The power of community

In 2020, COVID-19 was a global, national, and local news topic. The pandemic focused our collective attention on vaccines, face masks, handwashing, and social distancing.

But on Aug. 10, a derecho hit. Cleanup efforts instantly became priority one. As neighbors worked shoulder-to-shoulder, COVID concerns took a backseat to more urgent issues.

On Aug. 20, while still in derecho recovery mode, I learned about a dog running scared nearby. Simone, a Wheaten Terrier, had just been transported to her new home for the first time. However before she could be safely taken indoors, she bolted from her new owner’s car and ran right into 360-degrees of post-derecho devastation. She was reportedly seen running through backyards and across busy streets franticly looking for the only home she’d ever known which was 140 miles away from the natural disaster zone into which she had been transported.

The focus of my attention was suddenly redirected a third time. Despite a round-the-clock cacophony of chain saws and generators, I was compelled to venture into the chaos to find Simone. After obtaining permission to search homeowners’ backyards, I found her collar hooked under a wrought iron fence picket. When I reported my finding on the NextDoor app, fellow animal-lover Susan saw my post and immediately offered to help. Many more compassionate folks followed suit forming “Team Simone.”

Dozens of flyers were printed, posted, handed out, and electronically-distributed. Additionally,

A map was created documenting each location where Simone was reportedly seen.

The date and time of each sighting was written in a logbook with contact info.

Kindhearted souls put out food and water stations.

Five trail cams were set up at strategic locations.

Large signs were placed at busy intersections.

A 24/7 hotline was set up using a burner phone.

And a reward was offered for Simone’s safe return.

Her breeder repeatedly drove over two hours to help search.

But days turned to weeks; it was now late September. There were more sightings but whenever anyone got close, Simone fled as if in survival mode. Over a month into the search, she was seen crossing Mount Vernon Road. And while distributing flyers to homeowners around the Oak Hill Cemetery, I met Amanda who reported seeing Simone pass through her backyard more than once!

In the next two weeks, it became clear that Simone was lying low during the day and venturing out for sustenance at night. So a baited cage-trap was set up in Amanda’s backyard and nighttime observations commenced. Alas, Simone showed interest in the kibble but was too smart to fall prey.

So my husband drove to Illinois to borrow a bigger walk-in kennel designed for capturing frightened animals. We dribbled Liquid Smoke along the pathway from the cemetery boundary to the kennel that contained a bowl of water and a bacon double cheeseburger.

For several late nights, Susan and I sat motionless in a parked car, in the alley, wide-eyed as owls, whispering in hush tones like a couple of veteran undercover detectives. Meanwhile, Amanda faithfully kept vigilant watch from an upstairs window. We informed her whenever we saw Simone enter the alleyway and turn into her backyard. She gave us real time reports on Simone’s subsequent movement inside her backyard and near the kennel.

On Oct. 13, 2 days shy of 8 weeks, we apprehended Simone. She was bathed and groomed. And she’s been living her best life ever since.

2020 was a memorable year.

Lisa Carrara lives in Cedar Rapids.