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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 27, 2014 | 16 After 13 days missing, Bella found in the nick of time by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Sometimes it takes a community to raise a dog -- or in this case find it. Two-year-old Dachshund cross Bella went missing in Oakville on Nov. 4 while her owner, Burlingtonresident Ashley Garcia and her husband were on vacation. Bella had escaped from the Oakville home where she was staying. The dog was found 13 days later, on Nov. 17, after Garcia's friend Janice Barker rallied the community to help in the search. "Her (Garcia's) in-laws in Oakville started up the search right away and put up posters," Barker told the Oakville Beaver. "Within hours of her (Bella) going missing, I got busy spreading the word via Facebook. I am part of several moms' Facebook pages and word about Bella spread like wildfire. Complete strangers were out walking every day, calling her name." News of Bella's disappearance went viral as postings began to appear on Facebook groups such as The Oakville Mamas and Help Find Bella -- the latter was created to aid in the search. Leads of whimpering sounds being heard led the search group to the ravine behind the splash pad near Garth Webb Secondary School, where members began to focus their efforts around the area. "People crawled through the ravine at night, risking their own safety to find this poor little dog. People walked the same trail every day, calling out Bella's name. The support of the Oakville community was incredible and heartwarming," said Barker. "I contacted local schools, lost pet organizations and the company Bella's microchip was registered with. I also had to track down Bella's vet to get more details about her. I dedicated every day she was missing to finding her -- I refused to accept she was gone for good. "Ash is the biggest animal lover I know and I knew this was what she would have wanted until she could return and help herself." Garcia returned home Nov. 9 and immediately joined the search, making posters and going door-todoor near the ravine. As hope began to dwindle, Garcia decided to enlist the help of Chelsea Garcia cuddles her dog Bella. The family dog was found after being lost for 13 days. Bella's veterinarian doesn't expect the dog could have survived one more day on her own. | submitted photo a professional tracking and search services business for missing pets, upon the suggestion of one of her neighbours. Barker contacted Trackers Edge, run by Kevin McCormick and his German shepherd Mylee, on behalf on Garcia. McCormick gave Barker an hour's worth of free advice and created a missing pet profile for Bella. Once word spread further on the Help Find Bella Facebook page, members of the group began to pool money together to fund McCormick's services. Mylee was brought down to aid in the search and pick up Bella's scent, which helped create a map of possible locations Bella could be hiding. "Then a miracle happened," said Barker. "Monday morning (Nov. 17), Ashley got a call from the local humane society. Bella had been found. Some construction workers at a site not too far from where Bella went missing, found the cold, shivering dog on their construction site. Within a few hours, Bella and Ashley were reunited and the dog was taken to the vet where she spent just one night." Bella was found weighing seven pounds -- 10 lbs. less than when she went missing -- cold and dehydrated. The canine had suffered several wounds and bruises, likely from runins with wildlife. The vet who treated Bella told Garcia her dog likely would not have survived another night. "I am overjoyed that Bella was found and although she is in rough shape, all in all, she is well," Garcia wrote on the Help Find Bella page. "Thank you every last one of you who joined this group and/or helped in any way to spread awareness and information about Bella. I feel so blessed to have had such an outpouring of love and support. "Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my animals and it is truly incredible to have received so much thoughtful help and kindness from everyone." Garcia admits there were times she didn't think Bella's story would have a happy ending, but says she was glad to have been proven wrong. "To each of you, thank you so much for caring and taking your personal time, interest, energy and resources to help in anyway you did," she said. "I can't express my appreciation and how honoured I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart." 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