Blind, Deaf, 17-Year-Old Dog Found Safe In Marblehead Mud

MARBLEHEAD, MA — A 17-year-old, blind and deaf dachshund that wandered away from her Pilgrim Road yard when a gate blew open was safe and sound Monday night after a search crew found her stuck in the mud off May Street.

Marblehead police, fire and animal control crews, along with volunteers, searched for hours for Victoria through back yards, conservation lands, the beach and "countless side streets." Police said binoculars and thermal imaging cameras were used in the search that included the border collies of Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland and Head Dispatcher Amy Gilliland.

Police said it was a pair of "fresh eyes" from Marblehead's "Creature Comforts" who spotted Victoria, wrapped her in a blanket and returned her to her grateful family.

"Cold, wet, shaking and dirty, Victoria is off for a warm bath and a big dinner," police said. "Teamwork ruled the day on this call."

Victoria's family said she was noticed missing around 10:30 a.m. with the gate blown open. Police said she had not been out of her yard in more than a year and "was likely very confused and scared."

"It's so nice in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control on a regular basis that everyone came together for a common cause," police said in reporting the happy ending to the daylong search.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)