Search for Lost Dog has a Happy Ending in South Jersey

I'm an animal lover.  One of the saddest things I see on Facebook is the posts about missing pets.

Our pets are family.  I can't imagine the pain people feel when they post requests for people to be on the lookout for their missing pets.

Sometimes those posts end with good news, and other times you never know how things turned out.

The Search for Dutch

If you follow any of the South Jersey Facebook groups, you no doubt, have read the story about Dutch.

The story of Dutch, a German Sheppard puppy began July 29th during a family visit to Ocean City.

Dutch got away from his family and made a beeline towards a marsh near Bartram Lane and Waterview Boulevard.

The dog's family, Art and Jamie Wharton of Glassboro were devastated, and the search for Dutch began.

Chasing Tails Trap & Rescue

They put out a plea for help on area Facebook pages and enlisted the help of a group called Chasing Tails Trap & Rescue.

The family was determined to bring their boy home.  At one point, Wharton donned a hazmat suit and entered the marsh searching for Dutch.

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Wharton told OCNJ Daily, “None of this could have happened without the community.  Minutes after it happened, we had people helping all over. People looked for him and when we asked them not to because we had the professionals from the trap and rescue, they didn’t.”

Everybody seemed to be following the story of Dutch online.  Offering prayers, and advice.

But would Ducth ever make his way home?

A trap was set and we all waited and watched.  Dutch would approach the cage, but wouldn't enter.

The decision was made to try a bigger cage.  Then, at approximately 1:15 am Tuesday, the temptation of bacon and liverwurst was too much for Dutch to ignore.

He entered the cage, the laser-activated door shut, and Dutch's days on the loose came to an end.

Tips for Pet Owners

All pets should have collars and dog tags.  Make sure the information is current.

Have a microchip implanted in your pet.  It's painless and can help if your pet is taken to a shelter or veterinarian.

Never allow your pet outside without a leash.  No matter how well-trained they are, they are still animals and should always be under your control.

If lost, one thing you should do is put a dish of your pet's food as well as a piece of clothing.

Many local communities have pages for lost and missing pets.  You should find one near you and let them know.  Also, call the non-emergency police number and make them aware of your missing pet.

The amazing thing about this story is how much time and effort was put forth by community members.

If you would like to help support the efforts of Chasing Tails Trap and Rescue, you can donate by clicking here.

While this story was shared by many, this non-profit group works to help others every day and depends on donations to help others.