December 2012 Complimentary Little Dog Lost and Found Story on page 3 Since 1889, those who live and work in the Berkshires have relied on the friendly and familar faces found at The Pitts!eld Cooperative Bank to make them feel good. Many banks have come and gone over the past 123 years – making The Coop's continued dedication to the community so ... refreshing. And, that commitment will never !zzle out. Here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. !e Community’s Bank Since 1889 Member FDIC Member SIF Equal Housing Lender www.pitts!eldcoop.com oby was adopted just two months 3000 miles away, started an online ago by Liz Colker-Brown, a teacher search party for the dog. She went on Little lTiving in Los Angeles, California. She Facebook and other social networking adopted the shy little dog from Forever - sites and circulated a flyer with a Home Pet Rescue in Cascade, Califor - picture of Toby. She searched nia, where he had been home fostered Petfinder.com to find the names of res - Dog for five months by rescuer Jennifer cue groups and shelters in Pittsfield, Wales. Thanksgiving in the Berkshires saying “That was how I found Animal was to be Toby’s first visit to Liz’s DREAMS, and figured that a group childhood home and his new human specializing in feral cat rescue would ‘grandparents.’ Liz and Toby flew in on have both the equipment and know-how Monday evening, November 19. to rescue a scared little lost dog.” Jen - Two days later, Liz’s parents Sue and nifer also contacted Granite State Dog Joel were walking Toby in Kirvin Park Rescue in New Hampshire, which has near their home while Liz visited an excellent website and lost/found friends. During an energetic greeting page. She credits Granite State Rescue with a large dog that was off leash, the for being instrumental in getting the velcro strips on Toby’s harness failed, word out locally about Toby. Soon Sue and Toby dashed away. Attempts to re - and Joel started to receive calls about trieve him proved fruitless—he just Toby from neighborhoods all around kept running in circles, but would not Kirvin Park. He was still in the area, but let himself be captured. Joel and Sue any time someone tried to apprehend phoned Liz right away, but Toby was him, Toby would bolt. Joel even set hu - long gone by the time she arrived. As mane live-traps baited with food, to no dusk fell, Toby was nowhere to be avail. This continued for another few found. Hours upon hours of searching days; Joel and Sue searching, following proved futile. He was gone, and the every lead, putting out more flyers, their temperatures were dropping into the hopes flagging. They would spend 4-6 twenties. Toby was a southern Califor - hours daily looking, and the other hours nia dog. He wasn’t used to the cold of worrying. Then, on Day 5, a Tuesday, a New England. motorist saw the dog cross busy Route Yvonne Borsody Thanksgiving was a somber event for 7 near the Holmes Road intersection Lost Animal DREAMS the Colker family—Toby’s absence cast and head into the woods towards a a pall on the day, with family and wildlife sanctuary. A tiny black twelve friends searching for hours both before pound dog, crossing roadways and On Monday November 26, I opened my email to find a flyer picturing a and after dinner. When Liz had to fly headed into the wilderness, was running dog from California lost in Pittsfield over the Thanksgiving holiday, with back to California on Friday, she left out of luck. After that, the trail went a plea for help from the rescue group that had adopted him out. It was a with a heavy heart. But she did a pru - cold. For three days, there were no more heart-wrenching story about a shy, twelve pound dog who had gone dent thing: she contacted Jennifer sightings of Toby. missing 5 days earlier. I printed the flyer and the next day shared the Wales, the rescuer who had fostered continued on page 24 information with Melissa Tharion, our Animal DREAMS trapping and Toby (originally named Jaycee) back in rescue coordinator. We discussed strategy and vowed to immediately drop California. Jennifer, feeling helpless everything and rescue this dog the next time he was sighted. One week later, I had the pleasure of meeting this darling little dog “Toby” as I Toby was a southern California dog. interviewed Joel and Sue Colker, Toby’s ‘grandparents’ who were watch - He wasn’t used to the cold of ing him for their daughter Liz. Toby jumped into my lap, hammed it up for the camera, and completely warmed my heart. This is his story. “ New England. CANINE CONNECTION, INC. ” Visit us in our NEW space Pet Sitting Service Same Plaza! Claudine’sI will give attentive loving care to your pet, giving you peace of mind during your time away. D D Exercise Walks in the park Professional Dog Training and Grooming D D Special Needs pets welcome Therapeutic Touch D D D Gloria McClay C.I.A.T C.S.T Reiki Celebrating our th 1617 South State Road (Route 8) 16 D Anniversary Claudine Bogomolow 413-446-8007 Cheshire MA 01225 413-442-7553 in January! [email protected] r Animal Life December 2012 3 Publisher Home Lisa Betkoski, [email protected] & Hound Contributing Writers And all other animal friends Iris Bass Faith Connolly Yvonne Borsody Carol Lew Yoanna Maitre Lynn Wallace John Krol Connie McKeown Martha Grace Gloria McClay House & Pet Sitting Kim Arre-Gerber, Graphic Designer/Artist and Dog Walking [email protected] Leila DiGirolamo, Web-SMM-Graphic Designer/Artist "No home too big, no pet too small" For advertising rates or information call 413-212-9445 [email protected] Mail: PO Box 804, Pittsfield, MA 01201 Jesse Tucker www.animallifeonline.com Call or text: (413) 429-7815 email: [email protected] Learn with a LEEA FORAN, CPDT-KA,CDBC, CTTP-2 Dedicated Professional Certified Professional Dog Trainer Certified Dog Behavior Consultant Certified Tellington TTouch Practitioner II AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator Amer Red Cross Pet First Aid Instructor With 35 Years of Teaching Experience POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT “real life” DOG TRAINING BEHAVIOR CONSULTATIONS & PROBLEM SOLVING GROUP CLASSES & PRIVATE TRAINING PROGRAMS I believe in training that brings a smile to your face and a wag to your tail. 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