Memories of Golden Gate Park

Today I drove through GGP for the first time since Iris was found. Passing all the places I learned to know so well during my search for Iris still left a dull sick feeling in my stomach. But today, my eyes weren't darting through the bushes, down the roads, or behind the buildings in
a desperate attempt to spot Iris. Today at least and at last, I knew Iris wasn't somewhere out there, alone, frightened, cold, and hungry. Somehow she had survived.

A part of me never wants to go back to GGP, the place where I spent over a hundred of the worst hours of my life, hoping at first, then dreading, then despairing. As if it could get worse, the last time I was at the park passing out flyers about Iris, a fellow volunteer's car was broken into and our personal belongings, wallets, cell phone, car & house keys among them, were stolen, leaving me stranded in SF. No, GGP was definitely not a happy place for me.

Yet at the same time, that is where so many people, most of them strangers to both me & Iris, offered their support and kindness. Visitors and regulars of the park who stopped to listen as I told them about Iris, patiently waiting to hear me out completely as my voice choked.
Gardeners, maintenance crews, and other employees of the park who networked with each other to get the word out. The homeless individuals, many of which took the time to give me their suggestions and tell me to keep my chin up, most particularly a gentleman and gentle man named John.

And most especially the people who heard Iris' story and reached out to actively participate in her search, people who spent their weekends and weekdays before and after work and who drove from an hour away to roam the park, who got up at dawn to leave food out at the same spot and time every freezing morning, who joined me at midnight, 2AM, 6AM, all kinds of crazy hours, driving through & staking out areas by foot in the dark, who walked and walked until
their legs got sore and yet still continued to search. These are the people who helped to keep the hope and spirit alive, and although I may always view GGP with a slightly nightmarish dread, I will never forget that it was also a meeting ground where a beautiful thing happened, where strangers were selflessly united in a common goal to save an equally beautiful little dog.

Iris' vet bills have run over $700 so far, and while no expense will ever be spared for her, any contribution would be a great help. Iris weighed in at 20.9 lbs today, an increase of 3 lbs from Monday. Her body still looks heartwrenchingly fragile, but we all know the indomitable spirit that resides within.

Since returning, Iris has rarely let me out of her sight when I'm home, and I hate to let her out of mine. She's not nearly as timid towards me as she was before. She comes up to me and sticks out her paw for pettings now, even jumps on the bed occassionally for them (previously, whenever I lifted her onto the bed, she would immediately jump down). One day, I'd like to see Iris learn how to cuddle, even if it's with her adoptive family rather than me. I'd just like her to know the feeling someday of warmth and security when being lovingly cradled against someone.

IRIS HAS BEEN FOUND!!! Prayers have been answered. 41 days after she went missing, Iris was found yesterday by SF ACC. Weighing only 17 lbs (down from her original 35 lbs), she seems in relative good health and spirits, amazingly. Back in our home, where she will be fostered until who knows when, Iris is finally safe and warm once again. Thank you to all who have given your support and to the wonderful people who have volunteered your time to help search for her, and especially to the dedicated people at ACC. Check back for more (and much happier) updates!

Can You Help?

A possible sighting of Iris happened today at around 7:30 AM. An employee at the Stanyan Park Hotel, located on the corner of Stanyan & Waller St, reported that a dog fitting Iris' description was seen across the street, running in the direction of the Park Police Station, which is right next to Kezar Stadium. I was just a few blocks away (searching for Iris of course) when I got the call, but after over 4 hours of searching, neither I nor another volunteer came up with any luck.

We are seeking additional volunteers to help us post flyers around Golden Gate Park. We also need volunteers from around 6AM-8AM to help form an organized watch for Iris at various points within the park. If you can help in either way, please send an email. Thank you!

Are You a Golden Gate Park Regular?

Do you visit the dog park in GGP on 9th & Lincoln? If so, we need your help! We met a woman today at the dog park that said she saw a man with his own dog trying to coax another dog out from the bushes at around 5PM. She unfortunately could not describe the man or his dog, and did not know if he was successful in luring the hiding dog out. We are not sure at this point if this dog was Iris but she was described as "light colored, very dirty, and very shy." The woman said that the man said that the dog "did not look good" and that he was "very concerned."

We are desperate to reach this kind man to ask him the outcome and to possibly discover if the dog was in fact Iris. If you visit this dog park, can you please ask around? Please click here to access a LOST DOG flyer. If you would be willing to help us pass out flyers (unfortunately, as a very irate member of the Community Cleanup Project informed me, flyers are not allowed to be posted in GGP), please send an email with your address and I will gladly mail you several dozen colored flyers.

Iris has now been missing for almost 3 times as long as she was with me. Every day that passes is another day that my heart breaks a little more.

Sighting at the Tennis Clubhouse!

Iris was seen in front of the Tennis Clubhouse at noon today by the director of the clubhouse. The Clubhouse is located on Bowling Green Drive, next to all the tennis courts. To access the tennis courts, you go to JFK Dr when you enter GGP through the Panhandle. This will take you in front of the Conservatory of Flowers. You make a left onto Middle Drive East, and then another left quickly after that onto Bowling Green Drive. You need to get out of your car and walk towards the tennis courts to actually see the Clubhouse. This means that Iris entered the park at one end (near the beach) and has traveled all the way down to the other end (near the Panhandle). She was sighted still wearing the harness.

$600 Reward

$600 REWARD FOR IRIS' SAFE RETURN! There really isn't any other update right now. A museum worker in GGP thought she saw Iris being led off by an older couple away from the Rose Garden, but after more consideration, she didn't think the dog was Iris after all. My hope against hope is that somebody did find Iris and take her home with them, that Iris is somewhere safe and warm. But I don't know that I really believe that.

Yesterday, Sue, the woman whose 2 sons sighted Iris on January 10, generously took us to the exact spot where her sons saw Iris. It was on Martin Luther King Dr, right where it hits the driveway entrace to Stow Lake. There is a small playground near that entrance as well. Stow Lake is elevated and Iris was seen coming down toward MLK Dr. Sue said her sons reported that her coat was dirty, and if her coat was dirty after just 24 hours, I am thinking it must be filthy by now. Which means the light tanness of her coat may no longer be visible. I sat watching that spot where Iris was seen for 4 hours yesterday, just hoping that she would pass by it again. But it didn't happen.

Sighting Confirmed!

It has been confirmed that Iris was seen on Wednesday, January 10 (1 day after she went missing) at 8:45 AM in Golden Gate Park near Stow Lake, around 19th Ave and Martin Luther King Dr. I pray that she stays in that area.