Lost Dog Recovered at Memphis

For 20 days the light brown dog with a black nose and sweet eyes hid in the mud, weeds and under runways at Memphis International Airport, running from the deafening sounds of jet engines.

She was found on New Year's Day morning by Pam Bell, a Germantown woman who scoured muddy fields two or three times a day for three weeks searching for the dog named Bailey.

The elusive, starving dog was caught in a steel cage trap baited with fried chicken.

Bailey came to Memphis on Dec. 12 on a flight from Seattle. Her owners Chris and Laura Pierce shipped the 75-pound Great Dane mix here to stay a few months with Chris's stepfather and mother Richard and Lelia Ripley. Lelia said a Northwest employee wanted to see Bailey and opened the door to her crate. The dog bolted across the runway and disappeared. Northwest apologized and offered a $250 reward.

Bell heard about Bailey and decided to help.

"That dog was in my dreams," said Bell. "I just couldn't get her out of my mind."

Bell worked with airport security to take her around to remote areas to search for the dog. She nailed fliers to light posts in the neighborhood around the airport.

Clifford Price, who lives nearby, saw one of Bell's fliers and called her last week to tell her he spotted the dog near Swinnea and Winchester.

Bell and about 10 volunteers canvassed the area looking for Bailey. They spotted her but the dog ran away whenever anyone came near. They brought the Ripleys out but Bailey still wouldn't come.

Chris flew in Saturday night and spent New Year's Eve calling for his dog. Bell borrowed a trap from Bartlett Animal Shelter and baited it with the chicken.

"I got back home and told Laura that Bailey was gone," Chris said. "This was it. We had to give her up. I just thought I'd never see her again."

Bell woke up on New Year's Day morning, like every other day, before the sun came up. She waited until first light and drove the 15 miles along quiet streets to the airport.

There was Bailey in the cage, skinny, scared and muddy.

Bell took Bailey to her home and fed the dog more chicken and some dog food. Bailey gobbled every bite. Bell took pictures and e-mailed them to the Pierces, who were skeptical that this was their dog.

"I just don't want to get my hopes up," Chris said Monday morning while he waited for the e-mail to arrive.

He said Bailey knows how to sit and do a high-five.

Bell squatted down and asked Bailey to sit.

"Give me a high-five."

The dog's paw went into the air and touched Bell's hand.

The e-mail arrived.

"That's her. That's her. That's her," Chris said. "Look how skinny she is. Oh man. That's Bailey. No question about it. My wife is crying. We're all crying. This is a great way to start the New Year."

Bell will foster Bailey for a few days until Richard Ripley recovers from knee surgery that is scheduled this week.

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