Gone nearly a month, sheltie returns home

WATERVILLE – Tucker has finally made it back home.

Gone for nearly a month, the Shetland sheepdog was returned to its owners in Wilton after being spotted by an Oakland couple Monday night.

The pooch got spooked and bolted from a Waterville hospital Aug. 8 when Harriet Stansfield took Tucker along while she visited her husband, John, who was recovering from a head injury.

The Stansfields and others searched for Tucker for weeks. A few sightings were reported, but no one was able to catch up with the dog.

On Monday, Ann and Peter Young spotted the sheltie on their lawn in Oakland, which is next to Waterville. Tucker was dirty, exhausted and matted at the time. The Youngs fed Tucker, but all they had on hand was cat food. The hungry dog wouldn’t touch it at first, but finally cleaned the plate.

The Youngs told police of their find, and a family member picked up Tucker in Oakland.

“My mom hasn’t slept for a month, and I know it made all the difference to have him home last night,” said the Stansfields’ daughter, Sheila. She and her brother Sheldon Stansfield have been dividing their time between Maine and Atlanta while caring for their parents.