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Rosie the dog safe at last after 62 days on the run in Chilliwack

Lost pup from Korea captured safely in Chilliwack by Petsearchers Canada
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Al MacLellan of Petsearchers Canada and Rosie. (Karen Mackay photo)

Rosie鈥檚 ordeal is finally over after 62 days on the run.

The lost dog originally from Korea was captured safely by Petsearchers Canada on Sunday afternoon in Chilliwack.

鈥淪he doing fine,鈥 said Al MacLellan of Petsearchers Canada, a pet recovery and bloodhound tracking service based in Surrey. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a very sweet little dog.鈥

He managed to rescue the Jindo-cross dog by tracking her nightly with a thermal drone, among other of his signature search techniques, with many successful searches under his belt.

鈥淪he鈥檇 been out there a long time,鈥 MacLellan said about 鈥淩osie,鈥 as they called her, who was originally named 鈥淩ose.鈥

He says he鈥檚 become a little attached to the dog, as he often does. It happens before he even finds the dog he鈥檚 searching for, but he knows he can鈥檛 take them all home.

MacLellan had been on way out to Chilliwack on June 25, with son Parker, and daughter London, around lunch time. They had a trap set-up in a blocked-off alleyway, when another call came in with a fresh sighting of Rosie.

This time would be the charm.

鈥淲e found her underneath a back deck,鈥 he said. It was under the deck structure at a home near Reese Avenue and Corbould Street in Chilliwack.

He was being careful not to spook her as he approached. He could see there wasn鈥檛 enough room to throw the net over the dog.

鈥淚 started talking to her quietly,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 know if you鈥檙e there to hurt them or help them.鈥

He put the catch pole around her, gently scooped her into his van.

鈥淪he was very calm, and stayed with me all night,鈥 MacLellan said. 鈥淪he allowed me to pet her, and check her over.鈥

Rosie was safe, after going missing on April 24. She escaped from her adoptive home in downtown Chilliwack.

It was the owner of Koastal Dog Rescue on Vancouver Island who first reached out to Petsearchers Canada to find Rosie soon after she escaped, he said.

Once on the search MacLellan would drive out to Chilliwack almost daily, setting traps, feed station, following sightings, with 300 posters that went up to encourage calls about sightings.

鈥淪he was everywhere,鈥 he said, citing calls about sightings from Airport Road, Skwah First Nation, Downtown to Prest Road.

In the past they have brought in bloodhounds in certain searches but in this case it was the thermal drone that did the trick.

鈥淪he was so fast and small, she would just disappear,鈥 he said when she was on the run, and sticking close to the edge of buildings.

But from the drone they could track the dog鈥檚 movements from the air.

He appreciated all the calls from neighbours trying to help, and those who followed the searchers鈥 specific requests not to put food out, or call to the dog.

鈥淧eople were so kind and helpful,鈥 MacLellan said. 鈥淩osie had a pretty big following.鈥

Volunteer Karen McKay, who鈥檇 been helping with the search, said she was speechless when Rosie was finally safe and sound.

鈥淚t was incredible,鈥 she said. 鈥淎l was so calm. He has a heart of gold and is so good at what he does.鈥

He never gave up and stayed positive, she said.

鈥淗e knew he was going to catch her,鈥 McKay said. 鈥淲hen he was approaching her, he was talking to her so quietly, telling her she was safe, saying 鈥榃e鈥檝e got you now.鈥欌

Rosie was expected to head to a veternarian鈥檚 office for a complete check-up on Monday.

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering city hall, Indigenous, business, and climate change stories.
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