At The Canine School of Trailing, we know just how heart-wrenching it is when a beloved pet goes missing. So when the call came in about Ripley, a cat who had been missing for over two weeks, we knew we had to try — even though feline searches are among the toughest.
Joining the search was none other than Scout, a Staffy with a remarkable story of her own. Found as a stray at just 12 months old and in a terrible state, Scout’s future once looked uncertain. But since then, she’s not only found her forever home, she’s discovered an incredible natural talent for scent trailing. Now, under the guidance of her proud handler Marilyn, cofounder of The Canine School of Trailing, Scout is preparing for her Expert Level assessment with us — and proving every day why she’s a rising star.
Scout when she was picked up as a stray vs now
Cat searches are never easy. Unlike dogs, cats are incredibly agile — scaling fences, walls, and squeezing into the smallest of hideouts. Add to that the fact that Ripley had been missing for over two weeks and the scent trail was extremely faint. But that didn’t deter Scout. She picked up a trail and remarkably, led the team to the same location three separate times, giving a clear indication of Ripley’s direction of travel.
While Ripley wasn’t found during this search, it was far from a loss. Thanks to Scout’s hard work, Ripley’s owner had a specific area to focus on.
Scout on the trail with handler Marilyn Gilchrist
This is often how searches unfold — especially when cats are involved. Sometimes, the most important outcome is gathering enough information to move forward, step by step, until the lost pet is safely reunited with their family.
And we are thrilled to say Ripley was reunited with his loving owner. After another four weeks had passed Ripley was found further on from the direction Scout had indicated – if only walls, houses, a river and a railway track hadn’t got in her way! Ripley was a bit underweight and bedraggled but nothing some good meals and lots of love won’t fix – which we know he’ll be getting lots of!
Ripley the Cat
We couldn’t be prouder of Scout, who continues to show that with love, patience and the right training, even the unlikeliest beginnings can lead to incredible futures.
Scout with handler Marilyn Gilchrist