Garson Hunter spent three weeks during the summer in the Qu’Appelle Valley, northwest of Regina, trying to lure his cherished Spanish greyhound, La Gracia, out of hiding by leaving food for her. La Gracia, who had a challenging past, went missing from a veterinary clinic in Lumsden. Before being rescued a year ago, she had already undergone surgery to remove a three-kilogram tumor and her mammary glands, and was diagnosed with cancer.
In late August, Hunter took La Gracia to a veterinary clinic in Lumsden, where she was being treated for a parasite infection. The veterinarian suspected that the medication had built up in her system, requiring intravenous treatments to flush out her kidneys. Unfortunately, on August 30, La Gracia managed to escape from the clinic.
Despite efforts to locate and capture her, La Gracia roamed the wild terrain of the Qu’appelle Valley for three weeks, eluding capture. Hunter sought assistance from Geneviève Duperron of Ge Cherche Charly, an organization specializing in finding lost dogs, to devise a plan to rescue La Gracia.
After setting up trail cameras and food stations near a market garden where La Gracia had been spotted, a volunteer from Ge Cherche Charly successfully trapped her in a crate and brought her back safely. La Gracia required intensive veterinary care upon her return but is now back home and recovering well.
Hunter expressed relief and gratitude for La Gracia’s safe return, despite the significant costs incurred during the rescue operation. He plans to file a complaint with the veterinary regulating body regarding the incident and hopes for the implementation of standardized procedures for safely capturing lost dogs.
