was concerned about busy highway 202 beside the pasture.  I asked for another volunteer to help keep the dogs off of the highway.  When we tried it a second time, Smilla must have felt cornered by the two men trying to keep her away from the highway, and she bolted past me.  I located her again half a mile west and just watched her to make sure she was safe and see where she would settle.  She rested a while and then disappeared again.  I received another phone call that she was near Fall City Community Park.  That was the last time I saw her, just before dark.

The plan going forward is that we want her to settle in a new location like the pasture.  Hopefully, people will just let her rest quietly there, with some food.  If we can get her to feel at home in someone's yard, then we can work up the next plan for trapping her.

Below is a map of sightings in the last couple of weeks or so.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Lost Dog on I90 Preston Park in Ride (Preston WA)


Date: 2012-04-13, 10:42AM PDT
Reply to: tnchw-2956313382@comm.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]


Dog seen on I 90 Tan ish Husky mix colar and tags running herded off highway over at Preston Exit...

3 other dogs missing in Fall City

While you are looking for Smilla, please be aware of three other dogs missing in the area, according to craigslist:

Lost dogs (fall city)


Date: 2012-04-13, 6:08AM PDT
Reply to: mfbv3-2955775372@comm.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Yesterday my 2 dogs escaped there enclosure. Chance is a male shepard mix and Diamond is a female black and white pit /lab mix. Please contact me asap if you have seen them. They are much loved.


Missing: Male Dachshund (Fall City)


Date: 2012-04-10, 3:26PM PDT
Reply to: qsggw-2951175039@comm.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Copper colored male dachshund with a little black on the ears an some gray around the nose from age. Copper was last seen Monday April 9 in the morning at home Fall City (Lake Marie area). He is greatly missed by his loving family so any information would be great!

Please contact Jen @ 425-222-4103 home or Cell 425-985-3911

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Smilla on the run in Fall City


Smilla escaped her crate on march 10th in Fall City.  She is a husky mix who was bound for Norway after  running in the Iditarod.  She has been spotted at the twin river golf course, and a nearby campground.  She has also been seen around the fire station, and at a home in Preston near the Raging River Church.  No one has been able to approach her and she is capable of running at 45+ miles an hour.

IF YOU SEE HER, PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO CATCH HER.  Keep her away from traffic if possible, and call Missing Pet Partnership as soon as possible, 206-265-2804.  You can also send a text to that number.

Regional Animal Services King County currently has a humane dog trap set up at the campground in Fall City.  If you can help with posters or monitoring the traps, please email MPPsearch@gmail.com or call 206-265-2804.

Please check this page often as the information may change.