not-Olivia

not-Olivia
This sweetie turned out not to be Olivia, but a picture like this with Olivia would be identical.

Sweet, lovey Livvie

Sweet, lovey Livvie
My favorite picture of Olivia

Friday, December 9, 2011

All I Want for Christmas is My Foster-Dog!

Now that it's December, Christmas is drawing near and, unfortunately for poor Olivia, the weather is getting cold. I hate the thought of her underweight self out there shivering or even just having her ears cold. I have been asking for help putting up flyers and handing out business cards and I am delighted to report that I am getting it! A Forever Home, Olivia's rescue, is organizing a search party on Saturday, December 17.

By the way, A Forever Home has spent thousands of dollars funding the search for Olivia when she wasn't even their ward in the first place - this wonderful group took her on after she was already lost! Please donate to them (/the search) if you can.

Here is an excerpt about the search party from an email from an AFH volunteer:

We really want Olivia back in a foster home by Christmas so we are organizing a large-scale search on Saturday, December 17th in Washington DC. I am asking all of you to please come and help us search. We will search in teams - with each team having a specific area (several blocks) to cover. Each team will be given posters to attach to telephone poles and place in store windows (with permission from store owners). They will also be given business cards to hand out to citizens in the neighborhood. This will be a well planned and well coordinated search, with AFH personnel directing the search. Your responsibilities will be putting up posters, handing out business cards, and talking, talking, talking. We really need to connect with local citizens. They live there and they are the key to finding Olivia.

We want to start early in the morning for several reasons, so are asking that people meet at a designated spot at 9:00 am. We expect the search to take no longer than 2-3 hours. I will be coordinating volunteer sign-up, so please email me ... if you can help us. For those of you who are unable to walk/stand for long periods of time, we can use your help too. Each team is accompanied by someone in a car who shadows the walking teams. A team can be anywhere from 2-5 people. You don't have to come with a team. If you sign up alone to help, we will assign you to one.

I rarely ask for help, but I am asking all of you, as a personal favor to me and AFH, to please come out and help us search. Bring a friend - or friends. Bring husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, and older children. Bring your well behaved, dog and people friend dogs (on a leash).

Please don't let Olivia spend any more time on her own. It's just a matter of time before her luck runs out. We want to find her before that happens. Please contact me no later than Thursday, December 15th to sign up to search.

Thank you.
PS: All searchers will be provided with a contact list of the search leaders, a map of their assigned area, and a "how to" list (which will include search tips).

We welcome help from anyone who can help with the search. (Also, please spread the word, whether or not you can help, in case someone you know might be able to help.) Please email me at lauracolleton@gmail.com if you want to participate. I know the email gives a deadline of December 15, but I'd be happy to accommodate late-comers as well. Thank you in advance for your help with the search. If we can find Olivia and keep her from spending her Christmas hungry, cold, and alone, this will definitely be my best Christmas ever!

6 comments:

Tamara McNulty said...

I cross-posted this link to Your Dog's Best Friends website (a doggie daycare in Del Ray where Riley goes), so don't be surprised if you get some inquiries about the flyering from non-AFH folks.

Anonymous said...

Any update from the search? I was out of town and would love to know if any sighting of Olivia happened? Hopefully she is back in her foster home safe and sound....what an answer to a prayer that would be!

Céline said...

Was Olivia found from the search done on December 17? I hope so!

I wish you all the best.

Merry Christmas.

olivia's foster-mama said...

no, she wasn't. : ( all of that flyering didn't even generate any new sightings. nothing! oh how i hate these dry spells. i worry!

Céline said...

I'm so sorry to read that Olivia has not been found. I worry too. It is very sad and worrisome not knowing how she is doing. I think of Olivia often and I always wish to hear good news about her.

Be strong and alot of people know of her and I'm sure are always on the lookout for her.

My heart goes out to you and Olivia.

May she be found very soon. Take care.

olivia's foster-mama said...

Dear Celine,
Thank you soooo much for your encouraging message! I really appreciate it.
Laura