AMESBURY — After days of wandering, the Italian greyhound Merlin reappeared yesterday morning just like mystical figure he's named after.
Merlin was found in a trap set by his owner. The dog was cold, had lost some weight, had a few cuts and scrapes, and was dirty after his 10-day journey, but otherwise in good health.
He was checked out by the veterinarian, given some antibiotics and is home resting, said his owner Caitlin Pumphrey of Haverhill.
"The vet said that besides losing some weight, he looks good," Pumphrey said.
On Feb. 1, Merlin slipped loose from his harness while heading into Merrimack Valley Animal Hospital.
"I was just walking inside, and he hates the vet," Pumphrey said. "He pulled back a bit, and within two seconds, he was off his harness and gone."
The couple tried to get Merlin back on their own but had no luck.
So, they took the usual step and printed thousands of flyers and posted them across town.
But they also took a new route, using the popular social networking website Facebook to spread the word.
"We got a ridiculous amount of support and help from people from Amesbury and surrounding towns," Pumphrey said.
Pumphrey and her fiance even got emails offering support from around the world.
"We're just in awe of everybody's help and support," Pumphrey said.
A sighting of Merlin on Wednesday helped Pumphrey's fiance Steven Brunton focus on three areas when he set traps Thursday night.
Brunton set three Havahart traps, which have a spring-loaded door that closes once the animal is inside. Brunton put one at St. Joseph's Cemetery, one in an orchard next to the veterinary office and one in the woods behind the new Irving gas station on Route 110. Brunton put inside them pieces of Merlin's old bed cover, some hand warmers and Beneful dog food, Merlin's favorite.
"In the morning, he checked two and nothing was there, and the third trap, low and behold, he was there," Pumphrey said. Merlin was found in the trap behind the Irving gas station.
Merlin was then taken to the vet and finally got the checkup that was 10 days in the making.
Pumphrey and Brunton say they plan to donate the $500 reward for Merlin to charity.
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