Lost: Dark Brindle Colour With Black "saddle" Markings Cross Breed Female In South East (RH5)

  • Dog ID 63267
  • Status Lost
  • Registered 17 Jan 2014
  • Name SHOLA NEW SIGHTING
  • Gender & Breed Female Cross Breed (Spayed)
  • Age Adult
  • Colour Dark brindle colour with black "saddle" markings
  • Marks & Scars Dark brindle colour, slightly wonky ears. White diamond on chest and tip of front left foot is also white. Very big, bushy, curved tail. Also a limp in back left leg from previous RTA
  • Tagged No
  • Microchipped Yes
  • Tattooed No
  • Date Lost 17 Jan 2014
  • Where Lost In the large Redlands wooded area, near to North Holmwood/Coldharbour in Dorking. Last seen disappearing into dense woodland.
  • Lost In Region South East
  • Lost In Post Area RH5
  • Date Reunited
  • Other Info She is very nervous of strangers and will probably be difficult to approach (possibly bribed with food). She can also be quite aggressive towards other dogs if she feels threatened in any way.
  • Listed By Nina Kanderian
  • Views 5608
  • SHOLA NEW SIGHTINGPoster Image
  • SHOLA NEW SIGHTINGExtra Image

 

Sightings and Information

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alikat
Hi everyone, sad to say that we might all have been on a wild goose chase re possible sightings in Beare Green. A very reliable witness who lives in Leith Grove has confirmed she also saw the brindle dog loose in the village on Sunday evening, but that it was a dog called Alfie that also lives in Leith Grove who has a reputation for escaping and taking himself out and about on his own. He is also known for abandoning his owner halfway through a walk and taking himself home! This might explain why the possible sightings were so infrequent (i.e. just when Alfie escaped). It would have been hard to tell gender etc. in the dark late at night but I believe his colour is very similar to Shola. So, the mystery continues for the time being.Last edited: 2014-10-29 17:37:17 by alikat
alikat
Just in case anyone else sees the same thing, walking close to the railway crossing in the fields behind Great Turners Wood, the sadly dead animal close to the fence at the side of the railway track is NOT Shola. Because of the dense undergrowth it was not possible to see the head, but a photo was sent to Nina and she confirmed that she was 100% sure it is not Shola - just a poor fox - because of the lack of brindle colouring.
Shelagh
What great news. So glad there have been a few recent sightings. Hope you get her soon
alikat
Placing a trap anywhere is going to be tricky as there are so many local cats and foxes around. I would be happy to do a stint monitoring any trap set up, and would suggest the green area next to Turner House - maybe close to the hedge at the side of Turner House? We would need to have a rota to check the trap frequently and it would need to be fixed with a sturdy chain and padlock to a tree. We would probably need to get permission from Mole Valley first as this is a public area. I would offer to have the trap in my garden, but that would involve leaving both my front gate and that of my neighbour open, and Shola might not wish to come so close to the houses. It could possibly go on the grass to the side of James and Amy Brown's house - on their property but open to Leith Road. I could monitor that from my window. Our problem here is that Nina and Zane won't be available locally at short notice, so we need to work this out between us. My mobile number is 07968 355747 if anyone wants to talk about this.
shoot the owner
Hi PaulaK I still have the dog trap. Is there an area near the houses in Leith or Merebank or in their front garden where it could be set with food? This is a 6' cage and will need a vehicle to be able to transport. I usually do this but van is in for repairs so it will need transporting from Gatwick. Ring 01342 716090
alikat
Wow James & Amy, that's also really close to me (Alison & Megan). Please come and knock on my door if you see her again and maybe between us we can lure her in somewhere. I've been involved in this search right from the start and would love to see a happy ending. I've spoken to Nina and Zane this evening and let them know.
PaulaK
Shared again with friends who live locally
James Brown
Seen twice last night. 1st at corner of Leith Road and Merebank and then later on Leith Road on the grass by the trees opposite Willow Close. Looks in good health. Will have another look tonight when when walking the dog (Amy Brown's husband)
alikat
Nina, time passes so fast. Have there been any more sightings? Is there any news at all?
alikat
Nina, I have emailed you re. posters. Rest assured all my walks over the weekend will be in and around the village, hopefully with some posters/leaflets. Great Turners Wood is less than 100 yds from my front door so I'll explore all of it. Would it be worth getting a canine tracker in again?
Nina Kanderian
Hi again! We've just put together an updated poster too with more info and pictures on it - it's quite a large file size but if anybody would like a copy please do just let me know on nina_katrina@hotmail.com. Thanks again!
Nina Kanderian
Thank you so much everyone and, again, my huge apologies for the silence. I was so excited to get the phone calls on Tuesday (2nd Sept) that she'd been seen...mostly at the bottom edge of the little playground/park next to the village hall in Beare Green (around 5.30pm), but also around the village pond earlier in the day. Apparently she looked in good condition (to the point that one witness has a feeling she is being fed by someone in the area) and almost approached the lady in the playground who was trying to coax her over but thought better of it in the end and scurried off down Willow Close amongst all the houses. My suspicion is she then went off into the woods at the back of the housing there (I think it's called Great Turner's Wood or something like that?) I went looking in the woods that evening with my little boy and again the following day - had such a feeling she was close-by but, of course, she'll be so nervous of everyone by now. Anyway, we've produced some updated posters and will be putting those up all over Beare Green this weekend - it seems that she may have made that area her home....Watch this space! Thanks again for everyone's help
digbysmum
Great news. I have friends in Beare Green and will ask them to keep an eye out for Shola xx
Shelagh
What fantastic news. I always look for updates on sweet shola. So glad she's showing herself again. Fingers crossed you'll get her back soon
DogLostJayne - Founder Doglost.
Bumping!
alikat
I have heard from Nina today and she told me there have been three definite sightings of Shola in Beare Green village (near the pond) earlier this week. Perhaps Admin could "bump" this one and send out emails again so we can have a concentrated effort to find this lovely girl?
alikat
Any news re Shola? I see you've put some new posters up... have there been any more sightings?
alikat
Hi and thanks for the update. I really don't know what else to suggest. You're definitely doing the right thing by keeping the posters up and fresh, and that's really all that can be done until there is another sighting. There is such a huge area in Redlands and Holmwood Common where Shola could be living quite happily so we just have to hope she will show herself again soon.
Nina Kanderian
Hi Alison and Lynne. Just to let you know that I've been walking around Redlands in the mornings with Gus and going at weekends to replace the odd poster where they have faded out or gotten damp. No more sightings since yours Lynne. I'll be going again tomorrow and doing the rounds this weekend. Do let me know if you have any ideas or thoughts; my priority right now is keeping people aware of her and making sure people can get in touch with us as soon as possible if they see her.
alikat
When I put the posters up in all the car parks, I saw the ranger and he said he normally leaves them up for a month or so. Today I walked around and put several posters up around the common, not in the car parks. On the new posters printed today, I put a note that there was a possible sighting in the area this week. I'll need to get some more laminator pouches before I can do any more, but I've still got a couple in my bag. It would be a good idea to put fresh ones in every car park ready for the weekend. Let's hope Lynne will see this dog again and confirm the sighting. In the meantime, I will try to take all my afternoon walks on the Common.
Lynne
Sorry to hear you've not been well, Nina. I don't think there has been a poster at Scammels car park (where I normally park) for some time, which is why I didn't immediately think of Shola when I saw this dog that was clearly on its own. I hope to retrace my steps sometime tomorrow with a calmer dog, so I won't be so concerned if I come across it again. I am sure I can find the exact spot where it was, as it seemed to be a bank with a hollowed out bit, that would make a good den. In fact as I walked away, the dog got up and I noticed it was roaching its back almost as if it was having puppies. However, if it WAS Shola maybe this was her injuries in Afghanistan manifesting themselves. fingers are tightly crossed for you, otherwise I will feel so guilty for getting your hopes up.
Nina Kanderian
Thank you SO much Alison :) Will try and do the same this weekend too
alikat
Just about to print off some more posters and our afternoon walk will be on Holmwood Common. The old posters will have all got a bit wet and faded by now, so fresh ones will remind people Shola is still missing.
Nina Kanderian
Hi Lynne, thank-you so much for getting in touch - I'm afraid I've been out-of-action the past few days with stomach flu but just trying to get on top of things now. That does sound promising (I'm cautious not to get my hopes up though) and gives us another area to focus on during dog walks. My husband is away for work at the moment and I'm a bit stuck in the house with the twins, but as soon as we can, we'll take a look around Viewpoint too. The sightings at Beare Green were very promising too with 2 schoolgirls convinced that the dog they saw running away from the station was just like Shola, so it seems she may be in the area. Will certainly let you know. Thank-you again for taking the time to get in touch - I'm so glad the posters seem to be working too!
alikat
That sounds very promising Lynne. I have read that missing dogs move in a triangle. We had reports that Shola had been seen in Beare Green (near the station) last week so it could make sense that she is working her way nearer home. Obviously she will look quite different after all this time - probably thinner and certainly dirtier. Fingers crossed.
Lynne
Hi Zane and Nina. Congratulations on the safe arrival of your twins. I am so sorry to hear about you losing Shola, though. I walk up on Holmwood common and today saw a very nervous fox red coloured dog, that made me think of the posters that have been up around here. It was sat watching me, but looked as if it would bolt if I approached. I carried on walking hoping to find owners looking for it. I did alert another dog walker who had a calmer dog than mine, so he may have seen it too. Looking at the photo on here of Shola, she does look a bit different, but it was difficult to make out clearly as she was well hidden by the undergrowth. A long shot, but might be worth checking out. It was up at the viewpoint and there was a freshly killed rabbit there, that looked like it could have been caught by a dog. Fingers crossed for you. Last edited: 2014-03-10 19:06:01 by Lynne
alikat
Hi Nina/Zane, hope you are all well. I was just wondering if you have any more news of Shola? I was at Newdigate Vets yesterday and they were asking me if she had been found yet. The nurse there lives near Ewhurst so she was going to keep a lookout.
alikat
Hi Zane and thank you for the update. I wonder if ADMIN can circulate Shola's details to some GU postcode areas covering the possible sightings further afield? As ever, I am happy to help with posters etc. but obviously don't know these other areas at all so it's tricky to know where. Poor Gus with his sore dew claw - that's going to make him even more miserable than losing his friend! Do please let me - and your other followers - know what we can do to help?
Nina Kanderian
Hi to everyone. Sorry for being absent over the last week or so. Nina and the twins are doing well but our searches for Shola have suffered a bit of a setback, particularly from Gus (our other dog) breaking one of his due claw and making daily searches down at Pipp Brook impossible. I had been going every morning when Nina and the twins were in hospital and after they got back but Gus broke his due claw a week ago so since then I've made no progress. Pipp Brook offered no further clues in my 8-9 days of searching. The terrain remains perfect for a dog living in the wild. The brook provides plenty of fresh water, the fallen trees plenty of dry cover and the forest all about provides an abundance of prey. However there are countless other such sites in the Surrey Hills and a day or two ago we heard through this website of another sighting as far away as Ewhurst. A dog matching the photograph in many ways was seen at the Ewhurst recreation ground. According to the witness a lone dog entered the ground from the driveway to Sayers Croft Rural Centre, off the Cranleigh Road in Ewhurst. The sighted dog ran away as the witness approached and there was no sign of any owner about the place. This strengthens our belief that Shola is alive and living on the countryside between Dorking and Guildford. We are particularly nervous about the arrival of spring and the lambing season, that she will be shot by a farmer or gamekeeper. There has already been complaints raised by a local farmer in the Ewhurst area of a dog mauling his sheep/lambs.
We will be strengthening our awareness campaign over the next few days but if any of you can help with letting people in the Surrey Hills know of her details and of this website or if any of you are walking in the area from the A24 to the A3 and would be able to put up posters then we would be extremely grateful. Nina has already spoken with the dog warden for Guildford as well as Waverley so all the official channels are covered, we hope.
Shelagh
Congratulations to them both-how wonderful.Than for update regarding shola even though I am in east London I always look for her in my searches.
alikat
Hi Shelagh, I hope Nina and Zane won't mind me responding to you. They have been a bit busy this week as Nina has given birth to twins! Hopefully in the next few days some plans will be put together as to how to find and capture Shola. In the meantime, I think we can be reassured by the fact that there was a sighting, and the pheasant remains in the area. The search will resume soon.
Shelagh
Any news on shola?
alikat
It's me again. I'm always thinking of ways and means.... From reading about other searches, it seems the way forward would be to establish some sort of safe place (maybe a large dog crate covered with a tarpaulin and then some branches etc) with scented bedding and a bit of nice smelly food inside. This is where the camera would come in handy, so you can see who is taking the food. If Shola does start using the shelter, then at some point you might be able to catch her, or exchange the crate for a humane trap. I'm sure some other followers will have more experience than me, and the more ideas we can bounce around the better.
alikat
I just had another thought... Shola may now be in a different area as far as dog wardens are concerned. It might be worth checking and contacting others. This a link to all dog wardens with phone numbers: http://www.animalwardens.co.uk/lost-found-dogs-search/all-dog-warden-phone-numbers
alikat
I've just had a quick look on Amazon, searched for "motion sensor cameras" and it came up with lots, indoor and outdoor use, huge price range. Probably a very good place to start.
alikat
Positive news! I should think the local dog warden might be able to help re a motion camera, otherwise it might be worth "googling" it and see what comes up. As always, please let me if there is anything you need doing as I suspect you're both going to be a bit busy for the next week or two. Might be worth having another chat with Jenny too, as she has so much experience with all of this. I will run off some more posters and try to get out and about on that far side of Coldharbour over the next week - maybe not close to the village as there is obviously someone there who doesn't like our posters!
Nina Kanderian
What a turnout. I think we had over 20 people in all and combing such difficult terrain and a wonderful tracker dog, Ellie, whose owner, Andrew W from this conversation, was extremely helpful. There is some positive news. As Alison says, we were in Redlands searching the bank for Shola when I received a call from a dog walker over the hill near Pipp Brook, just north of Waterden copse. The walker had seen what she thought was a dog sniffing around next to the brook. She only got a short glimpse of her but said that it was chestnut brown, with a bushy tail that was lighter than her body fur, about the size of a labrador and slim. She was pretty sure that it wasn't a deer and she claims that a few minutes later she heard a panicked squark of pheasants coming from the nearby pen. She told me where she had seen the dog and I went there immediately with two volunteers, Andrew and Ellie. Ellie picked up two scent trails and we found two carcasses of pheasants nearby but no Shola. It could have been a deer, I suppose; it could have been another dog that wasn't Shola; but there were no walkers nearby and the lady was very sure that the tail was not white and short like a deer's. Pipp Brook is a very good place for a dog to live out. There is a rich source of food, plenty of cover, fresh water and human life nearby in the form of Coldharbour. From now on I will be taking my walks there and building up a few scent traps. Does anyone know how I might get a camera trap that could pick up motion and doesn't cost an arm and a leg?
Lastly, thank you so much to everyone who came. It was enormously helpful. I can now move on from staying around the pool area at the end of Oaks Lane and concentrate my efforts on Pipp Brook and the valley going up to Coldharbour. This is not the end but rather the beginning of a new chapter.
alikat
I would just like to thank EVERYONE who turned out this morning to help search for Shola in very difficult terrain. Finally, in the middle of it all, we had reports of a possible sighting on the other side of the Coldharbour road and some of us went over there. I now have a very tired little terrier after five hours' walking - fast asleep on the sofa with her legs in the air! I would especially like to thank Andrew, who came from Guildford with his search and rescue dog. At the time when most of us left the search, Andrew and Zane were working from the possible sighting so fingers crossed that, even if Shola is not caught today, we will have an idea of where to continue the search and maybe set a humane trap. I'm sure Zane will update us all later.
Shelagh
Good luck today in your search for shola. I am too far away to help but hoping for good news
Nina Kanderian
HI all, thank-you again for everyone's help and advice - it really has been invaluable over the past 2 weeks. As a bit of a last-ditch effort, we are organising a "search party" for Shola in The Redlands this Saturday (1st Feb). For anyone who is free and keen to join us, we're going to meet no later than 9.30am in the car park of Red Chilli restaurant along the A24 between North and Mid Holmwood (http://www.redchillidorking.com/find_us.html) (Alison has very kindly agreed to be the contact person at the car park and her number is just below - mine is as on the posters: 07753 287823). The plan is then to walk up into The Redlands to the point where Shola was last seen, and to then divide up the area amongst everyone present, to try and cover as much ground in one go as possible. Depending on how much time people have, we think it'll be a 2 hour search really (fingers crossed for ok weather too). As Alison suggests below, if you have anything high-visibility, it might be worth wearing it so we can all spot each other easily in the woods. Thank-you all, so much, in advance x
Nells
I think the pub or the forestry commision keep removing the posters in Coldharbour as I stuck some new ones up the other day and they had gone again pretty quick. I will try to get out on Saturday to help search.
I have been keeping my eyes peeled on all walks and have met other local dog walkers who were all aware of Shola and were keeping an eye out too.
Last edited: 2014-01-29 17:07:47 by Nells
alikat
Just a quick suggestion... anyone who is considering helping with the search on Saturday, it might be a good idea if we all wear hi-viz vests. That way we will be able to spot each other, and we'll know who's part of the search and who isn't. I think I have two so I'll bring the spare and, if everyone does the same, we should have enough to go round.
alikat
Just found a link to Jenny's website, which is interesting....http://www.k9tracker.co.uk/
alikat
Hi. I have been putting up posters today too. There is now one in every car park round Holmwood Common, and I was lucky enough to meet the ranger who says he generally leaves posters up for a month or so - so that's good news. I then went up to Coldharbour and replaced the one near the pub - obviously someone up there has taken it upon themselves to remove it! I then put one up in all the Leith Hill car parks, so I think the area is pretty well covered. Reluctantly I have to agree with your thoughts and a co-ordinated search seems like a very good idea, even if it's only to rule out your worst fears. Of course Megan and I will be there, so just let me know where and when you are planning to start. In the meantime, I will spread the word and see if I can get some more volunteers. Very few of my Facebook contacts are local, but I will post it and see what happens, as well as talking to local dog walkers. Today I can begin to understand how it feels - Megan has been away from me since 10.30 and I feel as though I've had a limb removed! Going to get her back soon. x
Nina Kanderian
Thank-you! I've been trying to replace water-soaked/missing posters around the area as much as I can but not sure I'm getting to all the sites - if you have the time today Alison, that would be amazing. Yep, given Shola's character, I would imagine her going off with anyone else is such a remote possibility. Alfie's Lost Dogs have been giving me lots of advice too but, after hearing of what's happened over the past 10 days, they are convinced she has become caught-up or trapped somewhere in the forest. As a last ditch effort, search-wise, (since the twins will be here next week), Zane and I are organising as large a search party as we can manage to look in The Redlands this Saturday. I'll let you all know the exact details or where we hope to meet first (to section out areas for searching amongst anyone that turns up) as soon as possible but, if you could spread the word to anyone who has an hour or 2 spare this saturday and fancies a walk, we'd be so grateful. Let's just hope for ok weather.
alikat
Hi again. Rain stopped play this afternoon, but I did replace a couple of soggy posters closer to home. Megan is going to Kennels for a trial run tomorrow so I will have a few hours without her. Planning to drive round all the Holmwood Common car parks and High Ridge, possibly Coldharbour and Leith Hill, to make sure there are posters everywhere. Do you think there is any chance Shola would go off with anyone? From what I've heard, probably not but, if there's a possibility, we need to start trawling all the dog search sites to see if she turns up.
alikat
I'm glad Gus was a bit brighter yesterday. Sorry but I don't think we'll have any possible sightings today - Shola will have "hunkered down" somewhere dry. I don't expect to walk up that way today - it will be a shorter walk locally once the rain eases off, and then hopefully tomorrow I will get further afield.
Nina Kanderian
So lovely to meet you too Alison - thank-you so much for meeting up with us, and going with Zane to the last known sighting of her. Gus was in a much brighter mood when they came home too, so Megan must have worked her magic :) We're going out today to check out all the posters sites and put up more (I think a lot of them that we put up last week have become all rain-soaked and damaged. As soon as we get any information, you'll all be the first to know
alikat
It was lovely to meet you both this morning, and to walk with Zane and Gus to the last known sighting of Shola. Now you two need to focus your attention on the imminent arrival of your twins - Nina you MUST rest while you can because once those babies arrive you won't get the chance!
I put a couple more posters up on my way back to the car, and will continue to walk in Holmwood Common and over to Redlands woods as much as I can, always carrying posters, pins, spare treats, collar and lead. I usually check this website at least three times a day, but if anyone needs to contact me urgently then my mobile number is further down this page. As soon as there is a sighting, we can scale up the search and maybe get the tracker dog in too. Megan is now fast asleep in her bed - she really enjoyed the walk and getting poor sad Gus to have a game with her. If we keep on looking I'm sure we'll get some news eventually.
Shelagh
Sorry can't help on search I'm in east London but hope you find her safe. Good luck.
alikat
Looking forward to meeting Nina, Zane and family in the morning. Yesterday when I walked to Holmwood Common I didn't see any posters, so I have printed some ready to bring with me. Don't know if they are allowed but hopefully they'll be seen by a few people before they get taken down.
Nells
I noticed this evening that the posters from the centre of Coldharbour have been taken down, could be the pub or the national trust. I have some here so I will replace them in the morning. Fingers crossed for this weekend.
Nina Kanderian
Thanks Nells - we're so grateful for you looking out for her. We'll be out and about talking to the bikers, horse-riders and walkers again tomorrow. And thanks Snowy too - I feel the more we can spread the word and her picture, the better. Will let you all know AS SOON AS we get a sighting of her
Nells
I spent an hour or so walking the top of Redlands this morning, no sight of her I'm afraid but we'll try again over the weekend. Most weekends there are loads more walkers,bikers etc out and about so let's hope one of them spots her.
Snowy
Good to see Shola in this week's Leatherhead Advertiser. I do hope it brings some positive news for you. xx
Nina Kanderian
That certainly gives us hope Amanda - thank-you! You must have been so, so pleased to see her after all that awful weather. Thanks Nells too - let's hope for another nice weekend so all the horse-riders and mountain bikers are out in force. See you at 11am tomorrow Alison (if anyone else fancies joining us, my husband and I are meeting with Alison and our dogs at the Mill Pond car park at 11). Thanks all!
amanda carter
One of the dogs I have at my house daily went missing on the Sussex Weald which is similar territory on Dec 14th at night during all the floods.The area is less populated than around here& no trace was found in repeated searches.Milly was found strolling down a village high street 4 weeks later 7 miles from where she disappeared, a little thinner but otherwise unharmed.All the more remarkable as she has displacia in both front elbows.Miracles do happen!
Nells
I am off work tomorrow morning and will be out walking from Coldharbour. I can walk Redlands from the top or elsewhere if it's helpful. I'd say keep your hope up, there is plenty in those woods to keep a dog occupied for a few days!
alikat
Hi Zane, After an exchange of texts with Nina, as you know I will meet up with you on Saturday. As far as networking suggestions are concerned, a number of people have set up Facebook pages for their missing dogs. This spreads the information all over the country - and further - and appears to raise a lot of support from people not necessarily registered with Doglost. I would certainly share that, just as I have with Shola's posters. Some others use Twitter and other social media - but I'm not on any of those.
Nina Kanderian
Hi everyone, this is Zane, Nina's husband. I have to say, I'm overwhelmed with all the generosity and concern you have shown; I only hope we are able to repay the kindness some day. I have been going to the forest at the end of Oaks Lane in mid-Holmwood (where she vanished), since Monday, once we had done everything we could on the awareness raising front. I have been laying down scent trails around the area (sadly not to my home as I work in London and there simply isn't time to walk there and back from our house in the morning) so that she has reason to frequent the area if she is still alive. I will continue going there every morning for as long as possible in the hope that she will turn up one of these days. The strategy now is to cover the two most likely scenarios: 1) she has gone feral; 2) she died somehow that day in the Redlands. To cover scenario one we will need to maintain an awareness raising campaign over the next few weeks and months. To support us on this we would be grateful for any recommendations of good networks (not mentioned so far) we can use on an ongoing basis to ensure a sighting is reported; support on keeping up the awareness raising would be superb but we do recognise that it gets tiresome after a while. To cover scenario two we would ask anyone who lives nearby to walk off the beaten track in the mid-Holmwood section of the Redlands every now in case her body is lying somewhere among that vast area. A body would at least be an answer for us, even if it is the worst kind. Once again, I would like to thank all of you for expressing your thoughts and offering support. It is so difficult to live with the loss but it would be so much more difficult to do so without the support of others. Many thanks for all your help.
amanda carter
Hi Nina I spoke to your husband on the Nower earlier in the week. I am a dog walker in Dorking & go upto Redlands every day on walks. I have been calling her & looking out for her but I always have several dogs with me so I don't know if she would respond however I will keep doing it.If you would like some help searching at the weekend let me know.
alikat
Hi Nina, missed you in the village this morning, but I had a thought earlier that it would be unlikely for Shola to come this far, as she would need to cross the railway line to get here. It is pretty well fenced most of the way so the only way she could cross it would be via the Old Horsham Road or the two footpath crossings each side of the station. Although there aren't regular trains at the moment, they are running a few so the power is live... If she's going to seek out built up areas, I would think it's more likely to be Coldharbour, North Holmwood or Dorking - where she can go without crossing the railway or main road. Anyway, I'm going to walk up to find Oaks Lane this afternoon and have a look around. Let's just pray for a sighting so we know what to do next.
Andrew W.
Hi Nina, I saw she was missing from Nowzad and this morning I saw the poster at Holmbury St Mary so now I know she is local. I have shared it to FB Guildford area and to my friends and colleagues many of whom volunteer with local Search and Rescue Units (human rescue that is). They train in these areas quite regulary - often at night and far from the beaten track so they could just see her. My own dog found a terrier that had been missing for 6 months which was living down a rabbit warren two winters back, so it goes to show that dogs can go feral and survive and given her background she probably has a head start?! BTW my own dog also ran off and was lost once but she found her way home there was a snuffling at the door and there she was. If I can do more to help let me know. Good Luck.
alikat
Hi Nina, it sounds as though you've had some useful advice. As far as tomorrow morning is concerned, I meet with several other dog owners in the fields behind the village (off Highland Road) at 7.45 to let the dogs play, and then we walk around the village - usually passing by the shop at around 8.30... so maybe we'll see you then? The only food outlet in the village itself is the Blue Moon Cafe, and I must say there is a very enticing smell of bacon at that time of day! I can certainly meet you at some time in the next few days - my mobile number is still on one of my earlier posts. I am retired and have very little on at the moment, so I can meet you whenever it suits you. When I worked with Jenny before, she was able to borrow a trap from somewhere (think it was the RSPCA). They are quite specialised and very expensive, so have to be watched all the time they are out - just in case someone tries to steal them, and also in case any other animals get caught inside. Hope to see you soon.
Nina Kanderian
Hi Alison, well done for tackling the mud in Holmwood Common today. I heard back from the gamekeeper's wife this evening...no-one reported any sighting but they'll continue to look out for her whilst they put out the pheasant food each day in The Redlands. I had a long chat with Jenny this afternoon who was brilliant - lots of advice and encouraging words. In summary, she says she has a hunch that Shola has headed more towards "civilisation" again, given her history. She recommends we try looking out for her around any restaurants (Red Chilli for example), take-aways, kebab shops, roadside sandwich bars, industrial estates etc. just before first light and then again after nightfall. We're going to target Beare Green first thing tomorrow, as a starter. I think perhaps my husband and I need to lay a few more scent trails too which we'll do shortly. I'm also going to have a chat with a lady who knows alot about humane traps tomorrow to see what she suggests. Thanks so much for offering to help liaise with people Alison - I suspect that things might be a bit more tricky for me from early next week so that would be really great if you don't mind? Perhaps we could meet out by the Common or something this weekend for a chat - it would be lovely to meet you after all this too! (p.s. I did also speak with K9 search but they weren't' so sure of any success, given it's been more than 5 days since she went missing).
alikat
Hi Nina. This afternoon I walked up through the part of Holmwood Common south of Mill Lane, and put up some more posters. Let's hope for some sightings soon so we know where to concentrate. Do contact Jenny with the tracker dog... apart from the actual tracking, she has lots of ideas and tips which might help. I am sure the other K9 search people are equally good, but I haven't met them. I worked with Jenny back in early December looking for a Border Terrier called Rosa (still missing!) over in Kent. I expect you're going to (literally) have your hands full in the next week or so. Please let me know if you need anyone to liaise with the trackers, put food out, check a trap or anything else.
alikat
I won't go too near any shooting this afternoon, as my little dog could easily be mistaken for a rabbit!! Will walk up to Holmwood Common and take my remaining posters.
Nells
I think the shoot in Coldharbour started this morning, they go to The Plough for lunch then out again in the afternoon. You already have posters up by the pub so hopefully they will have seen them.
Nina Kanderian
Hi again, I've just heard from a lady I've been in contact with at a veterinary surgery that there is a shoot planned in Coldharbour and The Redlands today (starting at 1pm I think). I've just emailed the gamekeeper's wife as this lady tells me she is sure they would shoot a fox if they saw one (and Shola is often mistaken for a fox at a distance). So, I've asked them to please watch out for her and let me know - chances are very, very slim I know but they might just get a sighting of her I guess?
Nina Kanderian
Thank you so much Alison. We've put more clothes around where she was last seen - I will look into the tracking dog today too. I think our dog walker is going to revisit the area again this afternoon with our dog and another, and my husband is planning on going back to where he has placed the clothes each morning to check. Your treats sound lovely by the way - just up Shola's street if she would only just come out and get them :( Thanks again for all your help.
alikat
Hi again. I took the bus to Red Chilli and then walked up to Redlands Farm and on into the woods. I think I was probably quite close to where Shola went missing, put a couple of posters up and worked my way across to the other Redlands drive. Sorry but no sightings. Just a thought, is your dog walker still walking the same route every day? If she were to go each day, with your other dog, I think there would be more chance of Shola being seen. Not sure what else to suggest......
alikat
Hi Nina, my treats are home-made liver cake, very smelly and most dogs try to mug me for what is in my pocket! I'm sure Shola would like them and I always have them for my dog. Just trying to plan my afternoon. x
Nina Kanderian
Thank-you for those contact details, that's great. I'll go to Red Chilli today and ask if I may put some posters up, might put some on a couple of gateposts in that area too. Walk-eez...your idea of knocking on some doors to check outbuildings is brilliant, we'll definitely do that later today. And the game keepers too - I think Sigrid put some posters up around their shooting site at the weekend and she may well be going around there again today so I'll ask her to have a chat with any game keepers that she sees.

Good luck with your walk today Alison (btw, a friend just told me that, apparently, dogs go absolutely mad for cat treats as they're richer in smell and flavour - not sure if you have a cat but, if so, might be worth putting a couple of treats in your pocket?!) Thanks again
alikat
Hi Nina, First of all, the phone number for Jenny is 07740 149671. She lives near Maidstone and her tracker dog is Tiga the beagle and she is also training another young beagle. There is another search organisation on www.k9searchdog.org - they have a couple of bloodhounds that they use for this work. If I get the bus down to Red Chilli I can start from there. I won't be able to go in and ask them to put a poster up because I will have my dog with me, plus muddy wellies, so can I suggest you deal with that? As Walk-eez says, Shola is familiar with the area and the smell of food would definitely attract her. I will take a few more posters with me, but my printer ink is a bit low so I can't do another 14. I will let you know how it goes when I get back.
Nells
Wolverns Country Store is in Surrey Hills Business park behind the Wooton Hatch on the A25 but it sounds more likely she is the other side of the hill. It might also be worth contacting the local game keepers too as there is lots of pheasant shooting going on all around there. I'm at work during the day and we are mostly restricted to walking early morning and evening but any chance we get we'll keep our eyes open. I passed the details on to a few of the local dog walkers last night, several regularly walk Redlands.
Walk-eez
Just a thought, have you spoken to the Indian restaurant Red Chilli... The smells of food and cooking may draw Shola in... Also there are a few houses at the back there, might be worth knocking on doors and getting them to check outbuildings etc as its got colder?
Nina Kanderian
Hi Alison, thanks for your message. I do think Shola would try and make her way home if she could, and we have gone up and down the A24 in a car but perhaps it's worth us walking it too (yeah, we live on the Holmwood Common side - she used to cross the road with our dog walker at the Indian Restaurant 'Red Chilli' if you know it). I think the area you're targeting today in Mid Holmwood, heading on up to the redlands sounds like our best bet and it's great you have a lively little terrier who won't miss a thing I'm sure.

Would you mind sending me details of the tracker dog service too? Thanks so much. We do have another rescue dog (Gus) but he's become so depressed he doesn't want to even leave the house at the moment - we're trying with him though!

Thanks again to you all
alikat
Hi again Nina. First of all I've looked at both the photos - it's quite distinctive with what appear to be dead trees on one side and living ones on the other..... it looks very much like the area I walked in on Saturday morning - much closer to Mid Holmwood than Coldharbour so you may be right. I will print the photos out so I can carry them with me. I think your friend (with Boris) mentioned that you have another dog - or the walker had another dog with her that day. If your husband finds any badger setts, it may be worth taking that dog close and see if it reacts in any way. I have heard that the RSPCA then recommend calling in Dyno-Rod to put a camera down into the setts or burrows to see if missing dogs are underground, but it is quite expensive so you need to be reasonably confident something is there.
The other thing people have tried (with some success)is a tracker dog and there might still be a good scent as it's only been a few days since Shola went missing. I can let you have details if you want them. Do you think Shola would have tried to make her way home? I'm not sure which side of the A24 you live but, if it's on the Holmwood Common side, has your husband checked along both verges just in case? Surrey Highways and local council road crews are supposed to report anything they find, but I don't think this necessarily happens. I think that tomorrow afternoon I will maybe catch the bus up to Mid Holmwood and walk up into Redlands woods from there. Do let me know if there is anywhere your husband thinks I should look. If I do spot Shola, my dog will probably see her first. She is only 17 months and wants to play with every dog she meets, so she shouldn't provoke any aggression. I would just sit or stand quietly, make no eye contact, and drop some treats on the ground before moving back so she can get them. I carry a spare collar and lead but it doesn't sound as though I will get that close. Of course I will text you straight away. Try to rest, Nina, you have done all you can with posters etc. so focus on your babies and let us see what happens.
Nina Kanderian
Hi again, my husband's just come back and tells me he's found the site she disappeared from - it's at the end of Oaks Lane (along the A24 - the second left after Folly Lane if you're going in the direction of Dorking). He did find some badger setts too but, after calling her name for a good hour and a half all around the area, not a sign.
Nina Kanderian
Alison and Nells - that's fantastic thank-you. Sounds like a large area is being covered. Nells - there hasn't been any sightings of her at all...it's made all the more difficult as she camouflages so well against the undergrowth, and looks just like a fox with that big bushy tail. Anyway, I've had a few people say to me now that they have a gut feeling she could be trapped down a badger sett - I wonder if that's feasible? My husband has just gone to where he thinks she was last seen by our dogwalker to hunt for any setts round there with his headtorch. If people could perhaps concentrate on any areas where they believe to be setts, that would be great. I just wish I knew The Redlands better. Anyway, I think the Redlands woods themselves and the surrounding fields along the A24 sound like the best bet - I feel my husband and I may have been looking too far afield this weekend.

I put a poster up in Attlees this morning but not Wolverns - not sure I know where that is? A friend of mine has posted the alert up on lots of local horse riding FB pages, and we put posters up in a couple of local stables at the weekend too. I think targeting horse riders and mountain bikers is a good idea too.

I'm not sure if the below links will work, but these are the photos our dog walker sent us of where she saw Shola last...

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/t34/1608884_10202932402691870_304507589_n.jpg?oh=62b970eea35a40692191657d8c7c9a10&oe=52DFADA7&__gda__=1390357609_af452fb1ffe92b485562f3ff9a84fa0a

and

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/v/t34/1598223_10202932414732171_1194298976_n.jpg?oh=cfc744ba020be6eea1ec7206e2450ecb&oe=52DF3090&__gda__=1390387428_45cb9c83888d7819964d70b263052c43
Nells
If not done already it might be worth postering in Attlees and Wolverns Country store, that may well help alert the dog walkers and horse riders.
Nells
We walk early morning and late afternnon around the Wolverns lane, cricket pitch and tower area. I am meeting several other villiagers this evening and will ask them all to keep their eyes open. Many of them walk dogs all around Coldharbour. It would be really useful to know if and where there had been any sightings of her. Hopefully she will be found really soon.
alikat
Hi Nina, nice to "meet" you! Yes, I have seen your posters in Beare Green and up at Coldharbour near the pub. I also saw one in Anstie Lane at the start of the footbath up to Anstiebury. This afternoon I have walked from Beare Green up Moorhurst Lane, across to Kitlands and then along the footpath to Coldharbour, putting posters up in various places. I came back down to Anstiebury Farm and left a poster with one of the horse owners there who will show it to the others. I think your dog walker might mean the reservoir quite close to Coldharbour Lane? My ordnance map doesn't show any other lakes in those woods. Maybe tomorrow I will drive round and walk closer to that area.
Of course you can't be out there searching in your present condition, but it would be helpful if you or your husband could update us all via this website, and give us some idea of where you would like us to concentrate.
Those of us who help in these situations do so because we would appreciate the same being done for us if we were unfortunate enough to lose our dogs. I am retired and walk with my Border Terrier most afternoons, so it's interesting to explore different places - she absolutely loves it!
In case you missed it in my earlier post, yes I did put one in Hearns earlier this morning and they happily put it on the entrance door. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help. My mobile number is in my first message below. Alison
Nina Kanderian
Hi everyone - I'm so sorry to have been silent...this is the first time I've used this service and I hadn't noticed these comments below until just now. Firstly, I can't thank-you all enough for making such a fantastic effort and all your support in trying to find Shola - she's a rescue dog from Afghanistan and, although she isn't the easiest of dogs, she is so loved, and so missed right now. I'm 38 weeks pregnant with twins so completely unable to get out there and look, but my husband has been searching high and low, night and day, in The Redlands.

We've also had friends who have looked in: Coldharbour woods and around the allotments, Abinger Common, Holmwood Common, The Nower, The Redlands

Meanwhile, i've put posters up in Dorking town centre (the 2 vets in Dorking and pet shops), North Holmwood, Peaslake, Holmbury St Mary & Hurtwood Common, Forest Green, Ockley, ABinger, Westcott, Coldharbour Woods (and along Coldharbour Lane), Leith Hill (not right at the top though) Beare Green, bus stops along the A24 etc. Dorking Advertiser have also just agreed to run a story about her this Thursday. Am planning on contacting all local kennels and local councils tonight. I've talked to the National Trust ranger for Holmwood Common too, who is going to inform his colleagues who cover Leith Hill too. The Mole Valley dog warden has also been helpful but I'm running out of ideas to be honest.

Our dog walker (Sigrid for those who know) has been brilliant in joining in the search. SHe was the last one to see Shola on Friday morning and has told me the following about exactly where she was last seen (unfortunately, I don't know The Redlands too well but, for those that do...): "She went missing where a lake overspills onto the footpath on a height with Mid Holmwood. She usually darted up that hill and then turned up the hill right in the direction of North Holmwood to join me and Gus 15-20 minutes later on the way home to the gate.". She has also sent me pictures of the area she was last seen so I can email these out to anyone who'd like them (perhaps just let me know via email (nina_katrina@hotmail.com))?

I think a poster up at Hearns (I think that's the Farm and Supplies Shop that you mentioned Walk-eez?) is a great idea if that's not already been done - I think there are some other Farm Shops in the area too which I can call in at with more posters.

Thank you SO much again to you all for all your help - it is so appreciated and makes us realise just how many lovely people there are out there.


alikat
OK, I've taken a poster to Hearns this morning and they will put it on the door. This afternoon I'm planning to walk up via Kitlands, and then back down through the Redlands woods and home - it's such a long way round by road it will use up the daylight! Will be taking several posters to put up but, looking at the map, Shola could have crossed over and gone as far as Abinger Common very easily - has anyone been out that way with posters etc.?
alikat
That's great Nells, so I won't necessarily bring posters to Coldharbour. It would be really useful to know whereabouts in the woods Shola disappeared, and then maybe we can join up and really search the area.
Nells
I live in Coldharbour so can put posters up and I have shared Shola on Facebook with other dog walkers so we can all keep our eyes peeled for her.
alikat
PLEASE can someone co-ordinate this? I've been told this morning that a poster has appeared in the village where I live, so obviously someone else is working in this area to find Shola. Just to save duplication, it would be helpful to know who is doing what, and where..... I will call in at Hearns later this morning to see if they have any posters, and will drive up to Leith Hill with some more posters and walk around Coldharbour from there.
amanda carter
I am also a dog walker in Dorking & I know Shola so I have alerted all my clients today to look out for her. I walk dogs at Redlands every day so will call her name as I am walking. For info I lost a dog at Abinger Roughs 2 yrsago & she returned to the spot where she disappeared when it got dark. Have you tried that? On a more positive note one of my client's lost her dog on 14th Dec & was reunited with it 4 weeks later. Have hope.
alikat
I walked near there yesterday but didn't have a spare poster. Will print some more and try to get there tomorrow. Walk-eez, Nina's friend did mention to me yesterday that Shola knows the allotments at Coldharbour. I'm not sure where they are but will head that way tomorrow and have a look. It really would be helpful if Nina could let us know roughly where Shola went missing, just to give us a starting point.
Walk-eez
Put a poster up at the cricket pitch at Coldharbour earlier, does anyone know if the Farm and Feed store on the A24 in Holmwood has been notified or given a poster?
Walk-eez
Does anyone know if the gun club have been notified? Am going up there this morning and will take some posters.
DogLostJayne - Founder Doglost.
TX Alikat!
alikat
Hi, This morning I walked up into Redlands woods from Betchets Green, leaving a poster by the start of the footpath there. I then left another poster on a tree at the "crossroads" of paths where one leads down to Folly Farm, South Holmwood. I carried on along the path and eventually came out at Mid Holmwood, where I again put a poster at the start of the footpath. Crossing over onto Holmwood Common, I first met a lady walking a Golden Labrador called Boris - a friend of Nina - and explained what I had done. I then met another gentleman walking a dog who said he would be going up to Coldharbour on his bike tomorrow and took my last poster with him, saying he would pin it up somewhere near Leith Hill Tower. I can't do much tomorrow due to prior arrangements, but I will certainly be available during the week to put more posters up or search a particular area. Just let me know via this page or my mobile number on my earlier entry. Nina, your friend told me something of Shola's history and also a little about your personal situation. There will be plenty of people who will come out and help in the search, if you can just co-ordinate and let us know the most likely places to look etc. Don't worry, Shola is a little survivor - we just need to get a sighting and will then know where to concentrate our efforts. xLast edited: 2014-01-18 19:27:45 by alikat
Walk-eez
I own a dog walking business in Dorking, have shared details with all our clients and put them. On our Facebook page too... Will walk up that way tomorrow when we're out with our 2 choc labs. Hope she's found soon.
alikat
I am just printing off some posters and will put them up on my way.
alikat
Hi, I live in Beare Green and was just sitting thinking about where to walk with my Border Terrier this morning. Having been notified by this site, I will make my walk up to Redlands woods via Betchets Green, coming back down to Folly Farm, or maybe walk a little further up through the woods. Have put your phone number in my phone so will call if I see/hear anything. Will also take spare collar and lead, and always have smelly treats in my pocket! My little dog is not aggressive and normally wants to play with every dog she meets. I should be up there within the next hour or so. My mobile number is 07968 355747 if you want to call me.
AlisonH
Email alerts sent to GU5,GU6,KT23,KT24,RH2,RH3,RH4,RH5,RH12
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