Missing Pet Partnership
Search Report
Case #08-005
DATE: 05/23/2008
PET NAME: Mickey
SPECIES: Feline
DESCRIPTION: 6-year-old DSH black neutered male cat (no collar, no chip)
LOCATION: North Road near 164th St SW, Bothell, WA
DATE & TIME LAST SEEN: Thursday 05/08/2008 2:00 a.m.
DATE & TIME OF INVESTIGATION: Friday 05/23/2008 12:30 p.m.
BACKGROUND
Mickey is an indoor-only cat who escaped outdoors. His temperament is that of a "Cautious Cat" in that he typically hides when a stranger first comes into his apartment but he eventually becomes curious enough to come out. He previously exhibited hiding behavior when he moved to a new apartment (years before) by hiding two days under a bed, but in the most recent move to this new apartment he did not hide or show fear. By the time we were called out, Mickey had been missing for two weeks.
INVESTIGATION:
On 05/23/2008 I (KAT ALBRECHT) along with MPP Volunteer AMY ADAMS and cat detection dog SADIE responded to Bothell, WA to search for Mickey. A reporter accompanied us from the Federal Way Mirror and published an article about our work.
Mickey's GUARDIAN met us at the apartment parking lot and explained her search efforts. Immediately upon discovering that Mickey had pushed the screen door open and escaped outdoors, the GUARDIAN searched around the apartment complex but did not find her cat. She printed over 100 flyers that she distributed in the neighborhood and on mailboxes, conducted a sustained (day- and nighttime) search of the immediate area, and checked the area shelters. The GUARDIAN had not yet tried to humanely trap her cat and wasn't even sure where in the apartment complex to place a trap.
The GUARDIAN informed me that on at least two other occasions MICKEY had escaped from the apartment and he had always turned left and headed north towards the parking lot. We conducted our initial and primary search in this direction.
Using the principles of search probability theory and our knowledge of displaced cat behavior, we knew that MICKEY was likely hiding nearby (within a 3-house radius) and that he would be silent. We also knew that a cat with MICKEY'S cautious temperament would be inclined to meow, break cover, or enter a baited humane trap after two weeks without regular food.
We searched the entire north side of the complex but did not find any significant hiding areas. There were no porches or decks and all buildings were on concrete slabs with no access underground. Sadie showed mild interest near one dumpster but we were unable to locate anything and her interest faded. We noticed that the north fence of the complex, which was a mere 25 yards from the GUARDIAN'S apartment, had enough space for a cat to slip under it. This area opened up into a large open grassy field that was the backyard of a complex of about 10 duplexes.
After searching the apartment complex, we went around the fence to search the area of the duplexes. We spoke to a resident who gave us permission to look around her individual duplex. During our search, we located three different individual duplexes that had access under the building where screens were missing. At two of these screens Sadie alerted (tail wiggling, rapid sniffing, whining), but we could not determine if a cat was under there nor what it looked like. On one of the access points we found a moderate amount of long gray and tan hair fibers (high probability evidence), an indication that other cats (besides MICKEY, a black cat) might live under the building.
I instructed the GUARDIAN that these duplexes were high probability search areas and that combined with Sadie's alerts, she should work to get permission to set baited humane traps in the event that MICKEY was hiding under those buildings. I explained how she could monitor the traps by sitting in her car in the parking lot and observing the traps, thus preventing wrong cats from entering the humane trap. The GUARDIAN had already obtained one trap, and during our search she obtained the phone number of the duplex manager in order to get permission to trap at night.
Next, we identified a house just east of the duplex buildings with piles of trash and many hiding areas. This home was also on the north side of the white fence. It was known to have many "feral cats" living there and as we walked up, we noticed three cats in the back yard (no black cats). We could not access the property without permission, so we went to the front door but no one was home. I instructed the GUARDIAN to attempt to make contact at that home to either attempt to set a trap for MICKEY or, at the very least, have the homeowner call the GUARDIAN the next time they see a solid black cat, even if months from now.
Next, we walked to the east side of North Avenue (directly across the street from the GUARDIAN'S apartments) checking in the tall grass and bushes in case MICKEY was concealed. We knew it was possible that a car had killed Mickey so we also looked for signs of a deceased cat (odor of decomposition, flies, skid marks, anything black in color, etc.). We did not find any physical evidence or signs of MICKEY.
And last of all, we searched the south side of the apartment complex in the event that MICKEY had headed south (instead of north) when he escaped. There were no significant hiding places; however, we did locate a large fenced warehouse with a yard filled with barrels and piles of trash and wood where a cat could easily hide. The location was clearly marked with "NO TRESPASSING" signs. The fence had a break in it where a cat (but not a human) could easily crawl through. I instructed the GUARDIAN that she needed to try and get permission to access this warehouse property so she could set and monitor (by sound with a baby monitor or visually monitor with binoculars) baited humane traps. This warehouse area could only be accessed from North Avenue so getting a trap back in there (if the GUARDIAN will even be allowed to) will be a serious challenge. We completed our search of the west end of the apartment complex, having searched the entire area.
I gave the GUARDIAN a 6-page handout with instructions on how to humanely trap a displaced cat and a 12-page handout with written testimonials from cat owners who had recovered their displaced cats successfully with baited humane traps weeks even months after their cats first escaped. I also gave the GUARDIAN three giant, florescent REWARD LOST CAT posters and a recycled campaign sign with instructions on how and where to post these signs. We knew these would generate leads if anyone in the area has seen a black cat. We concluded our investigation and will follow up in a week to see if any new leads have developed. I encouraged the GUARDIAN to remain positive and to realize that the process of capturing her cat could take weeks or even months and that the moment that she stopped searching and gave up was the moment that her cat would be absorbed into the stray/feral cat population.
FOLLOW UP:
On 05/27/2008 I followed up by calling the GUARDIAN who said she had not yet put up the florescent posters. She also had not yet attempted to humanely trap in the duplex area, saying it would be too difficult because there is just too many other outside cats in the area. She had one possible sighting across the street (east of North Avenue where we had not searched) but it was a false sighting of another black cat.
Mickey back home
FOLLOW UP:
On 05/30/2008, GUARDIAN called to say that MICKEY was home! GUARDIAN started humane trapping on the southwest corner of the complex in the woods between her apartments and some condos (where we went near but never searched). She caught two wrong cats but captured MICKEY this morning. GUARDIAN said she never would have considered humane trapping and that our coaching, encouragement, and instructions were what helped her to continue to believe that she could bring her cat back home.
STATUS:
Cat and Guardian reunited - case closed.
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