Genie the dog back at home in Kamloops after living outside on the run for over five weeks.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Lisa McAndrew

It took a community effort to finally catch a Boston terrier that spent over five weeks on the loose around Kamloops and bring her back to safety.

Genie was captured at around 9 p.m. yesterday, Aug. 2, in the Batchelor Heights area with the help of many people who kept her in the area until her owner arrived and grabbed her.

“There must have been thirty people up there trying to corral her,” owner Lisa McAndrew said. “One of them called me and my dad and I raced up to the area.”

The scared dog fled the group, crossed the street and travelled down the road until McAndrew sped passed her, stepped out in front of her, and commanded the runaway to stop.

“She came over to me and I grabbed her in my arms,” McAndrew said. “There was not a dry eye among the group of rescuers.”

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Genie went missing from her home in Westsyde on June 25 this year and has been living outside in the elements evading capture ever since.

McAndrew took Genie for vet care immediately following her rescue.

“Her little paws were bleeding and she had a tick,” she said. “She is skinny and dehydrated but she’s eating and drinking.”

Mentally the little dog is doing well, and, back at home at last, she's been enjoying some much needed TLC.

“She is still in a bit of flight mode,” McAndrew said. “She slept with me last night but was a bit restless. She had the royal treatment this morning with a bath, treats and a massage.”

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McAndrew can’t comprehend how the small, 25 pound dog survived for so long in extreme heat in an area inhabited by coyotes.

“I kept the faith the whole time,” she said. “She is pretty amazing. I call her Lucky Genie now.”

Nikki Milenk searched for Genie since she went missing. She started a fundraiser to pay for a professional search company who came out last week but was unsuccessful.

Milenk asked the public to help rescue the dog in a recent article by iNFOnews.

Milenk and McAndrew are grateful to every person who made an effort to help bring Genie home.

“We can’t thank everyone enough,” Milenk said. “Genie is one heck of a pup and an inspiring story. Thank you so much.”

You can donate to help cover the costs of professional pet rescue services or vet bills here.

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