Jason Conway with his dog Rose at their home in Oxford. The dog had been missing since being injured in an April 5 accident. Nicole Carter/Advertiser Democrat
OXFORD — Three weeks after being injured in a vehicle crash in West Paris that scattered his four dogs into the night, Oxford resident Jason Conway received bittersweet closure to his and his companions’ saga.
One of his dogs, Rose, was home from the vet. The accident had cost her a rear leg, but she was reunited with her human family and her parents Onyx and Hazel, who had been recovered unscathed within hours of the accident.
Tragically, Conway learned Friday that his fourth dog, Rose’s brother Ezekiel, had died after being hit by a car on the 21st day of him getting lost.
Oxford Hills was riveted by the social media story of Rose and Zeke throughout April: cheering when sightings of the dogs were posted on various Facebook pages, donating to a GoFundMe campaign organized by West Paris Animal Control Officer Brandon Holmes, turning out to volunteer and celebrating when Rose was safely retrieved then released from the vet, and finally mourning after Conway shared that Zeke had passed away before he could be found and caught.
The Advertiser Democrat went to Conway’s home Friday to meet Rose as she recovers and adjusts to a life with three legs. Rose is a natural at her new gait.
More good news: her vet bill was covered and then some. By the time Holmes rescued her from a scrapyard on Wednesday, more than $1,800 had been donated for her recovery.
“When the vet called me to let me know she was ready to go home, I had to ask that one question,” Conway said. “What is the bill? But they told me it had been completely covered.”
The estimate for Rose’s surgery and treatment was between $5,000-$7,000. Even as Holmes transported her to the vet, donations kept coming and were redirected to Norway Veterinary Hospital.
By the time Conway got the news she would be released, the expense had evaporated.
“She’s bouncing back really quick,” Conway said Friday as he prepared to share the long story of the community’s search for Rose and Zeke. “She’s a strong little girl.”
A trail cam image showing lab/hound mix Ezekiel. He wandered the woods between West Paris and Buckfield after a vehicle crash April 5. Zeke died after being hit by a car near Canton April 25. Supplied photo
The crash happened early April 5 in West Paris as Conway, his fiancé and their four dogs were driving home.
“We flipped a couple of times, and I’m assuming the windows blew out,” Conway said Friday, emotional at times as he recalled the accident. “That’s how the dogs must have been tossed out. It took a moment to get my bearings straight, but when I pushed my way out of the van, the first thing I thought about was my dogs.”
Conway was intent on helping his fur family, but EMTs responding to the scene advised he needed to seek treatment for a head wound, broken rib and broken finger.
While he went to the hospital family members rallied to help, with one reaching ACO Holmes through the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office.
“Brandon went to pick my ex-wife up in Rumford and brought her back to West Paris,” Conway continued. “They found someone trying to corral two of the dogs, Onyx and Hazel. They ran right to her. Hazel has a strong bond with my ex-wife and Onyx isn’t going anywhere without Hazel.”
Released from the hospital, by the time Conway returned to the accident scene the two dogs – parents to Rose and Zeke – had been recovered. He took them home and on doctor’s orders to rest, he spent a fretful couple of days worrying about the other two.
“As soon as I was able to I began searching, for the next 17 days.”
Conway had the support of a volunteer canine rescue team, organized by Holmes, working with him.
The team included local ACO Robert Larrabee, Maine Lost Dog Rescue, and 2A TAC Air OPS Drone Services out of Barrington, New Hampshire, which does aerial searches for missing pets and livestock throughout New England.
“Dori Haas was working on landowner permission,” Conway said. “Sierra and Bryce Mason. We had Rob Russel of 2A TAC Air OPS, who came out with his drone. He did it free of charge, out of kindness. Brandon followed up on everything he could. There’s been a lot, a lot of people.”
Russel’s drone camera and various web cams caught glimpses of Rose, who had a serious rear leg injury, and Zeke over the next several weeks.
She stayed in the same area as the accident, but Zeke was seen in Buckfield and other locations.
Tuesday Rose was spotted by an employee of West Paris Metals. The rescue team reacted immediately and by the next morning she was safely recovered.
“Sierra Mason went over and kept an eye on her,” Conway said. “And Brandon and Dori came, and he went in and got her. It was all caught on the drone.”
Holmes brought Rose straight to Norway Veterinary Hospital for treatment. Amazing after surviving a crash, injury and almost three-week ordeal, she was in good physical shape.
“She lost weight, and they hydrated her. But her blood work was up to par and she was stable enough for surgery, which they did that day.”
After one overnight at the vet, Rose was joyfully reunited with her parents in Oxford.
During our visit Friday, even with a long, jagged incision with stitches showing where her right rear leg had been, she was eager, energetic and elated to be in Conway’s arms.
Sadly, a few hours later ACO Holmes and Conway announced to the two dogs’ legions of Facebook fans that Zeke is gone.
“Ezekiel has been found,” Conway wrote. “Unfortunately (he) didn’t make it.”
ACO Holmes posted the following tribute on his Facebook Page:
“Heartbreaking Update on Zeke.
“It is with great sadness that I share that Zeke has been found and has passed away.
“He touched so many lives, and the outpouring of love and support throughout his search showed just how special he was.
“Thank you to everyone who searched, shared, and sent prayers. Please keep his family in your thoughts as they grieve the loss of their sweet boy.
“Rest easy, Zeke. You were so loved.”
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