Missing dog found
Courtesy photo Chris Morse’s dog, GiGi, sits on his desk.
GiGi is home.
The little dog that went missing Saturday from a campground at Farragut State Park was back in her owner’s arms late Wednesday evening.
Chris Morse searched for her relentlessly and used social media to connect with people, some complete strangers, who helped find his pet.
The dog was spotted Tuesday evening around 10 p.m. on a trail camera in the backyard of Tori Howe, who lives near Farragut.
That quickly became ground zero in Morse’s search for his dog.
“There was food in front of the trail camera last night, but then I checked the food bowl and it was licked clean,” Morse said.
When he and Howe viewed the video footage, they saw GiGi had returned.
A Chihuahua mix, GiGi was a stray, living on the streets of California, before she ended up in North Idaho at Kootenai Humane Society where Morse adopted her in July. Within four weeks, the little dog went from being an anxious bundle of fears, to a loving, pet that felt safe and comfortable with Morse, her human.
When Morse realized GiGi was nearby, he walked outside and saw her run off.
“I called her, and sure enough, she came, kind of hunching down toward me, wagging her tail,” Morse said. “I laid down on the ground and waited, offered her some treats. She wasn’t even interested in the treats. She just crawled right up into my arms.”
On Thursday, GiGi was back at work with Morse, sleeping in a chair in his office.
Morse had some advice for anyone who ltoses a dog.
“Don’t give up. Persistently look, especially at night,” Morse said. “Dogs come out, searching for food, at night.”
He also suggests getting a rotisserie chicken and placing pieces of chicken in the area where the animal was last seen, and if it’s spotted, hand out flyers and knock on doors within a quarter-mile radius.
He recommends leaving water and clothing in the area, and make use of trail cameras.
Morse said a lost pet is often scared, so it’s important to refrain from chasing it because it will go back into hiding.
“Call gently and lightly. If it doesn’t come, it will,” he said.
Morse said he is touched by how many people offered kind words of support and helped spread the word and look for GiGi.
“The most amazing thing is how a community comes together when our children, even our furry children, need help,” Morse said. “That proves and shows to me that humanity still has compassion.”