After a week of seeing posts for sightings of a large, skinny cane corso/ great dane looking dog, a concerned resident, Casey Roerden, took matters into her own hands. She reached out to the local authorities and scoured social media. There were no reports or posts of someone missing a dog fitting this description. She then reached out to BDRR and asked for help.
Posters were hung and we posted all over the various lost pet pages, still no one came forward.
This dog was terrified and running great distances, at times covering over 6 miles within just a few hours. Each day her loop was getting bigger and bigger. She travelled from Warwick, to Greenwood Lake, running along dangerous route 17, route 94, the Appalachian trail, Waywayanda, various apple orchards, the Shoprite and beyond heading towards Vernon, NJ.
The community rallied and called in sightings to us, at all hours. She was mostly active in the middle of the night, desperately searching for food, she was starving. She visited many chicken coops to scrounge for any scraps. Our biggest fear remained the ever present packs of coyotes, it is currently coyote mating season. If they weren’t on my cameras, I would hear their chorus serenading me every night from my truck. I had to be very careful where I was setting up feeding stations, so as not to lure her to her demise. She was extremely smart and I believe the coyotes are in part why she kept moving so far and so fast.
This past Tues, she finally found one of my feeding stations and she ate every morsel. A trap was immediately set in the hopes that she would come back the following night, but it took five days for her to return. I spent five nights sleeping in my truck fending off critters at the trap and waiting for her arrival. I think I met the entire Warwick Police Dept who came and blinded me with their spotlights every night, so on a side note… Warwick residents, feel safe, they are patrolling your areas very well!! LOL.
This morning at 7:19am she waltzed right up to the trap and went right in for her breakfast without an ounce of hesitation, thats how hungry she was.
Thank you to the amazing community of Warwick, NY, everyone who called in sightings, shared home video surveillance and gave me access to their properties, Danny from Ball Rd, Maskers Orchards, Stephanie on Iron Forge. A huge thank you to the Fitzsimmons family who allowed me access to their property all week to finally bring her to safety. Casey Roerden, thank you for stepping up to be the voice for this frightened girl and getting BDRR on board to find her and bring her to safety. Suzyn Baron from the Humane Society for taking my call early this morning and meeting me at the trap to load her up and bring her to the shelter.
Such an incredible community effort, and outpouring of love and concern…. this would not have been possible without all of you!!
She is very thin, trembling in fear and looks as though she has recently had puppies. She is now safe and sound at Warwick Valley Humane Society FB Page, thawing out in a warm bed and getting much needed sleep and TLC. You’re safe now sweetheart!!
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The family had a drone company out early in the morning and he was located approximately a quarter mile straight shot through the woods from where he escaped. Thankfully, he was staying put in an area and hunkering down. After several attempts to catch were unsuccessful, the family reached out to me and I immediately made the hour and a half drive out.
These woods not only had predators but also illegal animal traps that were discovered, it was very dangerous for Hunter to be out there. Time was of the essence to bring this little guy to safety.
Once the trap was set Hunter came back and circled the trap for hours at one point going halfway in, a step or two shy from the trip plate of the trap. Once darkness fell, He would disappear for hours and I would watch as he made his loop back through the woods, popping back out on to the road and make his way back to muddy woods and the trap. Each time he resurfaced, he would use his lookout log to make sure the coast was clear. Such a smart boy.
I knew that once it got dark he would feel less vulnerable to make his way all the way into the trap to safety… and that’s exactly what he did at 9:18pm. I made the call to his family and they rushed right out to meet me.
Hunter is back home safe and sound with his wonderful new family.
Hunter is now outfitted with a new martingale collar, slip lead, harness and a GPS tracker on order.
Welcome HOME Hunter!!
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November 7, 2023 was the first sighting of this little stray. She was running seven towns…Irvington, Newark, East Orange, Orange, South Orange and Maplewood. She navigated extremely dangerously city streets, often times almost being hit.
Kelly Conover, Marcia Sandford and I worked around the clock for months tracking her travel patterns, setting up feeding stations and traps and connecting with the community who embraced and supported us and our efforts with open arms.
We were faced with so many obstacles in a densely populated urban area. Back in December as I was setting a trap, I turned around and she was standing in the middle of the street watching me, I quickly moved away hoping we would get her. She circled the trap but got spooked off by a man who would not allow us to be in his empty parking lot.
The amount of feral cat colonies were a blessing and a curse. She had countless areas to eat and our goal was to connect with the cat feeders and figure out just where she was eating. Upon chance, while I was sitting in my truck watching a trap, a cat feeder known to the community as “Mama Meow” knocked on my window because she saw a trap in the back of my truck. She was concerned that I was trapping her cats. As soon as I told her I was working on catching a dog, she said follow me. She graciously brought me to each of her feeding areas. We got permission to set up cameras but she would never step foot down a driveway. She was so smart, she stuck to sidewalks and streets knowing she couldn’t be caught or cornered, a true street dog.
She began showing at a different colony on the next street over and once again we set up. She was inconsistent with her days and times that she would appear. Snowstorms, rain storms also delayed us but we persevered. Yesterday, she was a no show and today I almost didn’t go due to a migraine but something told me I had to go. I said I would stay till three and then pack it in. At 2:58 while I was on the phone with Kelly planning out our schedules for the weekend of replenishing feeding stations and trapping, I look up and no joke the dog is literally running down the street beelining it coming straight towards the trap. I ducked down in my truck and held my phone up to video and watch her and BOOM she finally went in to safety with the trap door slamming shut behind her. I called Kelly “WE GOT HER” and cried happy tears!!!
We are so thankful to everyone who called in sightings, all 150 plus of them. The residents of the Irvington neighborhood who allowed three crazy women access to all that was needed to bring her to safety. After she was trapped, residents of one of the apartment buildings across the street were cheering out the windows and coming out to hug me. The amount of love and support this crazy little dog with huge ears received from so many strangers was overwhelming and restored our faith in humanity. We had hoped to capture her for Christmas and had named her Dasher.
Dasher is now safe and sound while we secure rescue for her. She is not microchipped and is still very frightened but also very relieved to be snuggled up in a warm bed for the first time in months.
NEVER GIVE UP, we never did!
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He is on his way the Edison shelter. Thank you BDRR team member Dawn for your dedication and coming out in the rain and snow to bring him to safety.
A huge thank you to Kathy Sherry for reaching out to us last night and all who posted to get him help.
Another scared soul is safe and out of the cold tonight!
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Sightings quickly began coming in, she was on the move traveling at first between Blooming Grove and the village of Chester.
Joe Scalia, the animal control officer for the Humane Society of Blooming Grove was working hard to help the owners from day one. When it became evident that this dog was not stopping anytime soon, he reached out to me and asked for help. Together Joe and I worked endlessly around the clock to bring her to safety. Countless sightings were being tracked and her areas of travel were becoming more expansive.
With the sightings we learned that she was traveling the Heritage trail, the power lines, railroad tracks and veering off the trails to take well needed rests on various properties. We finally had Pamilla returning to a property multiple times off the Heritage Trail that feeds feral cats. She would show up, eat a bit and go take a nap up on the high rocky embankments that overlooked the property and then once again she was gone and traveling up to 7 plus miles away each day but always eventually returning to this location.
Through a posting on social media we learned who the original owner/ breeder in Ohio was and immediately reached out. The information and her backstory that we received was vital and helped us better understand her behavior and what we needed to implement to capture her safely. Pamilla was a HUGE escape artist and as her former owner explained, nearly impossible to contain. She would break through windows, doors, rip out chain link fencing and dig huge holes to get under and out of any type of fence, kennel or enclosure. She would escape and travel miles back and forth at her old home. She was not a food motivated dog and would go for days without eating.
We kept posting on social media to please not chase, feed or approach but well intentioned people refused to heed our advice and at times posted that our process was not working and that they felt they needed to chase her down. This resulted in only pushing her further and further away, at times, all the way to Campbell Hall, NY. Tibetan Mastiffs are strong, powerful, dogs and if she felt threatened by being chased or pursued we did not want anyone to get hurt.
With her history, I decided to no longer use the enclosure we had set up for her for fears that she would escape it, I simply wasn’t going to take that chance. I set a massive custom trap that I had fabricated for extremely large powerful dogs, it was bomb proof and I knew Pamilla would not be able to breakout. Joe and I hiked the massive trap down the trail right in what we believed to be her path of travel. We also placed a car blanket that her former owner had sent with their other dogs scent on it.
Several nights of me sleeping in the truck monitoring the cameras and traps were exhausting but necessary with the cats and the wildlife continually showing up. Tracking her travel pattern we knew she would be returning back to the property off the Heritage Trail. With each sighting we saw that she was getting closer, 6 miles out, five miles out, 3 miles out, heading back in the direction we needed her to go. It was just a matter of time and we were confident she would be back and we were there and ready for her when she returned.
Thursday morning at 8:20am, my camera went off and it was Pamilla, waltzing down the trail and checking out the trap. The trap was filled with chicken, steak, hot dogs, you name it, it was in there but as Pamela’s former owner stated, she wasn’t food motivated. She was more interested in the car blanket and I watched her on the camera as she sniffed it intently , fluffed it, played with it and eventually laid on it, howling as if she was calling out to her family that she was taken from. It was heartbreaking to watch. She continued to nap through out the day, getting up stepping in the trap a couple steps then backing out.
We had only until 4 pm when the property owner needed to get to his tractor, which was directly off the trail and would most likely spook her away… again. Time was ticking and our hearts were racing but at 3:40 Pamilla leisurely got up from her nap and decided she was ready to eat. She walked in and took her final step onto that trip plate and BOOM, she was captured, ending her 16 day odyssey through five towns in the Hudson Valley.
Lost dog recovery is a process and there is a lot of work that goes into it, each case and dog has its own story and needs to be handled accordingly. What is going on behind the scenes is not shared on social media for very good reason. A trap is not a magical box that you put out and the dog miraculously finds it and goes right in. People see other dogs on social media trapped but have little to no concept as to what truly goes into getting these dogs safely captured. If you see instructions posted for lost dogs, please heed that advice, respect the process and allow the people who are tirelessly working the cases to do their jobs. What you see on social media is a mere glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes.
Joe Scalia, I am so thankful for you and the countless hours you put into this case. You went above and beyond your job description and not only are you an amazing ACO, colleague and friend, the town of Blooming Grove is lucky to have someone who truly is dedicated to the well being and safety of the animals in their jurisdiction. I am proud to know you my friend… “Appalachian Joe”! lol.
Thank you to all who reported sightings and a huge thank you to Tom and Patricia who allowed us access at all hours night and day to access the trap and even delayed an oil delivery so it wouldn’t spook Pamilla off the property, the day of capture. Many thanks to the Blooming Grove Police Dept and all the residents who allowed cameras and feeding stations along the way.
Pamilla is now back with her new owners after being evaluated at animal control. We truly hope that all necessary precautions will be taken to continue to keep her safe.
*From animal control - “Pamilla was held for days so that there could be much deliberation, education and inspection of the new home the family was moving into before she could be returned. Rescuers are limited to an extent of what they can do in a situation like this. They went above and beyond to ensure that she was going to a safe place including requiring weekly inspections moving forward so please don’t pass judgement so quickly.”
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On the run in Riverdale, NY for at least two weeks. A local resident and friend, Stacey Labiosa contacted me for help.
A feeding station was set up and we quickly had him returning. He would come out of hiding with his nose in the air sniffing to see if his next meal was waiting for him.
Today the trap was set and within a few hours he was circling the trap and went right in.
With shelters and rescues bursting at the seams, it’s so hard to find placement for these stray animals right now. I am so thankful that I have such an amazing tribe of rescue angels that are always willing to be there and walk the walk when I need them and the animals need them the most. Stacey Labiosa for always being a guardian angel for dogs in need in her area. Dawn Reilly, my new volunteer and team member for dropping everything and racing over to set the trap. Audrey Lodato from Best Friends Animal Society for saying don’t worry, I got you and connecting me with Brealynn from New Fairfield/Sherman Animal Welfare Society, who without hesitation stepped up to come pick him up and take him under her rescue if needed. Paul Laycox from the West Milford Animal Shelter Society for always being there for BDRR, opening your doors after hours and being a safe haven to our portly little guy. Because of this amazing team, Pork Chop is safe and snoring away in a warm cozy bed.
He is chipped, however when the registered owners were contacted and they denied ownership.
He will still be held on a legal stray hold and then will be up for adoption through West Milford Animal Shelter.
Happy New Year and here’s to saving many more in 2024!
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I would say that 90% of the cases I work are newly adopted or southern rescue dogs. Typically, these dogs will stay close to, or return to the point of escape, if not chased or pursued.
As I always say, lost dog recovery is counter intuitive to all the things you think should be done when a skittish dog in survival mode goes missing. Most think that more boots on the ground and getting every organization, group, rescue, search party involved is going to be beneficial when in fact it hinders a successful recovery.
It is critical to quiet what I call the “noise” so that the dog will not feel pursued and hunted. Once that noise is eliminated it allows the dog to settle, which then enables the capture process to take place. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, sometimes you have to step back out of your own comfort zone and get out the way to allow the process to take place. Quieting the noise may feel like you are doing nothing when in fact it is the best thing you can do with regard to swiftly bringing these dogs to safety.
Within, thirty minutes of setting my trap, in the rain, Delilah made an appearance. For a few hours she would pop out to make sure the coast was clear and then quickly retreat back into the darkness and up the mountain. I placed her favorite toy turtle near the trap in the hopes that it would provide her comfort and sure enough she snuck out of the tall brush and swiped her turtle. Within a couple hours she was back at the trap and this time her hungry belly got the best of her. She was fast, almost beating a six foot deep trap.
Thank you to the family and the rescue for trusting in me and trusting the process to bring this baby girl to safety. After a day and a half in the pouring rain, she is safe and sound in her new home. She has a new martingale collar and slip lead as all new rescues should have.
Welcome HOME Delilah!
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Thank you to all who reported sightings and the residents who allowed us access to their properties.
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This rescue began when a kind woman named Audrey saw a post on social media about a dog running in Stony Point, NY, for at least three weeks. She stepped up to the plate and sought help for this frightened pup. She walked into the new shelter Four Legs Good NY NJ, who then reached out to me.
The area she was running was a stones throw from the Palisades Parkway, we needed to bring her to safety and fast. She had found a home that was feeding cats and was intermittently returning. We asked others in the area to stop leaving food for her so that only one location would be her go to spot.
Between the cats and the neighbors Halloween display of vocal ghosts and goblins, it was a bit of challenge but once she finally showed, she walked right in the trap to safety.
She is not microchipped and sadly we believe this is another disgusting dumping of an innocent animal, that is happening more and more. This girl is one of the lucky ones.
Thank you to the wonderful family who allowed us to set up on their property. Audrey who stepped up to advocate for this girl. Thanks to a great team effort she is now safe and sound and receiving lots of TLC at Four Legs Good.
Another reminder if you see something, say something. Be their voice.
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Simon had travelled quite a distance via the railroad tracks and to make matters worse, cell service was very spotty for my cameras to work. Thinking outside the box, I used a baby monitor to view the trap and it worked like a charm.
After six days on the run in Middletown, NY, Simon has been safely captured. He will be staying safe and sound with family until his dad is out of the hospital.
Welcome HOME Simon!
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Our wonderful, local aco, Scott Hendricks referred the family to me and I was happy to help. I immediately headed over as they only lived five minutes away from me. A trap was set up along with items of familiar scent, blankets and dirty clothes from their hamper. Cameras were placed throughout the property and doors to a barn/garage were left open.
It can be easy for your mind to take you to negative thoughts and think the worst can happen but I constantly reassured the family that it can take time. Indoor only cats usually will stay close and can hide for long periods of time without coming out. They are resilient, especially a Savannah cat!
After five days of playing hide and seek and probably a hungry belly, he decided to come home. My cameras captured his travel path and the last video was of him, he was headed towards the barn. I called the family and told them, I think he's in the barn and to quietly go out and close the barn doors. Kathleen, Zuri's mom and her son ran out of the house and got all the doors closed. Sure enough, he was inside and hissing at them. Once the moment of recognition hit, he finally allowed Kathleen to scoop him up like a big ole baby.
I am so happy for the Hurta family, you were so wonderful to work with. As a bonus, not only did I get to meet some of my neighbors but now I also get to call them friends.
Welcome HOME Zuri, you were missed!!
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For over month sightings were coming in between Monroe and Chester, NY. She was traveling dangerous route 17, the pipeline and hunkering down under the highway overpass. She was evading capture by many kind souls.
This weekend Warwick Valley Humane Society FB Page contacted me. I headed out this morning and had her safely captured within four hours.
She is gentle but frightened and now in the loving care of Warwick Valley Humane. Thank you to everyone in the community who tried helping this girl. Warwick Valley Humane Society, Sebastian and Kim Aloi, Suburban Propane. A beautiful outpouring of love and concern for our sweet girl that we have named Delilah.
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She was running a heavily traveled road with cars flying by. Many kind people stopped and tried to catch her but she was just so frightened.
I was contacted and headed out and was able to safely capture her in the rain this afternoon.
She is now safe and sound at Goshen Humane Society. She is not chipped and is in need of medical care. If anyone recognizes this girl or knows anything please reach out to Goshen Humane Society, Inc.
Huge thanks to Rachelle Estephan, Laura Gould, Rick from Goshen Humane and the Goshen Police Department.
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Almost five years ago, I captured Paper. He was a trap savvy boy back then so when I received the text that he was on the run again, my heart sank. To make matters worse, he was now in the fight for his life, battling cancer. He had bolted while on his way to the vet, he knew where he was going, and he said hell to the no.
Six days went by with no sightings, Papers family feared the worst. Finally, a possible sighting came in that would would lead to his capture. A dog was spotted on a trail camera used to monitor wildlife, in a remote area. More cameras went up, a feeding station was set, lots of foxes, skunk but no Paper and then four days later… Paper found the feeding station. He was only a half mile from the point of escape.
Paper having been trapped in an enclosure years prior, I had to change things up a bit, different enclosure, different door and our camouflage was on point. After only one night of conditioning, Paper surprised us and went all the way in the first night, after only a slight bit of hesitation.
We made the trek back to Rock Hill, NY and last night we were all set for capture… “tonight is the night” we said. Like clockwork, Paper’s fox friends came to enjoy a nice meal and then finally out of the darkness, our boy showed and within moments he was safely captured, ending his thirteen day adventure.
Welcome Home sweet boy. We love you Paper, you are a fighter my friend and you’re gonna kick cancers a$$!!!
We may not know where he came from but his future will be filled with love!!
He was very frightened at first but as soon as he came out of the trap he knew he was safe. He immediately transformed into a smiley, wiggly, love bug. He just wanted to be in my arms giving me the sweetest sweet boy kisses!!!
Thank you Vyolet Albano who advocated to get help for this frightened boy. My dear friend Becky Mace from Lakota Wolf Preserve who contacted me and connected me with Vyolet. The caring residents of Donald Rd who left food out for him and HUGE thank you to Furry Feet Rescue for opening your doors to him and being his soft place to land.
If you see something say something, because of this community of animal lovers another soul is safe!
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Millie escaped while her parents were away, they cut their vacation short and headed back to NJ today. While they were flying home, I was able to locate Millie. I found the area where she was hunkering down, she even watched me set a trap from a distance.
Upon arrival, the owners met me and I had them calmly walk towards the area. She was still in her hiding spot. Millie’s mom went over to the spot laid down and tossed hot dogs to her, within moments Millie was in her arms!!!
Welcome HOME Millie!!!
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A survivor from a hoarding situation in South Korea, she had only been in her new home for a week when she escaped.
Early efforts to capture Sonya using conventional traps and enclosures had failed. As months passed with Sonya continuing to evade capture, Amy Ray from the Edison shelter reached out to me for help. I drove to Edison to evaluate the area and to determine the best approach to bring her to safety. I felt that at this point, conventional methods would never work for this girl.
The best option I believed would be the collarum. It is a humane ground based capture device used to rapidly throw a cable loop lead over the dog. The dogs will resist the loop just as they would a snappy snare or leash upon capture. There was no question that one moment of resistance compared to the imminent dangers she faced daily was the right choice.
For weeks we conditioned her to come to a particular location, all the while monitoring her behavior and progress. This week we were finally ready to set up for capture.
Early this morning I headed out at 3:30 AM to get to Edison to set up. I met with Amy Ray from the Edison shelter and Tanya and Anna from Sonya’s rescue organization, Sochi Dog. The collarum was set and we waited in our cars from a short distance so that we could be to Sonya by the railroad tracks immediately once captured.
We had an outstanding coordinated group effort …Amy Ray, you were her guardian angel, your compassion and dedication to saving Sonya enabled this rescue to happen. Tanya and Anna from Sochi Dogs, you fought for this dogs life every step of the way. These three women never gave up and I am honored to know them and to have been a part of such a beautiful rescue.
Welcome Home Sonya… you’re safe now!
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Olive had just been placed with a new foster and within thirty minutes she escaped the fenced in yard. Already a very shut down, scared little girl, she was now in unfamiliar territory with a nor’easter on the way.
The rescue contacted me and I immediately headed to Fair Lawn, NJ with a trap. I knew that she would return to the point escape as so many new rescues do, even having only been there for such a short period of time.
Within hours the rain and snow began to come down so heavy at times blinding the cameras. As anticipated Olive showed up, but she was just not interested in the trap or the food and off she went.
She was making a continuous loop along very dangerous roads including the exit ramp and wood line of route 208 and repeatedly crossing Fair Lawn Ave. Each day her loop got a little bigger. For three nights she would return to an area but as quickly as she would appear she would disappear. The heavy winds were terrifying to her and keeping her in constant motion. The wind gusts were knocking over garbage cans all throughout the neighborhood giving her easy access to food.
With Olive being so uneasy with the traps, we attempted to use a fenced in yard to trap her. We sealed off any of the compromised areas and positioned cameras to know when she was far enough in so that I could jump out of my car and get the gate closed without her beating me to escape.
At 3 am I watched as she slinked around the property and slowly but surely made her way in. I dove out of my car and ran and got that gate shut but within seconds, instead of darting away from me, she came at me and literally flew through the air over me and over the gate. Picture a 30 pound dog flying at you 6 feet airborne…think The Matrix with fur!! Thankfully the camera stopped right as a whole bunch of expletives flew out of my mouth!!!
Today Olive decided that after four days on the run and several nights of sleeping in our freezing cold cars, she’d cut us a break. She showed up at a school and began to follow people who were walking their dogs. Distracted by the dogs, they were able to grab her collar and call us.
When we arrived to pick her up she was surrounded by a loving circle of about ten little girls, she was in her glory!
Thank you to the good samaritan who was able to think fast and grab her collar, the little girls that surrounded her with lots of love and kept her safe until we got there. My dear friend Kristen for dropping everything to head over there once I called you. Muddy Paws Rescue NYC who stood by their girl and were out there in full force day and night, right along side me to bring Olive to safety, you guys are the real deal!
I can’t stress enough that even with a fenced in yard, new rescues/ fosters should NEVER be off leash or unattended, they can and will find a way to escape.
Welcome back Olive… we will all sleep well tonight!!
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As a puppy mill survivor, she has not had much human contact and is terrified of everything. It took two months before Lola would even come out of her fosters kitchen. Within two hours of arriving at her new home she bolted with a long leash attached.
Lola quickly crossed dangerous route 17 and was running scared, fueled by people in hot pursuit. Lost dog behavior is so hard for people to understand or wrap their heads around. You can explain till you’re blue in the face but some refuse to trust the process. This resulted in Lola continuously running a span of over 6 miles on the Appalachian trail between New York and New Jersey. She would show up in communities off the AT only to have search parties show up and people flooding the area and searching and chasing her.
There were many wonderful residents who were very open and receptive to allowing us access to their properties and ensuring that Lola felt safe and not pursued.
She was finding many food sources, not only food being left for her but also for other pets and wildlife. We had the arduous task of finding these food sources and curtailing them until we had Lola safe. If she was not hungry she would not be food motivated to progress into the enclosure.
Once we had the entire community on board and understanding the process, her area of travel became smaller and smaller, so much so that we were able to determine exactly where she was bedding down. I watched like clockwork as she would end her daily routine and go curl up in her nesting area, where we put comfy blankets and some toy babies that she loved and played with during the day.
Lola was beginning to know me as the person who was putting food down and I was able to gain her trust for her to approach me close enough to where I was able to grab her leash. Unfortunately, that leash was attached to a harness that she was able to quickly get out of. The good news was she was no longer dragging the leash and in danger of getting stuck in the woods, the bad news, she was still on the run.
Lola was quite trap savvy and leery of any type of enclosure or trap and it was a process of conditioning her to step over the threshold and slowly but surely make baby steps and stretches into the enclosure. Last night she was hungry enough and finally made her way all the way in for the food. This morning the enclosure was set for capture and we were ready for her once she went in.
I can not stress enough the importance of allowing newly adopted dogs time to decompress in their new homes and environment before taking for walks. A properly fitted martingale collar and harness are vital and listening to the instructions of the rescue are essential to set the dog up for a successful transition. Contrary to popular belief dogs get out of harnesses all the time.
Endless gratitude to the community of Continental Road and Briller Road for their cooperation, patience and support through this harrowing two weeks. Amanda and Jessica in West Milford for monitoring feeding stations in case she travelled back. A huge thank you to Marie Kosen for your kindness in allowing us to do what was needed on your property to bring Lola to safety.
My pit crew, Cindy Rinehart from the Lost West Milford Pets page and Rosa Castillo for fielding the calls and monitoring the pages for sightings and passing the info onto me.
Lola is now safe and will be returning to the rescue. Thank you everyone.
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Although I began working with the family at the tail end of Bales journey, it was beautiful to witness the love and devotion that Marcus and his family had towards finding him.
Last night Bales travel pattern became more evident. This morning a sighting came in, he was not far from our feeding station.
Marcus went in the woods quietly and they spotted each other from a distance. Still unsure, Bales stood there watching and listening as Marcus kept talking and saying his name. Finally, like a light switch going off, that moment of recognition clicked and Bales ran right into his dads arms!!!!
Marcus carried his boy out of the woods, into the safety of his car ending a week long nightmare.
The entire community embraced this family with pure love and support. The Chappaqua moms group, you are a whole next level of bad assery and we are so grateful for all your help!!!
Balierion was immediately taken to Guardian Veterinary Specialists where aside from a cut on his paw he received a clean bill of health.
Marcus and Bales are now home thawing out, getting a warm meal and much needed rest.
Thank you everyone for coming together to reunite Marcus and Bales!
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I was on my way to Chappaqua for Balierion when I got the call for help. I immediately contacted my friend Kristin from Tyco Animal Control Services and asked if she could head out and set a trap, I knew Maggie was going to come back to the point escape. Within minutes Kristin was out the door and on her way over.
Sure enough Maggie was making her way back to the Petco parking lot but was spooked by cars that were approaching her and once again she was gone.
The rescue showed up in hopes that they could lure Maggie but she wasn’t having it and it was pushing her further away.
On my way home from Chappaqua, I made a detour to Paramus and met Kristen. I asked the rescue to give us one of the dogs that Maggie was attracted to and then asked them to leave the area.
With Max on a long lead we walked him through the lot and around the trap. Maggie intently watched from a distance. We went back in the car and waited patiently as Maggie circled the trap and finally went into safety.
With lost dogs, removing what I call the “background noise” of people and searches, it allows the dog to calm down. It can be the hardest thing to do “nothing” when in fact calm and quiet is everything in bringing these dogs to safety.
Maggie has some injuries and is now at the vet receiving much needed medical care.
Thank you to Tyco for always being there and collaborating with me on another successful recovery. As they say…teamwork makes the dream work .
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Luna’s mom and dad left her with a family member while they were on their way to Florida. Luna, being so attached to her dad, almost immediately slipped one of her collars and bolted, most likely trying to find him.
Only three months prior, Luna was a stray, and very skittish to begin with. Initially she was staying close, however, well intentioned people chased her which pushed her out of the area and she disappeared. She was running scared!
The next sighting we received was on the railroad tracks which acted as a super highway for her to travel far and fast. Each sighting she’d be three miles from the last.
We started getting sightings in areas that backed up to the tracks and the power lines. One of these sightings was an apartment complex where there were managed feral cat colonies that had a plentiful food supply and I was fairly certain Luna would find it.
Early last night she found the trap and was circling until she was spooked by an approaching car. Distant headlights were enough to make her bolt back into the woods and not return.
We weren’t going to let a little snow hinder her capture. Today, I left the trap set and in the quiet of the falling snow, Luna finally showed and went right in the trap to safety, ending her thirteen day journey.
Welcome HOME Luna!
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I received a heartbreaking message last night asking if I believed if she could have survived and my answer was absolutely YES!
I felt that Bailey was still close by and most likely returning to the property during the night when all was quiet. I walked Gloria through a few steps and setting up a feeding station and woke up to the best text… “We saw her!!! She's alive.”
I loaded up the truck with the trap and my dog, Finn. I was hoping that I could use Finn as a magnet dog to draw her out. Within a short time, I found exactly where she was hunkering down in a neighbors yard. She wasn’t interested in Finn so I knew I had to get the trap in place.
Within about a half hour she circled back to her safe area and was safely captured after four days on the run.
Welcome HOME Bailey!
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Yesterday I was contacted about a stray dog roaming the vast 125 acres of the Malvern Retreat in Malvern, Pa. since Wednesday.
This dog was curled up in a ball, in a flower bed, wet, dirty and shaking. The concerned resident, put warm chicken soup out for her to warm her up and a blanket for her to sleep. She drank it up, rested and then left.
Once I was contacted, I instructed her to leave more food out in the hopes that she would return. Not only did she come back but she slept in the warmth of the blanket for most of the day.
At 9:50 tonight she finally got up from a long rest and made her way right to my trap. Within moments she was in and finally safe.
Once captured, we were beyond thrilled to find a tag on her collar with her name, ELLA and the contact info for her rescue. I immediately contacted the number and after they got over the initial shock, there were lots of happy tears and cries of joy.
Turns out Ella has been missing from Bryn Mawr since January 7th and has travelled over twelve miles from where she went missing. MatchDog Rescue is now reunited with their sweet Ella!!!
What a happy ending!!!
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They are currently at Warren Veterinary Hospital receiving much love and care.
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After two weeks we found that she was hunkering down in the center median and traveling the treacherous embankments and rock cliffs. She would hide in the rocks and the brush and watch as the heavy traffic blew by.
She was injured with a possible broken leg but still able to run if anyone pulled over or attempted to approach. It was heart stopping to see her there and such a helpless feeling. One false move and she could run right into traffic again and we would lose her.
Cameras and feeding stations were set and it was now a waiting game. As darkness fell, she found the food and shortly after, a trap was hiked up the rock cliffs. For hours she’d hobble around and go part way in, back out, then disappear for hours. At 4:34 this morning, my camera went off, she was back and finally went all the way in to safety.
Snow has been reunited with her family is now at the emergency vet. Please send her lots of love, good thoughts and healing energy.
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She was traveling a five mile loop and crossing many dangerous roads, including route 18 in Middlesex County.
Two residents, Kerri Richardson and Anna Irizarry were so dedicated to bringing her to safety and spent endless hours and many sleepless nights keeping track of her whereabouts and setting feeding stations.
Yesterday I arrived to set up a trap at one of our established feeding stations, but this girl had other plans. At 4:30 am this morning, I spotted her in an entirely different location and the trap was moved multiple times.
Finally we discovered a yard that she had hunkered down in and we were able to sneak the trap into the yard.
After a long ten hour nap and a battle royale with a black cat who wanted the chicken in the trap, our sleeping beauty finally awoke with a hungry belly and made her way into the trap, ending the week long adventure.
She is currently being held on a stray hold and we will be checking in on her tomorrow.
Thank you to the entire community for your support and reporting sightings. She is now safe, warm and in loving care.
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Thankfully an amazing neighborhood banded together to keep vigilant with sightings.
This afternoon I was able to bring Rocky to safety in West Milford, NJ. His mom arrived home shortly after to an incredibly emotional reunion.
Thank you to the neighbors and to my dear friend Cindy who runs the Lost West Milford Pets page and does so much to help lost pets in the community.
Welcome HME Rocky!!!
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The elusive stray running Englewood, Tenafly, Demarest, Closter and Alpine, NJ since mid November has been safely captured.
Thank you to everyone who called in and posted sightings. A huge thank you to the amazing Lubliner family for allowing us on your property to do what was needed to bring this girl to safety. As always Rosa from the Bergen County NJ Lost and Found Pets for keeping me updated on all the sightings that were posted.
She is not chipped and is now at the Bergen County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center where she will be held on a stray hold. She is the sweetest girl and was so happy to finally be safe.
Happy New Year!!!
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