Resident spends more than a month searching for lost dog
Marlton resident Andrea Segal searched from town to town, using Facebook leads to find her 22-pound terrier mix, Penny, who had been lost since June 15. On Aug. 7, the hunt for Penny was over for Segal, after she managed to capture Penny.
Penny wandered within a 15-mile radius of Segal’s home, appearing in Moorestown and Mt. Laurel, Segal said.
Finally receiving a reputable lead, Segal headed for Moorestown, where she thought Penny was staying for the past week.
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, after weeks of wondering if her dog was OK, Segal spotted Penny in the Moorestown area.
“She is in survivor mode,” Segal said, adding she thinks Penny has been out so long that she does not remember the woman who adopted her.
But the search wasn’t over.
The next day, Segal went back to the same spot and upon arrival Penny was hesitantly waiting for Segal, who was prepared to entice Penny with food. Segal set the food down near her car to set up, turned her back for a few seconds and Penny took the food, she said.
In shock, Segal didn’t know if she should be happy to see her dog is doing well or upset the dog literally took the bait and ran.
“If only this were a reality show,” she said, still surprised it happened so quickly.
Eventually, Segal captured Penny in a trap.
Segal had Penny for six weeks and was left with a dog sitter while Segal was on vacation. But she feels responsible for her dog being lost for this long.
Segal was concerned if she didn’t bring Penny home before the cold weather hits, she might not have survived.
Turning to Facebook as a lost and found tool, Segal received the community’s help with locating Penny.
“I felt really compelled to have to find her . . . I felt this dog does not deserve to live like this,” she said, before finally capturing Penny. “I definitely owe her a decent life.”
According to the post on Facebook, Penny was taken to the veterinarian for a checkup.
To watch Segal’s 55-day journey as she played “cat and mouse” with Penny, visit “Please help us find Penny” Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PleaseHelpUsFindPenny.
