Sask. couple seeks help finding dog scared away by fireworks on Canada Day weekend

A couple from Tisdale, Sask., are asking for the public's help finding their missing golden doodle.

Payton Gessner, and her partner Tsar Hester went to Fishing Lake, about 170 kilometres northeast of Regina, with their five-year-old dog Merv to get away over Canada day weekend. They say they've done it many times before, but this time it was different.

Gessner, Hester and Merv were sitting on the deck enjoying the evening before the scheduled fireworks on Saturday, June 28. Disaster struck around 10:30 p.m.

"We're just putting [Merv] inside because he does get a little timid and scared with the fireworks," Gessner said.

"He got really worked up when they first started. They were pretty loud and abrupt for the first going, and so he kind of darted back and forth on our deck and then jumped right off the back."

As soon as Merv jumped, they couldn't see him anymore.

"We immediately started looking around, and calling him. But the fireworks spooked him so much that I don't think any calling would have brought him back," she said.

Hester said the couple started searching around a nearby row of lakefront cabins and trailers.

"We were looking under trailers and stuff to start with, and then riding in the truck, and we drove down 310 south and looked and called him until it was late," he said.

The couple looked for as long as they could in the dark, but decided to call it a night to sleep for a couple of hours.

"We went out the next morning and started talking to people," Hester said. "We talked to one man actually at the Foam Lake Golf Course and he said he's seen our dog running south on 310 at like 1045-11."

Gessner said they went door to door and talked to people, and then printed posters and posted them on bulletin boards within a 60 kilometre radius.

"We got a lot of support online, a lot of people checking in," she said. "We've just kind of been hoping that word of mouth keeps traveling and that he comes out of the bush soon if that's where he is."

They said Merv is a larger dog, with a friendly demeanour.

"Biggest people dog you probably will ever meet. He's so friendly," Gessner said. " He'll follow you everywhere. He's like your shadow. If you're going in the car, he wants to be in the car."

Now back in Tisdale, Gessner is hopeful that someone can spot Merv and help him find his way home.

She said they expected him to run to people because that's his comfort zone, but the fireworks frightened him badly. She said he is a big, friendly teddy bear.

"We're worried about him, and we want him to come home," Gessner said.

"We thank everyone for all of the support and continued help in looking for him. We really do believe he's in the bush, hunkering down until he gets hungry enough. We're not giving up on him, and he's probably not giving up on us."