Doreen Metcalf holds her dog, Uhdelle who was stolen and then later died after being hit by a car earlier this week. Submitted photo
Uhdelle, a five-year-old German Shepherd owned by dog trainer Doreen Metcalf of Timber Ridge Farm near the Buxton border of Saco, went missing on Monday morning while out for a walk with Metcalf, according to a press release from the Saco Police Department. She was struck and killed Monday evening about 30 miles away in Gray, according to police.
While it wasn’t unusual for Uhdelle to wander off, she always remained close to home and wore a tracking collar, said police.
According to information from the tracking collar, Uhdelle was taken from the area in a car, said police.
Metcalf posted on the farm’s Facebook page that it’s believed the person who kidnapped Uhdelle removed the tracking collar, tried to destroy it, and threw it in the Saco River, as that is what mapping information from the tracking device indicates.
Police departments from Saco and Buxton are working closely together to track the dog’s movements and collect data on who may be responsible for her disappearance, said police.
“We can’t articulate how devastated we are at Timber Ridge,” wrote Metcalf. “We thank everyone for their help and understanding as we piece together Uhdelle’s tragic last day.”
Metcalf described the dog as “one of our sweetest and friendliest girls, who only wanted us to throw her a ball and give her hugs.”
Police are asking people to contact them, if they think they saw Uhdelle, an all black, fully grown shepherd, transported in a car anytime during the day on Monday, particularly in the Buxton-Gorham-Scarborough area and north to Gray.
Saco police can be reached at 284-4535, and Buxton police can be reached at 929-5151.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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