Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Trailing Ekko's Scent

I just got a call from the volunteer that's out with Sam & Salsa and Ekko's mom, Maureen. Clearly, Ekko is still tracking in the same overall area that we've known he's been in practically the whole time he's been missing. It does not seem that he has migrated out of the area, as we'd been wondering since there have been no sightings. It seems that he's wandering along, looping around, and using major arteries (Washington, Wilson and George Mason Blvds), meaning almost certainly he's doing it at night.

At first, the scent that Salsa picked up was weak, possibly owing to the rain. Eventually, they picked up a strong scent, and when we hung up, they were still tracking the strong scent. I wonder if Ekko has done multiple loops, and perhaps they shifted from one loop to the next. It's just a guess!

We still have to make sense of the track after it's finished tonight, so we get some direction from it. One preliminary thought is that it's possible that Ekko is being seen, but people are just not calling. If that's the case, we have some work to do in order to figure that out.

Stay tuned. We'll post the tracking map as soon as it's ready.

10 comments:

tsmith77 said...

Preliminary results - The great news is that Ekko is still in the area. Ekko is still tracking in the same areas such as Bluemont and Bonair Parks, Lubber Run, and W&O Bike Path. He is following the streets like Washington Blvd., George Mason, Wilson Blvd. (Safeway and McDonalds), along the bike path back to Sycamore to Tuckahoe Park. Please keep looking, but in the early morning and later evening. You only need to call, if you see him, and give us the location and approx. time seen.

Anonymous said...

I know that this is out of your general area, but have you contacted these people: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/laf/1342905372.html

I keep seeing reports of a beagle mix and maybe they are wrong about the description, timing seems right. Dog around since 8/7.

I have dropped off cards and posted your blog on facebook a couple of time. Best of luck.

NHD said...

Anonymous -- thank you SO much for that!!!! That's how to spread the word!

Some of us have been talking about the possibility that the beagle posted on Craigslist is actually Billy, so you better believe that one is being checked out! You can get background on Billy at:
http://billybeagle.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

That would be great if you would find him after all this time! Also saw another found dog in McLean, but did not look like Ekko. Good luck!
-Debra

Anonymous said...

I also posted this on Facebook for the Arlingtonians out there. Best of luck in finding adorable Ekko.

Unknown said...

I posted your blog link on my Face Book page today and also drove around for about an hour and a half through some of the neighborhoods you have mentioned. I don't live in Arlington, but work in Alrington so it is best for me to look during the day. Because I don't know the neighborhoods that well, if you could post some general directions or landmarks from N. George Mason Drive (near the Hospital) that would be great. I will continue to look as much as I can - I even bought a bag of meaty dog treats and will keep them in my car. One idea i had was maybe you should go out on the various trash nights throughout the neighborhoods you have mentioned (like 11pm ish) - he may be tryin to get into people's trash for food. I pray that you find Ekko soon. My heart breask for you as I would be so worried if one of my girls was lost. I saw somewhere you mention the Safeway - is this the one off Harrison? HAs he been spotted off Harrison? Also, the McDonalds - is that the one between N. George MAson and Glebe? Has he been seen in the neighborhood near Virginia Hospital Center???

NHD said...

Lisa (and Anonymous) -- thank you SO much for your Facebook postings! I hope you join the FB group, too.

Ekko has spent time at that McDonalds that you mentioned, Lisa! The track hasn't showed him at the Safeway at Harrison, but the Dogma right accross the street has been great, holding supplies of biz cards for people to come by and get to biz card cars at shopping centers. And the track doesn't show him at the hospital but we don't doubt he may have been there looking for food. We're poorly lacking in sightings, so keeping your eyes wide open as you drive around is a way to bring us the first one in a while.

Study the Ekko map, especially the track that was run on August 10th. That's a good route to keep your eyes peeled as you're driving it. And call the number if you see him!

Unknown said...

I rode around again some today, hoping that I would see Ekko - unfortunately, I didn't see him. I did leave some of the cards at the 7-11 at the corner of N. George Mason and Lee. I will continue to look for Ekko. As I said in my previous post, becuase I am not all that familiar w/ the neighborhoods I am having issues figuring out if I am in the loop he has been making....

NHD said...

Lisa -- good work, and thanks for your efforts! have you looked closely at the Ekko map, including using the zoom in feature? It allows you to see in pretty good detail where Ekko has been traveling.

It might be easier if you contact me directly by email so I can help you with the area if it's not clear from the map. I can add more notes to the map, too, and will do that when I have more notes.

Unknown said...

I will contact you via email and maybe you can help me a little. I think I am definitely hitting some of the area he has been looping but not 100%. I work at the Hospital, so if you can tell me directions to the areas he has been tracked that would be helpful. Oh yea, and when I email you it will be from Shannon - my middle name is Lisa and I had to use it to set up my gmail acct becuase Shannon was taken - so just so you know it is me! I hope someone sees him tonight. I will be intouch.