Luzerne County Pet Recovery Services

This morning we trapped Oakley missing from Mountain Top since October 27. She was just adopted on October 22 and slipped out of her harness on October 27. This poor girl had a rough life and was brought up from Mississippi. She was never properly socialized and is very fearful.

On the 22nd, I received a message from her owner asking for advice on what to do and not do to locate her. The next morning, I received a phone call from a wonderful family asking if we found the missing dog, Rocky, in Mountain Top. I said yes, thankfully we captured him last week and he was safe at home. I then asked if the caller saw a stray dog. He said yes, we thought it was Rocky. Immediately, I knew it was Oakley and not Rocky.
I called Oakley’s mom and told her we have a sighting call. I had mom go over to the area immediately with her other dog Coe that Oakley really likes and had her quietly walk around. Unfortunately, no sign of Oakley as she took off before the owner got there.

My gut was telling me Oakley was going to need to be trapped. So, I immediately went up and started knocking on doors and speaking to everyone on 4 surrounding streets. Several of the homeowners saw Oakley on Wednesday and/or on Thursday. I gave all the homeowners my number to call me with any sightings and specific instructions to ignore her, not approach and pretend you don’t see her. Oakley was dangerously close to 81 and we couldn’t risk her going onto 81 like Rocky did last week.

Oakley ended up getting scared by several riding lawn mowers and leaf blowers throughout the neighborhood on Thursday. But, thankfully no one went after her and listened to me. Oakley just kept ducking into the woods throughout the neighborhood or found a yard to hide in until the next loud noise startled her and she moved again. She was on every street in that neighborhood and at almost all the houses. Her home is approximately one mile away from where she ended up.

Sometimes we intentionally don’t post dogs we are working on because they are terrified and involve a targeted effort that we need to keep quiet to save them as quickly as possible. Thankfully ALL of the neighbors we spoke to cooperated and not a single person yelled to her or approached her after I spoke with them and called me if they spotted her. I’m extremely thankful for the wonderful neighborhood in the area of the Ice House Pub, specifically 1st, 2nd, and 3rd streets. I wish all neighborhoods were like that one.

A special thank you to the family on 2nd street where we trapped Oakley. A wonderful family that called in the sighting, allowed us to trap on their property, helped carry the trap and even let us use a room in their home to safely get Oakley out of the trap in a secured area.

Their neighbors right behind them have to be the sweetest people I have ever met on a dog search. A senior couple that gave me total, anytime access to their property now and if I ever need to help an animal in the future. Come and go as I please, no questions asked. ?

And last but certainly not least, I need to thank two of my friends for all their help yesterday and today. These two ladies are phenomenal people and I’m blessed to call them friends. ? There are only 4 people I trust to truly help me with recovering pets and these 2 ladies are 2 of them.

Donna thank you for making the 50-minute drive yesterday to help me knock on doors and find Oakley. We were on the same exact page with this dog. It’s always great to have another person that I fully trust that knows lost dog behavior on a rescue with me. Francine two dogs in two weeks, we have to stop meeting like this. ? Thank you very much for coming last night to help set up the trap and this morning for getting there very quickly when Oakley went in the trap this morning. It was a huge sigh of relief knowing you were there keeping Oakley safe while I was frantically driving to get there. And thank you to Michael for being such a Trooper these last 2 weeks. Such a wonderful young man!!

After we got Oakley out of the trap, I followed his mom home to make sure that Oakley got safely back into the house. I can’t stress enough how important double leashing is with a skittish and/or newly adopted dog. It literally can be a difference between life and death for a fearful dog.

Below is Oakley’s capture video for those that always want to see the video. ? I instantly fell in ? with her the second I met her. Truth be told, I ? all of them even before I meet them.

Also below is our donation link, we have spent a significant amount of money out of our own pockets for lost dog recovery recently. Any donation is sincerely appreciated as it helps us to help save more lives. Thank you in advance for your support. ?

www.luzernecountypetrecoveryservices.com/donate

We got Cookie missing since 08/07/21 from Plains/Jenkins Township!! She went in the trap this morning and ate, but didn’t set it off. I immediately went up and located her and had her dad come up with her fur brother Buddy to use him as a magnet dog.

I kept my eyes on her until dad arrived, Cookie was watching me the whole time I refreshed the trapped. I sat on a curb across the street as she watched me to not spook her. She was comfortable with me being there and even laid down to watch me.

Dad arrived and did awesome following my instructions and Cookie let him scoop her right up. She definitely smelled her brother Buddy. Great job dad and Buddy, you both did awesome!!

She is really dirty, filled with pickers and likely ticks. Cookie will be getting a tubby, seeing her vet, and relaxing with her loving family.

Welcome, home Cookie!! Such a tiny, little girl less than 4 pounds and ridiculously cute. you Cookie and Buddy.

Another long, exhausting sleepless night this week. We trapped Kiba missing from Clarks Summit/Ransom since 06/15/21 around 1 AM. This was the second time trapping her as we trapped her at the end of May. It’s always more difficult to trap a dog the second time especially a very skittish, smart dog.

Due to an unfortunate living situation, Kiba could no longer stay where she was temporarily living. She is safely tucked in at my house to decompress and overcome her intense fear. Kiba is painfully thin from being lost and will need a lot of TLC and medical care. She is going to take every opportunity to escape because of her past. It’s okay Kiba, we get it and will help you work through all your fears girl. We you Kiba you are safe, that I promise you.

It’s been a long, hot, exhausting day. But, worth it to see this boy safe!! He has been running for a minimum of 3 weeks and was originally with a second dog. He covered a ton of ground Dorrance, Nuangola, Mountain Top, Newport, and beyond.

We trapped him in Dorrance, no collar will be scanned for a microchip after he has a chance to decompress for the night. He is also loaded with ticks that need to be removed. ?

We went up to work him today and spotted him running down the middle of a very dangerous road. Got him off the road, but he insisted on continuing to cross the dangerous road. Nearly gave me a heart attack right next to 81.
We saw him run-up in a yard. We quickly got permission to set a camera and food station within minutes. As we were setting the food station, he came up behind us smelling the food. Didn’t even get the SD card in the camera and we had to get out of there. We walked away and he immediately went for the food and water and demolished everything. This poor guy was starving. ?

We then asked the homeowner if we can set a trap, less than 5 minutes after I asked to just set a food station….? ? The homeowner was fantastic and allowed us to do it, no questions asked.

As we were setting the trap, he took off down the road again. But, ducked into somewhere safe. We let him alone knowing he would circle back for food. We ran to get something to eat and as we literally just got out food, he showed up at the trap.

Denise and I can NEVER have a meal together as the dogs ALWAYS show up as soon as we leave to get food, every single time. ?

We quickly drove back to the trap after he went in and took him in the homeowner’s garage to get him out of the trap. Jeff met us at the homeowner’s house so we could load the dog in his car. He was extremely scared of the leash, getting in the car, and tried to get away. With lots of patience, time and some trickery Jeff got him in the car and I ran and shut the door.

Thank you to Alex for allowing us to invade your property and the nice neighbor with the RV that called me (Sorry I didn’t catch your name.) A million thank you’s to my fantastic friend Denise and my wonderful hubby Jeff for your help today. ? both of you.

Special thanks to our friends at the Luzerne County SPCA for taking this dog into their shelter. I’m extremely grateful for their help.

There is still one more dog out there, if anyone sees the dog please call me asap 570-760-9043. We firmly believe they are from the same home, but split up after being chased many times.

Please share and we also ask if you are able to make a donation to help cover all our out-of-pocket expenses to recover these dogs. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Capture video below, he was VERY scared when the door closed. But, at the end of the video, he was happily eating the rest of the food.

He wasn’t injured, but we will be thoroughly inspecting our trap for damage. Poor guy, but a few moments of being scared certainly beats getting hit and killed by a car on the roads he was running.

We named him Timber, because every dog needs a name and he was sleeping behind trees that were timbered and it means STRONG. ? you Timber. ?

www.luzernecountypetrecoveryservices.com/donate