By Kim Spangler, Volunteer for The Humane Society of Sedona
When you hear the word Pluto, what do you think of? Do you think of the dwarf planet Pluto? Or the famous Disney character? Or perhaps from Greek mythology you remember the Greek ruler Pluto who ruled the underworld.
For me, from now going forward, when I hear the word Pluto, I will be reminded of the shelter dog Pluto from The Humane Society of Sedona.
I met Pluto on Tuesday September 27 on my volunteer shift. As the typical shift goes, I took a few dogs on walks that day to get them out of their kennels and to get exercise. One dog happened to be named Pluto.
Pluto was a sweet brown dog who loved her walk. She stopped to smell the grass and the flowers we passed by. She looked back at me over her shoulder as if to say, wow – isn’t this fun? On our walk we came upon a Pink Jeep and Pluto sniffed it and then gave me a look as if to say ‘wouldn’t this be fun to ride around in’.
After returning Pluto to her kennel I saw the hiking backpack in the shelter, and inquired about how to sign up to take a dog on a hike. I was told to text on a cool morning and they would let me know if a dog was available to hike.
Two days later I woke up to a beautiful cool morning and thought of taking a shelter dog on a hike. I remembered Pluto and what a great walker she was. I texted the shelter and yes Pluto was available that day.
I picked up Pluto and off we went to Chimney Rock Trail – one of the most scenic and easy trails in west Sedona. This trail is known for its views and it is good for dogs as the trail is relatively smooth. You can see Thunder Mountain to the northeast. It was a lovely morning.
The hike with Pluto was everything I hoped for and expected. She was happy and enjoying every step. Pluto walked right by me, wagging her tail, and sniffing the scents. She would lift her head up occasionally to look at me and seemed to be saying thank you for taking me out.
At the halfway point we stopped for a snack. I put down a water bowl and some treats for Pluto and she took me up on both offers. I had a trail bar. We watched a blue butterfly land on a branch near us. It was serene. Pluto nuzzled up against me. All was right with the world.
After our break we headed back down the trail to the parking lot. This is where things went awry. Poor Pluto did not want to get back in my car. Two women in the next car saw this and offered to help, which was nice except it spooked Pluto when they walked up behind her. At that moment Pluto jerked with enough force to free herself from her collar. She made a u-turn and headed back up the trail we had just hiked.
Pluto then started what became a six-day odyssey around Chimney Rock and Thunder Mountain and west Sedona.
After Pluto ran off, a wonderful group of humans arrived to help including Sandy, Kirk, Philippa, Peggy, Megan, Antonio, Carolyn, John, Leann and others. Everyone pitched in and a plan was formulated. Lost Dog flyers were made. Walks began around the neighboring areas. Posts were put up on social media.
As this “Pluto Project” began in earnest an old saying jumped to mind… “fortune favors the brave”, which comes from a Latin proverb that means those who take risks often reap great rewards. Those who are courageous are often the most successful. We are encouraged to take chances in life in order to get what we want. In this case we all wanted to find Pluto. But looking for a reddish-brown dog in a reddish-brown landscape was not going to be easy. We needed to be brave.
The Pluto Posse was dedicated, disciplined, and determined, showing up every day, every hour. Hikers and bikers joined in the search. People who had seen Pluto were calling and texting. Pluto went viral on social media with people reposting her sweet face and those soulful brown eyes.
As each day passed, hope remained our friend and our beacon. We were told Pluto had good survival skills being that she initially hailed from Native American lands up north. Rains came on day 5 so we knew she could drink water from the puddles.
Then suddenly lots of sightings! Pluto on Harmony! Pluto on Moonglow! Pluto at the Peace Park! Pluto on Hozoni! Pluto on Sunshine! Residents and visitors kept letting us know that Pluto was on the move!
Finally on the afternoon of Tuesday October 4th, Pluto was spotted heading east from Chimney Rock. East was great as that is where Kirk had placed the trap that Sandy had baited with Vienna Sausage and Roasted Chicken. Sandy had also scented the area with fish sauce, liquid smoke, and minced hot dogs! What dog could resist all that?!?
The story has a happy ending. Plucky Pluto entered the crate to feast and the door closed behind her. I saw this on my phone which I had activated from the camera that was placed near the crate. Once we saw her inside, we drove up Rhapsody Road, walked up the hill, and there she was! She wagged her tail as if to say hello and I am back! Pluto said she wanted to beat the amount of activities that Ferris Bueller did on his days off. Well, she did!
A short time later a van came to pick up Pluto and return her to The Humane Society. The staff was elated to see her. Pluto was given food, water, and vet care. She was in overall good shape considering she had spent six days in the wild.
Now all Pluto needs to complete her remarkable journey is a person, a family, a furever home. Pluto is a sweet girl who deserves her own happy ending. Can you provide her with love, and walkies, and treats, and belly rubs? If you can, please contact The Humane Society of Sedona. Pluto is 5 years old, spayed, microchipped, vaccinated, and full of joy.
PS From Pluto: My journey of ten thousand steps began with a single step. Now you take a step toward me.
