AMHERST — Thirteen years ago, an abandoned golden retriever was rescued from the streets of Gary, Indiana, by the Mackey family.
The Mackeys took the dog in from the urban environment, named her Jett and have given her a home ever since, including when they arrived in Amherst in 2014 when Pete Mackey took a job as chief communications officer at Amherst College.
But on the night of Oct. 22, as Pete and Kyna Mackey were getting their three children ready for bed, Jett disappeared from the yard of their Station Road home — not heeding the beeping sounds made by an invisible fence, perhaps because of her deafness.
Two months later, Pete Mackey said Jett remains on the run, reportedly still alive and fending for herself.
“Since then, she’s been spotted numerous times in the vicinity,” said Mackey, who now runs his own public relations firm. “She’s been finding food, water and shelter on her own.”
Being in survival mode, though, and taking “flight or fright” actions, Jett flees whenever sighted, including one day recently when she ran through a downtown Amherst intersection, Mackey said.
Mackey said Jett appears to be moving in an irregular triangular pattern, based on the sightings near Knights Pond in Pelham, Metacomet Lake in Belchertown and downtown Amherst.
The Mackeys are not worried Jett will be attacked by predators such as coyotes, but the bitterly cold weather is posing an increasing risk. Mackey said he would like to see people with sheds and barns leave openings for Jett to use as shelter.
Working with professional dog trackers and other experts, the Mackeys have set up feeding stations equipped with cameras in certain locations. They are hoping this will lead to discerning the patterns of where Jett is roaming and setting up a humane trap to capture her.
They are also using more traditional search tools, including distributing a photo of the pooch and hand-drawn appeal from one of their 7-year-old twin daughters.
People are encouraged to call Mackey at 413-992-8787 immediately if the dog is spotted.
Carol Hepburn, animal welfare officer, said she has heard about dogs that have wandered several miles, even out of state, before being returned to their owners. The Mackeys, she said, should be applauded for the work they are doing on behalf of their pet.
“They haven’t given up hope,” Hepburn said.
People are welcome to follow updates at https://www.facebook.com/findJett/
“We will keep looking and appreciate getting continued sightings, and will do whatever we can to bring her home,” Mackey said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.