I had been searching for Stella in collaboration with another group since she went missing 8/5 while being cared for by a family member. Owner Gaby was in Jamaica at a wedding for a week and was not able to be in contact or do much to recover her dog. Gaby returned to CT on August 15.
Last sighting of Stella was August 7 at RT 44 and Secret Lake Rd in Canton near Avon line. No more sightings were reported – she had vanished. Signs were not put up in the area by the family member who lost Stella. Without signs, people not on social media were unaware that any dog was missing.
On August 14 I occasionally heard howling across Secret Lake from me (where I live) on the cliff face. It's common to hear barking and howling dogs who live over there. The next morning on August 15, I learned that neighbors on that side of lake heard it also. They thought it was a coyote. At 11 am I heard one long plaintive howl, then silence. I was stunned when I realized that it was probably Stella howling and not a coyote. The sound was in the same spot where I heard it yesterday. I knew I needed to act quickly to get this dog safe. If she was up there, she might be severely injured and/or trapped. If she was on the rocks, she had been subjected to sun, hot temperatures, high humidity and terrible thunderstorms all week. She would not survive much longer if she was stuck up there.
Alone I climbed up the trail on Brian Lane to the top of the cliffs overlooking Secret Lake. It's impossible to see the bottom because it is too dangerous to go to the edge. I stayed up there for a long time, but no longer heard howling. I went back down into the neighborhood. Still didn't hear howling.
Eric a drone operator was contacted and volunteered to search. Eric searched for about 90 minutes but did not see the dog. To get to the site Eric, Gaby and I had to hike up a steep trail high above Secret Lake in Avon from Brian Lane. Weather forced the drone operator to end the search. Much gratitude to Eric for immediately coming out to help us.
Without a precise area, I couldn’t get anyone to climb up the cliff and rocks. Fire Department needed me to have eyes on the dog. That was proving to be impossible due to the location.
I went home and showered. Sat down on porch to eat my first meal of the day at about 6 pm and heard Stella howling again from across the lake. I texted Gaby - "Cliff Drive Avon NOW! She's howling." Gaby and I met near where I heard howling. Area is the base of a sheer cliff with rocks and giant boulders strewn about. We could not safely access the area. It was raining and getting dark. Rocks were wet and slippery and quite treacherous. I instructed Gaby to call to Stella. Normally we don't advise calling out to a lost dog because they will flee. I believed Stella could not run and would howl in response. After a few long agonizing minutes, Stella began howling. We both burst into tears. Gaby climbed high enough to see Stella but couldn’t access her. Stella was about 75 feet up on a boulder stuck.
I called police and Avon Fire Department came. Donna from the other group called Gaby and stayed on the phone during the whole-time offering support. Fire Chief Appell assessed the situation, assembled a team and they climbed up and carried Stella out. Stella was up there since at least August 7 which was the last known sighting of the dog. Several days exposed to sun and rain alone up there! I drove them to the Vet ER and got home at 1 am. Stella was safe! She lost 12 lbs., was dehydrated, sunburned and some scrapes. Stella is home to her grateful owner.
Last sighting of Stella was August 7 at RT 44 and Secret Lake Rd in Canton near Avon line. No more sightings were reported – she had vanished. Signs were not put up in the area by the family member who lost Stella. Without signs, people not on social media were unaware that any dog was missing.
On August 14 I occasionally heard howling across Secret Lake from me (where I live) on the cliff face. It's common to hear barking and howling dogs who live over there. The next morning on August 15, I learned that neighbors on that side of lake heard it also. They thought it was a coyote. At 11 am I heard one long plaintive howl, then silence. I was stunned when I realized that it was probably Stella howling and not a coyote. The sound was in the same spot where I heard it yesterday. I knew I needed to act quickly to get this dog safe. If she was up there, she might be severely injured and/or trapped. If she was on the rocks, she had been subjected to sun, hot temperatures, high humidity and terrible thunderstorms all week. She would not survive much longer if she was stuck up there.
Alone I climbed up the trail on Brian Lane to the top of the cliffs overlooking Secret Lake. It's impossible to see the bottom because it is too dangerous to go to the edge. I stayed up there for a long time, but no longer heard howling. I went back down into the neighborhood. Still didn't hear howling.
Eric a drone operator was contacted and volunteered to search. Eric searched for about 90 minutes but did not see the dog. To get to the site Eric, Gaby and I had to hike up a steep trail high above Secret Lake in Avon from Brian Lane. Weather forced the drone operator to end the search. Much gratitude to Eric for immediately coming out to help us.
Without a precise area, I couldn’t get anyone to climb up the cliff and rocks. Fire Department needed me to have eyes on the dog. That was proving to be impossible due to the location.
I went home and showered. Sat down on porch to eat my first meal of the day at about 6 pm and heard Stella howling again from across the lake. I texted Gaby - "Cliff Drive Avon NOW! She's howling." Gaby and I met near where I heard howling. Area is the base of a sheer cliff with rocks and giant boulders strewn about. We could not safely access the area. It was raining and getting dark. Rocks were wet and slippery and quite treacherous. I instructed Gaby to call to Stella. Normally we don't advise calling out to a lost dog because they will flee. I believed Stella could not run and would howl in response. After a few long agonizing minutes, Stella began howling. We both burst into tears. Gaby climbed high enough to see Stella but couldn’t access her. Stella was about 75 feet up on a boulder stuck.
I called police and Avon Fire Department came. Donna from the other group called Gaby and stayed on the phone during the whole-time offering support. Fire Chief Appell assessed the situation, assembled a team and they climbed up and carried Stella out. Stella was up there since at least August 7 which was the last known sighting of the dog. Several days exposed to sun and rain alone up there! I drove them to the Vet ER and got home at 1 am. Stella was safe! She lost 12 lbs., was dehydrated, sunburned and some scrapes. Stella is home to her grateful owner.
