Dozens of Farmington Residents Join Search for Lost Dog Sassy

More than a dozen folks have been driving around Farmington and into Bristol, combing side streets and walking through woods, all hoping for a sighting of before she could even enter her new home.

Sassy, who was raised on a five-acre home in Tennessee along with several siblings, was given up when her owners couldn’t afford to care for the dogs any longer. One of her owners went on disability and the other lost his job, and though heartbroken, the couple gave the dogs up to Double Dog Rescue in Harwinton. Sassy’s sister, Stripe, was placed at a foster home nearby and Sassy with a woman in Farmington Chase.

Friends on Facebook have raised enough money to fly Sassy's former owner in from Tennessee in hopes that the dog will come to her. Until her arrival, those searching for Sassy are trying to keep an eye on her to ensure they know where she is.

But as they arrived home, Sassy, terrified and far from the only home she’d ever known, bolted.

Her story has touched the hearts of many in the area. Double Dog Rescue posted information about Sassy just after she escaped on Sunday, Feb. 24, and asked for locals to keep an eye out for her. 

Dan McCabe of Double Dog Rescue has been coordinating the rescue efforts and says the outpouring of support has been hard to gauge.

“On the second day after we posted it, it went viral, and the last time I looked it had 53,000 shares,” McCabe said Monday night from a search party near West Woods Upper Elementary School. “Obviously there are not 53,000 people looking for her, but I would guess there are 15 cars driving around right now.”

On Facebook there’s a constant conversation. People post sightings of Sassy — mostly near Bristol in the days after she escaped and ranging to 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and West Woods more recently — and others add advice for catching her. Some offer prayers. Concerned seekers exchange cell phone numbers, meet up and drive around together.

Meredith Lodge, a Farmington resident who started the Facebook page “Find Sassy from Farmington,” was looking for Sassy Monday night with another woman and said she had met many wonderful people through the search.

“People have come with hot dogs, bowls and treats. It is so amazing to see the community come together, and now I have friends in the area I never knew before,” Lodge said. “It’s kind of nice to know there are these people out there who would drop what they’re doing to go out and look for her.”

Sassy’s sister, Stripe, and her foster mom have also engaged in the search, hoping the familiar smell of her sister would lure Sassy but to no avail. Lodge got near Sassy Monday evening and played a recording of her old family in Tennessee, which she said caused the dog to pause, but she got spooked and ran away — typical of the whole day’s pursuit.

The Farmington Police and animal control officers from Farmington, Bristol and Plainville have all helped in the rescue effort, McCabe said. Farmington’s Animal Control Officer Charlene Rogers has been particularly amazing, he said. 

Staff at West Woods Upper Elementary School have also joined in, calling Monday to say they’d seen the dog on school grounds. 

While the flood of help has been great, McCabe said, reporting sightings is the most helpful thing people can do. The sightings have helped narrow the search, which on Monday focused on the area between West Woods, 5 Guys and the woods behind Krell Farm. 

“The ACO in Farmington in the early afternoon said she saw her near 5 Guys. That’s a pretty good hike. Then she’s been seen multiple times now between 5 Guys and the school,” McCabe said. “She keeps running in the woods and everybody wants to be the hero and get her, but with a scared dog, it’s more about patience. If they want to help it’s about sighting and calling — chasing is not going to do it.”

McCabe is asking people not to leave food for her so that Sassy may give up running or head to a food trap set behind 5 Guys. He believes she’ll continue to stay in the area — typical behavior for dogs — until she’s eventually caught.

“It’s been so helpful that people have been calling. We’ve had an outpouring of really nice people. At least we know she’s alive and somewhere,” he said.

To report a sighting, call 860-748-5470 or 781-385-9094.

To add a sighting on this map, just click on the “Add” button at the top right-hand corner and enter the address or click on the blue button that says “Click on the map to add location” and click on the spot she was seen.