Rio Still Missing
Update Day 10-11: It looks like Rio is moving further south from the park he was originally lost in. He is now in neighborhoods, seen ocassionaly laying and relaxing. We seem to need people in the area to call sooner then later. If you see this black and white Aussie, with a leash still attached, please call the Winnebago Animal Control first (815) 877-3073 then the family second, (815) 670-9962 ask for Hal. We are finding 1-2 hour delays on sighting then reporting. It will help increase his chances if called ASAP. Also please don’t chase him, this will cause him to run and change locations, we want him to feel relaxed and secure and allow a quicker capture. I will be obtaining a report of his path tonight, and will be posting this. Keep saying your prayers for Rio, ask your 4 leggers to say their doggy prayers, and all paws crossed for his safe and quick return.
UPDATE Day 8-9: Sadly the efforts of his foster mom didn’t work out as he wasn’t spotted on Saturday. With the weather turning rainy, he has not been spotted as much, what spotting was seen was further south of the Rock Cut State Park. One call was at 7:30 AM near Riverside Blvd in the Rock Cut State Park area, which is further south. This is also near a busier highway, and about a mile further south of the subdivision he was seen last week.
A note, if you are call to report him, if you could call the instant he is seen, this would help Animal Control and the family. Many calls are 1-2 hours after the spotting or sighting, he can have moved a mile or more in that time frame.
The family is still actively looking and could use help in keeping an eye out for him. Any spottings should be immediately reported to the Winnebago Animal Control office (815) 877-3073 before calling the family, and then please notify the family of his spotting (815) 670-9962 ask for Hal.
UPDATE Day 7: Still more sightings of Rio. He has been seen running in some neighborhoods surrounding the Rock Cut State Park. I spoke to his family this morning, he was seen “walking” in a field near a subdivision. We are hoping he is running low on steam and ready to snuggle up to a family and let him come home. The live trap did catch someone, but it was a raccoon. So maybe Rio was upset that he couldn’t get his mean. Today his foster mom is going out to the park, Rio was with Tammy for some time and we are hoping his recall of her is still strong, and he will remember her and come to her. Cross your paws and ask that Rio comes home.
UPDATE Day 6: More sightings of Rio, he is still alive and still being a rather bad boy by running all the time, he was seen back inside Rock Cut State Park. They are going to place a live trap to try and catch him, if you live in the Rock Cut State Park area, please let people know not to scare or mess with the live trapping. We had been told he was caught once, only to be released by a child with good intentions. We are also told a tracking group may try and see what can be done.
So please cross your paws, say your best doggy prayers, and we will take a few cat prayers, and ask that Rio comes home, he has been almost gone a week, he has had his vacation and time to come home.
UPDATE Day 5: Rio has been spotted many times, inside Rock Cut State Park and in the surrounding neighborhoods. Wednesday he was spotted in a subdivision south of Rock Cut State Park. The family has flyers out. A Neighborhood Watch program with 50+ people is also on the lookout. Hope is he will be caught Thursday. If anyone has connections with the DNR at Rock Cut State Park, please contact me as we need to set a live trap if he is still roaming free.
UPDATE Day 4: Rio has been spotted numerous times near the Rock Cut State Park, in Winnebago County IL. He was reported to have been caught once, tied to a picnic table, but then released by a passing child thinking he was going to hang around the table. We also have had reports of his wandering just outside of the park into a subdivision near Harlem and Yorkshire Drive. He also was left some food, which he was observed eating, by his owner, but was too quick. He runs like the wind. If anyone has some advice on catching a hi-flying, hi-energy Aussie, who is semi-shy, please contact us and advise away. Rio needs to come home.
Contact AussieRescueIL@gmail.com
Rio has been spotted numerous times in the Rock Cut Park area. Posters and flyers are out. Pass along to family and freinds that he is still missing in the Rockford area, the family is constantly searching as well as some New Spirit volunteers have also been out aiding in his search. If you are in the area, please keep an eye out for Rio. Lets get him home to his family.
Our little black bi named Rio was with his family today at the Rock Cut State Park in Winnebago County IL. Something spooked him and he bolted out of the car and ran from his family. They have been searching for him for 6 hours and haven’t found him yet. He has a leash attached to his collar
Rio Missing in Rock Cut State Park
If anyone is with a rescue group in the Winnegabo/Boone County are, could you please keep an eye out for our lost boy, I know he is super scared now that he just lost his family 
Please call me ASAP 309-222-5211
Rio Missing in Rock Cut State Park
Hi, Rio has been hanging out with our Golden Retriever for a little over 2 weeks now. We are in Mulford HIlls Subdivision. I have talked to Animal Control and to Hal, he has been out and watched Rio from a distance while he played with our dog. I have been updating Hal and he has been responding to my emails. Animal Control put a trap out a week ago, Rio walks right past it. After two days we started feeding him again. We had continued to set out water. He is very faithful and knows our schedule and when our dog will be out. The neighbors are aware of him and we are all just trying to keep him in the area so he feels secure and does not run again. He has come within a foot of me one time and a few feet of my husband. He knows his name but if you call him, he runs. I will not call Animal Control again except to have them move the trap. I was told 2 days ago that they can not sit on my doorstep and that Rio does not want a family he is a runner and this is what he wants. I was so upset with that remark I told the lady to forget it and hung up. Rio does not trust humans I don’t know what it will take to win his trust. If he turns away I just go back in the house because I don’t want to scare him off. He really is a sweet and beautiful dog. I would like to have the phone number of his foster Mom or maybe she could contact Hal and pay a visit to Rio. I do think he wants a family he just has to be kept safe until he can trust humans again. I would love to get him into the house because the nights are so cold. You can reach me days at 815/654-5015 and evenings at 815/885-2437. Thanks you, Kay Elliott