Miracle dog
Published: April 15, 2006
Sam, a 4-year-old golden retriever lost in Rockingham County for two years, is resting up at the N.H. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The dog, dubbed the Golden Ghost, has been on the run since May 2004 when he escaped from a leash while on a walk with his owners, Peg and Dennis Sklarski of Candia. Sam was finally caught Wednesday in Raymond using a high-tech net, infrared camera and treats such as kielbasa and steaks.
“My wife and I are so thankful to the people who spent time and money to look for him,” Dennis Sklarski said. “He’s an inspiration.”
The SPCA held a news conference Friday to discuss Sam’s capture.
The Raymond Police Department’s animal control officer, Tona McCarthy, captured Sam at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday using a stationary net set up on the property of Raymond resident Bob Mitchell at 55 Blueberry Hill Road.
On Wednesday, McCarthy was driving in the neighborhood and saw Sam walking on the side of the road. Instead of stopping the car and startling the dog, McCarthy drove to Mitchell’s home to check the surveillance camera and saw the bowl of food left under the net was untouched.
Ten minutes later, McCarthy saw Sam walk underneath the net. As soon as Sam put the bowl of food in his mouth to run away, McCarthy pushed a remote control trigger. The net captured Sam, and McCarthy injected him with a tranquilizer.
He was transported to the N.H. SPCA in Stratham Wednesday afternoon to be treated by a veterinarian. Because Sam was loose for two years, doctors have put him in quarantine for 10 days. He’s also being assessed by a canine behaviorist.
Peg Sklarski said she and her husband will slowly get to know Sam again.
“The first time I saw Sam, I went to his cage and got down on all fours and said, ‘Oh, Sammy boy,’” she said. “He reached his paw up to me. He’s so calm and cool.”
Amy Marder, a Boston Animal Rescue League behaviorist, said it could take months, even years, for Sam to fully trust people and become comfortable with a normal dog’s environment.
The Sklarskis adopted Sam from a rescue organization in Memphis, Tenn., three weeks before he ran away. Before adopting Sam, the Sklarskis were told by the rescue agency that Sam was previously abused.
Sam was dubbed the Golden Ghost because of the difficulty in catching him. He had been spotted on numerous occasions in Fremont, Raymond, Candia, Sandown, Danville and Hampstead.
The Sklarskis, SPCA investigator Steve Sprowl and numerous volunteers worked to find Sam since he disappeared. They set up feeding stations and traps throughout Rockingham County. They conducted helicopter searches, used search parties and struck Sam with tranquilizer darts with no success.
Dennis Sklarski said they were asked a few months ago to appear on NBC’s “Today Show” but refused. The Sklarskis are now working on a book and possibly a movie with Animal Planet about Sam’s story and want all proceeds to go to animal shelters throughout the country.
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