By Charlene Tebbutt

Lost champion show dog and breeder reunited

Sep 15, 2018 | 10:06 AM

A sad story about the disappearance of a champion show dog near Prince Albert this summer now has a happy ending, thanks to a host of volunteer searchers and the power of social media.

Ian, a champion sheltie, is recovering after fending for himself in the rural area east of Prince Albert for two months. Just two days after moving to a new home, Ian was startled by a thunderstorm on July 9 and escaped his yard.

Ian is a Canadian Grand Champion show dog and was ranked Number 4 in the country at the time of his disappearance. The two-year-old pup was used to a more gentile lifestyle and had just moved in with a new family after retiring as a show dog.

Liana Maloney, who has been breeding shelties since 1980, told paNOW that although she might like to, she can’t keep every dog she breeds and takes to shows, so they are retired early so they can enjoy a full life with another family.

“We have had great success with that. This was just one time that Ian decided he didn’t want to go.”

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Over the two months he was missing, various sightings were reported, and pictures and information about Ian were posted all over local buy and sell and social media pages. Last Saturday, Maloney decided to follow up on a sighting of Ian from a family harvesting their wheat field east of the city. She told paNOW she picked up some Kentucky Fried Chicken on the way out, hoping to draw Ian out from the woods.

Maloney drove toward the Forks, where the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers meet, in another attempt to find the missing pup. Nearly 70 kilometres outside the city, she said she caught a glimpse of Ian, although he was too frightened to come close. With the chicken in hand and permission from landowners, Maloney trudged through fields and drove along back roads for more than four hours hoping to coax Ian out. The trek wasn’t without danger as Maloney’s bag of fried chicken attracted a black bear at one site.

Ultimately, the bear got the chicken, Maloney said, adding she threw it out the window while driving down the road. But, the trip was not for naught. As Maloney waited in yet another field to watch for Ian, she felt a familiar paw on her shoulder.

“I sat there on the river, on the ridge for about 40 minutes … and all of a sudden, this little paw came up on my shoulder and he barked in my ear and he started licking my ear. I couldn’t believe it,” Maloney said.

At just two years old, Ian seemed to be adjusting to his new family, although since the escape, his adoptive family has decided to allow Ian to go back to live with Maloney’s family long-term.

“They’re very sad, I mean they loved him already [but] they did what’s best for Ian which just proves what a great family they are,” she said.

Maloney said Ian is still recovering from his ordeal. He had lost several pounds and was quite skinny and covered in burrs and scratches. She said Ian is back to playing with the other dogs at her home and is enjoying sleeping on her bed each night and having a meal each day.

Maloney is grateful to those who called in tips and spent time searching for Ian.

“It was amazing, just to have so many people that really cared about him and wanted to help and support,” Maloney said.

“He’s feeling good and glad to be home.”

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt