UPDATED TUESDAY:
Fern has been found.
Handler Lizette Peters picked up the two-year-old black lab last weekend from the home of a South Surrey resident, who had found the dog the evening of March 23 at Johnston Road and Thrift Avenue.
The man had been travelling in a vehicle that hit Fern when she ran across the road, Peters said. A White Rock RCMP officer advised the man to take the dog home, and, upon learning Saturday of Peter's missing dog report, informed the White Rock resident of Fern's whereabouts.
"The whole story wrapped up really well," Peters said, noting Fern appears to be physically unharmed. "She's been running around and hasn't shown she's in any pain in any way.
"She's happy to be home and she's sticking to me like glue."
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A reward is being offered for the return of a two-year-old black lab who disappeared from her White Rock home two days ago.
Fern, a service dog trained in detection work, was last seen in the 1500-block of Thrift Avenue Wednesday night.
The dog's handler, Lizette Peters of United Protection Services, said she put Fern to bed in the garage around 11:30 p.m. and went inside as the automatic garage door was closing. Fifteen minutes later, she noticed the garage door wide open and Fern missing.
"She must've got spooked somehow and we're not quite sure how she got out. We're baffled," Peters said, noting Fern has never run off before. "I don't know what would've caused her to run out."
Peters said Fern has an extraordinarily shiny pure-black coat and a patch of fur on her right hind leg that is slightly shaved down.
She wasn't wearing a collar.
Fern is friendly and "just loves people," Peters noted.
"She's just such a wonderful, loving dog."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Peters at 604-315-8612 or 604-594-0438 or call White Rock RCMP at 778-593-3600.