Wood Dale community rallies to look for Oregon dog

She doesn't know it yet, but Queenie might be the most sought after dog in town.

Nearly a dozen strangers who have never even met the Queensland Heeler Red have launched an aggressive search to find her. The canine was separated from her owner Karl Ward, a long-distance truck driver from Oregon, during a delivery stop in Wood Dale nearly three weeks ago.

“Queenie became spooked by a loud plane flying overhead, and took off,” said Renea Burman, vice president of Downers Grove-based PACT Humane Society, who is organizing the search. “Karl attempted to find her, but eventually had to finish his deliveries and head back to Oregon.”

Ward drove more than 2,100 miles over two days back to Wood Dale to help Burman and other volunteers search last weekend for his beloved dog, who often keeps him company on trips with her sister, Octavia. Burman said they searched Wood Dale and Bensenville — where she was last spotted in an unincorporated area at Red Oak and Route 83 — as well as nearby suburbs.

“We spent hours going to all the places where she had been seen, handed out fliers, we've been calling police departments and animal control, and even tried asking mail carriers,” said Burman.

PACT Humane Society initially got involved with the search when volunteer Catherine Tojaga found the 7-year-old stray Queenie outside her mechanical company in Wood Dale, the same day the dog ran off on July 20. But while Tojaga was on the phone with Ward to tell him the dog was safe, Queenie got spooked and ran off again.

In addition to last weekend's search, PACT volunteers created a Facebook page called “Bring Queenie Home,” for anyone interested to help. The page has downloadable. pdfs that contain a map of her sightings, and her “lost” poster, and will contain updates about any future group outings to look for her.

PACT volunteers aren't the only ones helping in the search. Another volunteer from Greyhounds Only also traveled from Chicago to help with last weekend's search. Burman said she thinks everyone is joining the search because they sympathize with Ward and his wife, Amy, who do not have children and dote on their three dogs.

“(The search) was heartbreaking,” said Burman. “ This poor guy is 2,000 miles away from home and he knows nobody here. He's counting on the kindness of strangers and I think we're all just following the Golden Rule.”

Queenie has a docked tail about 2 or 3 inches long, a white spot on her nose and a white spot on her forehead, and her muzzle is black and white from age. PACT volunteers said she may or may not be wearing her collar at this point.

If you see her, Burman said do not give chase, adding that Queenie is very friendly but afraid. She advises residents to coax her with treats or food, then use a leash or lead and do not let it go. A belt can be used as a makeshift leash, in case of emergency, she said. Report all sightings to PACT Humane Society at (630) 375-7017 or email director@pacthumanesociety.org.