By Andra Moss

A community dog parade might seem the ideal sniffing ground for a wannabe dog thief, but it is also a setting filled with folks prepared to spring into action to find a furry friend. 

Such was the case during the annual Halloween dog parade on Oct. 26. Norfolk resident Phee Rosnick left Fergus, her Westie, safely in her car while taking a video of the costumed pack. After a brief stop in the post office, she returned at 4 p.m. to find Fergus gone. As Rosnick recalls, “I raised the hue and cry, and the dog lovers and others of this amazing town swept into action.” 

Among the first responders were children attending the event. They quickly spread out around town calling for Fergus. Laura Carl of the Hub sent the word out over social media and swiftly crafted a poster of the missing dog. The state police were called and, says Rosnick, “they sent over two wonderful dog-loving officers, one of whom stayed with me throughout the ordeal. Thank you, Officer Day.”

The race to find Fergus was on. “Clare Timoney, Joe Kelly and Catherine Dougan provided essential support and great ideas for how to widen the search,” Rosnick says. She also checked to see if Fergus had found his way home, but there was no sign of him. With dusk approaching, time was quickly running out. 

“Clare and Joe just kept sleuthing and sleuthing,” Rosnick marvels. “And then, at 5:45 p.m., down from the Berkshire Store came Clare—with Fergus in her arms!”  

Apparently, a couple who had attended the dog parade were driving home when they noticed movement in the back seat. There was Fergus. Puzzled by the appearance of the unexpected passenger, the couple (their name was never shared in all the excitement) returned to the place where they had last seen many dogs. Rosnick couldn’t believe the great luck: “Clare and Joe saw them at the Berkshire Store asking if someone had lost a dog.” 

None the worse for wear from his accidental joyride, Fergus is safely back at home. How got from one vehicle to at least one other remains a mystery. Reflecting on the ordeal, Rosnick concludes that “The best news of all is that I live in this wonderful community that formed this competent, coordinated team to help me out, putting such love and care into finding Fergus.”