WILLIE'S RETURN THRILLS STONE HARBOR COUPLE

More than two weeks after he took off from his sitter's house in Cape May Court House, Willie the dog is home safe and sound.

Owner Bob Giesecke is thrilled to have Willie home in Stone Harbor after the dog was on the run for two weeks.

Kathy Bickford

Stone Harbor residents Kathy Bickford and Bob Giesecke were joyous Thursday, Jan. 26, when Willie, their 9-year-old beagle-terrier mix, returned home after more than two weeks on the run in woodsy Cape May Court House.

“It’s so nice to have him back,” Bickford gushed a couple of hours after Willie returned home. As for Willie, he was sound asleep on the couch after chowing down a hamburger – fed to him slowly. Willie appeared thin and tired, but otherwise none the worse for wear.

“He’s a very handsome young man,” Bickford said.

Bickford and Giesecke adopted Willie about four months ago from a family that could not keep him. When they went out of town for a wedding, he stayed with a sitter in Cape May Court House. On the morning of Jan. 8, he darted off and didn’t come back.

Word of Willie’s plight spread quickly and sparked a community-wide effort to bring him home. The small white and brown dog was spotted frequently, but because he is skittish, maybe traumatized from all the changes throughout his canine life, he ran away when called. He eluded attempts to lure him into traps set up with food inside.

Bickford's friend set up a Facebook page dedicated to finding Willie that drew more than 200 “likes.” People Bickford and Giesecke had never met searched for Willie and reported numerous sightings. Finally, on Thursday, both Bickford and Giesecke had Willie in their sights near a campground on Route 47 near Reed's Beach.

Giesecke lured Willie closer by throwing Beggin’ Strips, a favorite treat. Giesecke was down to his last strip when he got close enough to Willie to open his truck door and call out that question most dogs love – “Wanna go for a ride?” Happily, Willie did, and he hopped in.

The couple is especially glad to have their pet back in time for him to go to Key West with them for February. They plan to spoil him and let him enjoy a well-deserved vacation.

“We want to thank all our wonderful friends and our wonderful new friends we’ve met,” Bickford said. “It really restores your faith in mankind.”