Thanks, internets! Have you seen Cleo?
UPDATE (8:20PM): We’re back from the vet, who cleared Cleo of any major injury. Phew! She’s a bit banged up, but given her day that’s hardly surprising. Around 3:30 this afternoon, my husband and brother-in-law tracked her to a location around 2 km north of where she ran off. She was about 200 metres above the highway, stuck fifteen feet up on a narrow ledge in the middle of a cliff. She whined when they called her, and they followed the sound. She’s clean and fed and has some anti-inflammatory medication in her, and she’s asleep on the rug with us, in front of the fire.
I cannot thank you all enough for your help spreading the word about Cleo today. Your blog posts, tweets, Facebook updates, and most of all your kind and hopeful words truly kept me sane when otherwise my overactive imagination would have put me into fits. Celebrating with you when she was found was even better.
Here’s the path my husband is pretty sure Cleo took today; given that he followed her trail most of the way, I figure it’s pretty accurate. The poor dog was gone for seven hours.
UPDATE (3:35PM): Cleo is found! My husband and brother-in-law found her, and they’re on their way home. Thank you all so much for your support and help! It has truly kept me sane all day, and I am at the ready to pay it back (or forward) whenever you need it.
—
Please help us find our dog. This morning at around 8:30, our friendly mutt Cleo got spooked by the sound of avalanche blasting at Whistler-Blackcomb and ran off into the woods of Emerald Estates in Whistler, BC. My husband was able to follow her tracks (to his best guess, at least) to Highway 99, heading north away from the blasting. There are few homes or businesses on that stretch of road, and I’m trying to reach as many people in the Whistler area as possible with hope that someone will recognize her if she turns up. Would you please help spread the word by posting a link to this blog post on your Facebook, Twitter, or any other account you have? I know very well how wonderful it can be to be a part of something absurdly fun online; I’m hoping you might help be a part of something more serious. It’s supposed to snow again tonight, and we very much want our dog to be safe and warm.
Cleo is a 6-year-old shepherd or husky-ish mix; she’s smart and sweet, is wearing a red collar with several tags, and is timid around strangers. She’s a Vancouver dog, but has spent a lot of time at Whistler and should know her way back to Emerald if she hasn’t run too far off to lose her orientation. She cut her front-right paw a couple of days ago but was getting around fine (as evidenced by her ambitious flight). If you see her, please let me know – kim AT kimwerker DOT com. Thank you!
I'm an astigmatic expat writer, editor, speaker, author of 
Kim, I'm so worried about you and Cleo! Hope you find her soon. Wish I was up there to help look!
Oh Kim I'm so sorry…..I hope you find her!
She's a *smart* girl, Kim, I have every faith she'll be able to find her way back to your place in Whistler once she calms down and gets hungry.
Posted. I hope you find her! Let us know the moment you do. Crossing fingers and toes here.
Well, I'm a little far away to do any looking, but I saw this up on Twitter and thought I'd say that I am keeping my fingers crossed that you find her! She is such an adorable pooch.
Cleo is beautiful. I just know you'll find her. We are thinking such positive thoughts over here in Maine for you.
Oh no, Kim! I'll send canine-GPS-vibes up thataway. I hope you find her quick!
Kim, there are 11 groups on Rav for b.c. Try posting there. I'd post but I don't know which ones would apply to you:
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/search?query=brit...
I wonder if the local forestry department in that area could be on the lookout for your dog. Maybe even the local police?
Found out about this on Plurk, so I posted to Facebook and Plurk and told others to post and retweet. I hope you find her soon, she's a sweet looking girl!
Thank you so much, everyone, for passing on this info about Cleo! Your support is keeping us sane right now.
Posted to my Facebook, too. Lots of Vancouverites head for Whistler on these dates. I hope you find Cleo soon.
I live in Whistler, Kim — amazing how word gets around the internet. Will keep an eye and ear out for Cleo. What a beautiful pooch. I hope you find her soon.
Will put a link up on my Facebook page too, have quite a few Whistler connections there.
Yay!! Glad she's been found – you must be so relieved. Pups… I tell ya.. :)
SO HAPPY to know she's safe and on her way home.
I'm so happy to her your dog has been found. Poor thing…
(((clapping))) LOVE! That's so awesome!
YAY!!! I'm so glad you found her! I've been praying ever since I heard about her being lost. Give her an extra hug for me!
YAY! So happy you found Cleo!!!
I'm so glad to hear you found your dog. I ended up here via Colleen Lindsay and I was all set to post a link..until I realized I've never gotten a single hit from BC. Didn't think it would help much.
I'm very happy to hear this. I was worried as soon as I heard on Colleen's blog.
Such a great end to this story!
(KeriKinnic)
Wooohooooo! I'm so glad she's safe and sound. :)
So glad she's home safe and sound! I read about her being lost on Annie Modesitt's blog and was so worried about her – until I saw a comment on Facebook from Romi saying she was found. I'm very happy for all of you!
I followed your story all day yesterday and said prayers that Cleo would be found. I have 4 dogs myself and would be beside myself if I lost one of them. I teared up last night when I saw that she had been found – you must be breathing so much easier – a think she deserves an extra special treat today and constant hugs
I am so glad she's home. Congratulations on getting your lovely Cleo back safe and sound. Spend the day enjoying being together and loving each other. Happy New Year!
wow! your husband and brother-in-law are amazing to have tracked her so far!
What a smart dog. Ours ran off for a WEEK, and since then has been – not scared – but very aware of where we are whenever we go for a walk. She's happier-but-wiser now!
And the map? I googled the same place and kept wondering where she might be. Who knew I was such a worry-wart?
UGH! Happy new year, indeed! I take a day off, and all Hades breaks loose… well, that and Cleo, apparently. Very happy for everyone involved, kiddo. Makes you think, no?
Much love to you and yours, my friend. Along with joy, health, and infinite goodness.
I'm delighted that your Cleo is safely home warm and dry. I read on Daily Chum that she'd run off and my heart sank as I read, knowing how frightened I'd be if it were one of my little puppers. By the bottom of the page I could breathe again, seeing she was safe! Such happy news! By the way, Kim, I crocheted the handwarmers from Interweave Crochet, and love the result!! Thanks for a great simple and effective pattern!
[...] Christmas in not-snowy-enough-to-enjoy-skiing Whistler. (Until, of course, it got snowy. And then the dog got scared and ran away. But then we found her, and all was happy and [...]
So happy to see the news, Kim. And if Cleo ever has puppies … I'm serious, I want one. I was hoping, this December, to adopt a puppy from the Whistler animal shelter. He is a husky/retriever mix who has the promise of turning into a Cleo. But alas, I was not to be the chosen one, and he went to another loving family. So … I'm still looking and hoping to find one along the lines of the beautiful dog you have :)
beautiful dog
great post thanks!
great post thanks!
great post thanks!
great post thanks!
Hey there, how's Cleo now? Cool right!
Yes, she's doing great, thank you! It took her several weeks to fully
recover from her leg injury, but she has.
Nice to know that! thanks.
That's good news, It's nice to hear that she's recovering and is with you guys.
That's good news, It's nice to hear that she's recovering and is with you guys.
That's good news, It's nice to hear that she's recovering and is with you guys!
That's good news, It's nice to hear that she's recovering and is with you guys!
That's good news, It's nice to hear that she's recovering and is with you guys!