Nelson is lost in Victoria!

UPDATE to let everyone know what has been going on with Nelson. He is a “street dog” at heart and continues to operate on this foundation. He is smart and savvy and knows how to handle himself on the streets and in the shadows, as that is all he’s ever known. He is eating plenty and is not emaciated. He is not running to or from anywhere, or anyone. He is instinctively going from area to area, never staying anywhere for more than a couple days. He is in good shape and is anything but weak. Most of the volunteers have personally seen him many times, sometimes from afar and sometimes close, over the past few weeks. Jesse, the owner, has seen him and been in reaching distance of him on occasions too. He has been captured on our trail cams several times in the past couple weeks as well. He has been ¾ the way into a trap but was smart enough not to take the “bait” at the back of it. He was pinned down in a huge thicket of brambles. He was left there to rest as it was a safe and a seemingly inescapable place. We returned several short hours later to sadly find the thicket being actively bulldozed by a work crew. We have known his whereabouts almost the entire time, except for some days here and there. The sandwich boards and posters are moved with each sighting, not in a “willy nilly” fashion. This is why they are sometimes seen in one area, get moved, and then come back to the first area, as Nelson returns to it. We know where he is and we know what he’s doing and how he’s traveling. It’s simply a matter of time until the right person can collar him, as he has approached various people over the last few weeks. This is not your average dog and this is not your average search and rescue. Please understand that! We are working tirelessly with the owners and take direction from them at every turn. We don’t post updates or sightings in an effort to keep people from swarming an area, and sadly, to keep the negative, accusatory comments and replies to a minimum. Nelson is a popular and emotional story…everyone “wants to help” and we understand that but it will only take a few or maybe just one person to bring him in. We will work with anyone that wants to work with us and the owner and that has never changed. We have experienced and compassionate volunteers and directors. We have consulted with local Animal Control, Veterinarians, wild animal experts, BC Conservation and Canadian dog handling/search expert Jim deBoon. Please respect that the owners and searchers have feelings and don’t treat this situation lightly. There is no “text book” way of trapping or collaring Nelson or any dog for that matter, which will work without fail every time, as some would like to suggest so please understand and accept that. Constant critiquing and “should haves” do nothing to help Nelson or help the morale of the people who have been actively working on this for weeks. We all appreciate your support and pawsitive thoughts, as does Nelson!