Happy Endings & Reunifications

Delafield to Hartland, WI      

Over the 6.5 weeks, our team and Leo's family spent countless hours meeting new neighbors, building new friendships, and connecting with people throughout Lake Country. Along the way, we were met with an incredible amount of encouragement, kindness, and support.

On November 5th, all that hard work finally paid off!

We received the call we had all been waiting for. Leo had been spotted at ABC Supply, hanging out along the fence, curled up in a little ball and watching the workers.

A plan quickly came together, and by the time our first volunteers arrived, we discovered that Leo was more than ready to be hand-caught. Amber, a worker at ABC, had gained Leo's trust and with a few pets, some treats, a little bit of patience... the slip lead was on!

And now, after 44 days, Leo is home! 

We truly cannot thank everyone enough who played a part in bringing Leo home, but we especially want to recognize our volunteers, particularly our Waukesha County Team: Jennifer, David, Melanie, Teena, Candy, Dillon, and Stephanie.

They've put in countless hours moving road signs, distributing flyers, talking with neighbors, following up on sightings, making phone calls to businesses, and doing all the little things that often go unseen. Their determination never wavered, and they continued showing up because they believed Leo was coming home.

Meuqon, WI      

On October 23rd, after spending some time meandering around the trap and keeping all of us biting our fingernails in suspense, Bertie finally walked right in and triggered the door behind him! And just like that, the waiting, watching, and worrying turned into one very happy reunion. 

So many hours have gone into this search over the last several days. From getting flyers out into the community to putting up signs and working together to bring Bertie home, this was truly a team effort. A huge thank-you to our volunteers Danielle, Jennifer, David, Melanie, Teena, Candy, and our amazing high school volunteers for all the time and effort they put into helping Bertie get home safely. 

And to the community — thank you! Every flyer shared, every sign noticed, and every person willing to help makes a difference. An extra-special thank-you to the individual who generously allowed us to set up a monitored trap on their property. Having a safe, strategic location to work from is so important in lost pet recovery, and we are incredibly grateful for that opportunity.

Janesville to Town of Harmony, WI      

Two weeks on the run, and a community that refused to stop caring. Sadie is finally off the streets! This morning, we were able to safely trap her, marking the 13th stray dog Journey Home Animal Control has trapped this year. We couldn’t be happier that Sadie’s time fending for herself has come to an end.

But getting Sadie to safety took more than just a trap. It took a community that cared enough to speak up, stay involved, and help us bring her home to safety.

We’re especially grateful to Kara and Garrett, who first spotted Sadie and became so invested in seeing her get off the streets, and the entire Huber family, who welcomed us onto their property to set a trap and played an instrumental role in the final days of the search. So many people wanted to see Sadie safe, and we’re thankful for every single one of them.

Sadie traveled five miles north from where Kara initially spotted her. Her journey is another reminder of just how far stray dogs can travel when they feel pressured and why community awareness matters so much. Through door-to-door outreach, we met so many animal lovers who were willing to help, watch for her, and report what they saw. You never know which sighting or conversation will be the piece that finally brings a dog to safety.

One little thing we want to share: Sadie is the name we gave her. With no known owner, we wanted her to have a name of her own rather than simply being referred to as “the stray.” Every animal is an individual, deserving of recognition and compassion. And now, she has a name to go with her story.

Genesee, WI

Emmy, a 13-year-old Irish Doodle, went missing from her home in Genesee, prompting a quick response from her family.

Our volunteer Jennifer and Jeremy from Antler Recon met up with Emmy’s family to offer guidance, share advice, and help them put the right things in place to encourage Emmy to return home safely.

With a senior girl like Emmy, sometimes the key is simply setting the stage for a safe return home. Her family had all the right things in place: a scent station, the familiar sound of a food bag being shaken, and the house ready for her return, with lights on and the garage, windows, and doors open so she could come inside.

And guess what? Emmy came right back for the food!

Sometimes, giving a lost dog the opportunity to return home on their own, without pressure, is exactly what they need.

Nashotah, WI

One of our volunteers’ neighbors had their dog, Dessa, attacked while out on a walk. Unfortunately, she took off running in terror after the attack. But there was another reason finding her quickly was especially important: she had recently had four puppies and needed to get back to them. 

She ran back toward the dog park from the neighborhood street, where the grass was several feet high. For a little Dachshund, that made searching especially challenging!

Our team quickly rallied, thought outside the box, and came up with a plan that involved using one of her puppies to help bring Mom back to safety. No surprise, this worried mama came right over to make sure her puppy was okay, leading to a safe capture. 

We’re so glad Dessa made it back safely to her family and puppies!

Lake Mills, WI     

Five-month-old Riley, an Australian Shepherd mix, took off running from his new family Sunday morning. Despite all the family's efforts, Riley was too spooked and ran away each time they tried to approach him.

The rescue Riley had been adopted from just a week earlier, Brown Paws Pet Rescue, reached out to us that evening to let us know Riley was missing and that his owner might be contacting us for help. Within minutes, his owner was calling, and we had a trapping plan in the works!

We contacted the drone operators we work with most often, and Jeremy from Antler Recon was available to come out and fly. We all coordinated a meeting point and planned to assess the situation together.

After locating Riley near the house using the drone, we carefully positioned a trap and cameras nearby to encourage him to stay in the area and investigate. From there, Riley began showing interest in going into the trap and even venturing into the garage through an open side door.

We watched his behavior closely and, after a few hours, decided it was time to try a different approach.

His owner carefully made her way down the entire length of the long driveway, hugging the house to keep a low profile. She had to pause multiple times when Riley caught her scent or heard her nearby. Every movement had to be deliberate, and patience was everything.

Then came the moment we'd been waiting for! Riley finally went back inside the house, and his owner was close enough to make her move. We had her run the rest of the way and shut the door behind her. 

At 1 a.m. Sunday night into Monday morning, Riley's adventure finally came to an end. After hours of strategizing, adapting, and carefully watching his behavior, we could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

A HUGE thank-you to Dillon, Jennifer Jonuska, and David for all the hard work during Sunday's mission. That last half was definitely a nail-biter! You each brought your own unique talents and skillsets to the field, and Riley is home because of your dedication, teamwork, and willingness to adapt as the situation unfolded.

Delavan, WI

 After nearly 5 days of no sightings, Charli has been found and is back home! She was found roughly a quarter mile away from home trying to sneak some cat food from someone feeding outside cats. 

With her tiny size (3lbs!), it was easy to quickly scoop her up and return her back to her owner!

Beloit, WI

 When a post was made regarding a stray husky that looked extremely matted and underweight, we sprung into action. 

Thankfully, after a few hours and with the help of a very kind younger couple, we were able to find her. 

From the pair of homeless individuals she was hanging out with, we learned that she had been wandering around since June or July. They had been doing their best to feed her, to provide care when they could afford it, and ultimately made sure she was as safe as possible. But they recognized they weren't in a position to care for a dog, and she needed some additional TLC. 

She had some of the worst fleas we've seen all year. As sweet as she was, petting her was like touching sandpaper from how much flea dirt she had on her, and she was very matted on her rear end and tail.

They were sad to see her leave, but they readily agreed to allow us to take her and start some needed veterinary care. We assured them that she would be spoiled rotten and she would find a very good permanent residence to stay at, with a full yard and breed experience.

Lyons, WI

To everyone’s shock, a stray who we had been trying to locate since October 2025 and had seemingly fallen off the map in January 2026 suddenly popped back up in the exact same area we lost sight of him. So we sprang into action. and we started trying to figure out where Lionel had been all this time and how we could safely get him contained.

Through all of this, one member of the community, Abey, went above and beyond. Not only did she allow us access to her property, but she immediately jumped in to help. She knocked on doors with us, replenished food, helped trap a stray cat who kept helping himself to said food, and even welcomed us into her home while we waited for the trap to close. 

And while knocking on doors, we met so many incredibly friendly neighbors. But we also learned something that broke our hearts a little. People had been seeing Lionel this entire time. They just assumed he was a neighbor’s dog who was allowed to roam. Others didn’t know who to call. And some simply brushed it off because, well… he was a stray.

Eleven months.

Lionel survived on his own for 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑠.

But on Friday evening, his story finally changed. After 11 long months of surviving on the streets, Lionel was finally trapped.

And he didn’t panic. He didn’t bark. He didn’t growl. He didn’t fight. He simply laid down. He was obviously nervous, but more than anything, he seemed exhausted.

Now  Lionel finally gets to learn what it means to be loved.

West Bend, WI   

After 34 very, very long days, Diesel has been safely trapped and is back in the arms of his incredibly dedicated owner.

There were moments when even we were starting to lose hope. Then Kevin and Michelle called....their trail camera took video of Diesel walking around. 

That sighting renewed something in all of us — a whole new wave of energy, determination, and hope. Knowing how Diesel would move every 2-3 days, our volunteers Danielle and Alicia knew this was the moment we've been waiting for. Along with the help of Kevin and Michelle's UTV, they were able to strategically place the trap in what ended up being the perfect location.

And this morning, it worked!

We are incredibly grateful for the community that continued to support Diesel and his family throughout these last 34 days. Every sighting, share, conversation, and person who kept looking mattered.

We also want to give an enormous thank you to Jeremy from Antler Recon, who came all the way up to West Bend and flew multiple times to help us search for Diesel. Your time, expertise, and willingness to help meant so much to us.

And to Danielle and Alicia — thank you for sticking with this case. It was a difficult one with how often, and how far, he moved. Your dedication to bring Diesel home is inspiring and none of this would've been possible without you.

Colgate, WI

Her 6-day adventure has officially come to a safe end, and we couldn’t be happier to see her back where she belongs!

Our volunteer Danielle interrupted Linda's nap time in the middle of a field to bring her safely in. 

Apparently, Linda had decided it was time for a little rest after her big adventure. This senior was 3.5 miles away from home!

A huge thank-you to Richfield Veterinary Clinic for their help along the way, and to everyone who kept an eye out for Linda. Every set of eyes and every bit of help makes a difference!

Watertown, WI

We are incredibly grateful for the quick thinking of the kids who helped bring her home. Their family dog was already outside when Luna approached him. The kids heard the barking, looked outside, and immediately recognized Luna as the missing dog. They were able to convince Luna to come to them, and the teenager's quick thinking helped get her safely contained. 

Luna’s story is also such a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together. Our volunteers put countless hours into this search — going door-to-door, talking with neighbors, putting up road signs, spreading the word, following up on leads, and making sure Luna’s face was seen throughout the area.

And today, we get to see why that work matters. When Luna finally approached that family, the kids recognized her because they had seen her information. The flyers, conversations, and road signs helped turn a missing dog into a dog people knew to look for. That community awareness ultimately helped Luna get home.

New Berlin, WI

We took on Nash’s case on August 30th after his owner reached out asking for help. From there, we started piecing together sightings and trying to understand just how much ground he had covered. 

Over the course of the 19 days he was missing, Nash traveled at least 20 miles, crossing through four municipalities — New Berlin, Brookfield, Elm Grove, and very briefly, Wauwatosa. He was moving sporadically and sometimes traveling miles at a time. It was also common to go 24–48 hours without a single reported sighting. People, although well-intentioned, kept chasing him, which made it nearly impossible for him to settle down in one area. The entire time we were on Nash’s case, he never stayed in one spot for more than 36 hours.

That made trapping extremely difficult. We had a very narrow window to pinpoint where he was, get permission to set a trap, and actually get the trap in place. When you can go a day or two without a sighting and then suddenly get one, it becomes crucial to act quickly — but strategically. We couldn’t afford to waste time, but we also couldn’t rush in and risk pushing Nash another several miles away.

Our lucky break came Tuesday, September 8th. A sighting was called in within 10 minutes of Nash being seen crossing Bluemound. Volunteers were notified, plans shifted, we reached out to a drone operator, and we were off to the races. 

Then, after no movement at the trap all afternoon, Jeremy from Antler Recon agreed to put the drone up. Within 15 minutes, around 9:15pm, he found Nash, roughly a quarter mile away from where the trap was sitting. Knowing rain was coming, considering the possible escape routes Nash could take, and knowing how quickly he could move, we recognized that we had to take advantage of knowing exactly where he was. After discussing the plan at length beforehand, two of us quietly moved the trap near him. We got within about 250 feet. No noise. No panic. We set up the trap...and tip-toed our way back to our vehicles to wait.

Around 11:30 PM, Nash showed up. But it ended up being the most agonizing half hour ever. Instead of putting all our hearts at ease right away, he decided to circle the trap again and again and again. He knew something was there. He knew there was food. And he decided to meander on off. Based on our experience though, we knew if we stayed patient, there was a very good chance he would come back.

And he did.

At 1:10 AM, he showed back up at the trap and was determined to get the food that was waiting for him. Within a minute of showing up, the trap went off and we started celebrating that Nash was finally going to go home!

Pewaukee, WI

The terrain was rough — fallen trees, fences, wet grass, and obstacles everywhere. But Padme’s owner (who is 7 months pregnant!) and our Waukesha lead volunteer, Jennifer, kept pushing forward. They worked their way through the difficult areas, stayed focused, and refused to stop until they found her.

And above them, Sky Guardian Rescue and Antler Recon were our eyes in the sky, helping us see the bigger picture and giving the team information we simply couldn’t get from the ground.

This is what it looks like when everyone is working toward the same goal. The owner on the ground. Volunteers putting in the miles. Eyes in the sky. Communication between everyone. Each person doing their part and trusting the team.

No single person could have done all of this alone. But together? Every piece fell into place exactly when it needed to. 

And now, Padme is home! There is nothing better than seeing all that hard work, exhaustion, mud, wet grass, and determination end with a dog safely back where she belongs. 

Pewaukee to Menomonee Falls, WI

 For nearly 1.5 weeks, we had no confirmed sightings. No clear direction. No idea where he had gone or how far he had traveled.  Then, it happened.

We received a call and text message from a truck driver who thought he had seen a dog matching Gordon’s description about 20 miles away from Pewaukee. A few minutes after, the driver sent us an image from a dashcam. And suddenly, after days of uncertainty, we had something we desperately needed: a new lead.

From there, things began to unfold. We started putting the pieces together and discovered the areas where the dog, now named Gordon, was being seen most frequently. Road signs went up. Cameras were placed. Feeding stations were established.

The businesses in the area were nothing short of incredible. They were kind, accommodating, and willing to work with us every step of the way — allowing us to use their properties for cameras, food stations, and ultimately, the trap.

After weeks of searching, waiting, watching, adjusting, and following Gordon’s every move, everything came to a tipping point last night.

We all held our breath as we watched the camera, waiting as Gordon circled the trap. He was so close. We knew he was there. We knew the plan was in place. But after everything it had taken to get to this moment, there's always the "what if's" and uncertainty that comes with it. Finally, after 2 minutes, Gordon walked into the trap without hesitation.

At 10:30 PM on August 30th, we officially had him!

Mequon, WI

After 4 days, countless miles, swimming in Lac Du Cours, and even swimming across the Milwaukee River — all while dragging a leash — Esther is safe!

Esther went missing in Mequon, but today she ended up in Germantown, where the individuals at Diamante Stables realized their dogs had brought home a newbie: Esther.

Using their knowledge of animal behavior, they recognized that Esther was nervous and gave her the time and space she needed. They went at her pace, slowly building trust until they were finally able to secure a grip on her leash and bring her inside.

And just like that, Esther’s journey came to a safe and very happy conclusion. 

Roscoe, IL

Benny has already been through more than most dogs ever should. His story started in Texas, where he lived on his own for who knows how long before he was finally trapped in January of this year. From there, he made his way to the amazing Brown Paws Dog Rescue, where he was fostered and eventually adopted. He spent two months living the good life with his family before suddenly taking off running again.

With his previous history, we were ready to trap Benny as soon as he settled down in an area. The tricky part? Street-smart dogs are incredibly aware of their surroundings, and Benny proved to be no exception. We knew he was out there somewhere, but without knowing where he was spending his time, there wasn't much we could safely do besides keep watching, sharing, and waiting for that next sighting.

Then, today, Benny finally popped up in a fenced-in area—and everything came together quickly. His owner and previous foster mom responded immediately, and both did exactly what they needed to do. No chasing, no rushing, no trying to grab him. They worked with Benny on his terms and it ended up in a safe (and very happy) recovery.

Whitewater, WI

Loki went missing from downtown Whitewater at the very beginning of July. His family and the community shared posts, kept an eye out, and watched for him, but Loki was nowhere to be found. It was also a particularly chaotic time to disappear, with fireworks, the carnival in town, and all the activity that comes with it.

Yesterday, we received a message from someone who isn't on social media. She told us about a black-and-white cat with a dark blue collar who had been hanging around her house for about three weeks. While we were talking, she looked online and found Loki's photo. She was fairly certain it was him, but couldn't say for sure. Unfortunately, every time she tried convincing the cat to come to her or even just acknowledged his presence, he took off running.

With her permission, we set up a camera and a trap yesterday afternoon, hoping we'd have a chance to catch him before the storm rolled through. Of course, not even 10 minutes later… the storm arrived. 

Once the rain slowed to a drizzle, we headed back out to change the food in the trap. And there he was! Loki was sitting in the driveway, and there was absolutely no mistaking him. We watched where he went and, as soon as he was out of sight, quickly repositioned the trap to give ourselves the best chance of success.

Eventually, at 12:30 a.m., Loki made the decision we had been waiting for. After 50 days missing, Loki was finally safe—and nearly a mile from where he disappeared.

Lisbon, WI

On Friday, August 7th, our Operation Lead Danielle brought Stash home after 40 days missing! 

Stash had only been home with her family for about a week when she escaped through a window screen on June 28th in Lisbon. Her feline housemate was recovered, but Stash remained missing. She was spotted twice returning to the house on Ring camera, but wouldn't go into the traps her family had set. Sky Guardian Rescue also came out early in the search to fly their thermal drone.

From there, road signs went up, posts were shared, cameras were placed, and traps were set. A neighbor even stepped in to help monitor cameras and traps, while community members began calling in sporadic sightings.

Eventually, Stash started showing up at a nearby church. The church was incredibly kind and allowed Danielle to set up cameras and traps on the property. 

Stash was incredibly elusive, and there weren't enough sightings to establish a clear routine. But Danielle tapped into her cat-tracking brain, strategically repositioned the traps and cameras, and on August 7th, it finally paid off. 

It takes a lot to bring a lost pet home, and 40 days of searching, strategizing, and refusing to give up is a level of determination that deserves to be recognized! 

Janesville, WI

After 5 days with no sightings, Sam finally popped up this morning — roughly half a mile north of home! 

Thanks to Kaitlyn (Sam’s owner), Sam & Sawyer (foster family from the shelter), and the help of a generous property owner (who also shared her own experience of losing a dog), we were able to set up a humane live trap this evening.

While talking with neighbors to make them aware of Sam and our efforts, the very first neighbor we spoke with told us she had just seen him in her backyard! Since we were already planning on having a drone fly tonight, we quickly contacted Mike from Aerial Inspection Team to let him know we had Sam in our sights. Thankfully he was just turning into the neighborhood, and as soon as he arrived, the thermal drone went up.

While Mike was our eyes in the sky, we attempted to lure Sam toward his foster dad but unfortunately, Sam was too spooked and bolted. At this point, we had the foster return back to where we were, and we watched on drone as Sam returned to the area once he sensed it was safe again. Based on his reaction, we knew the best thing we could do was give him space and hope he found his way to the trap.

And then… HE DID! 

To our absolute delight, Sam was safely trapped within just 2 hours of setting the trap!

Delavan, WI

One of our rescue contacts in Illinois reached out after a recently adopted dog, Oreo, slipped out the front door and found himself lost in completely unfamiliar territory (Delavan).

For 3½ days, both of our teams worked to figure out where he was staying. They had a humane trap set up, and we were getting ready to add more cameras to narrow down the best plan to safely bring him home. But sometimes, these dogs have other plans.

On July 29th, as we were driving the area looking for the perfect camera location, there was Oreo...just casually walking down the road right in front of us!

Thankfully, it was a very quiet road. We carefully pulled over and spent the next 40 minutes doing exactly what scared dogs need: moving slowly, speaking softly, sitting on the ground, and gently tossing pieces of beef bologna his way. The entire time we were analyzing his body language and behavior, ready to back off if Oreo showed us our approach was too much. 

Little by little, the distance between us got smaller...

Until we were finally able to grab his leash! 

Once we had him safely secured, we realized just how much his little adventure had taken a toll. He had somehow managed to find every burr bush imaginable. The owner agreed to allow us to groom him, and get him as comfortable as possible before heading back home.

Muskego, WI

 We are incredibly thrilled to announce that after 12 days of perseverance, patience, and so many people refusing to give up, Beckett from Muskego is home! 

We have to commend Beckett's owners for their unwavering dedication throughout this entire process. They never gave up on him. They trusted the process, listened to guidance, and showed an incredible amount of patience as we worked to understand Beckett's behavior and figure out the safest way to bring him home. We know how difficult these 12 days have been, and their commitment to Beckett never wavered. He is one very loved dog. 

We also have to give a huge thank you to Greg, who generously gave us permission to use his backyard throughout this process. He was so incredibly kind, welcoming, and supportive, allowing us the space and access we needed to set up cameras and work toward getting Beckett home. We are so grateful for people like Greg who open their doors and their hearts to help a family they may not even know.

This was a true team effort. It took 12 days, an incredible amount of patience, and a whole lot of people who cared enough to keep going.

But tonight, Beckett is home where he belongs. And that is the only ending we ever wanted.

Whitewater, WI

Max wasn't far from home when a Good Samaritan found him in the road and reached out to us. Because he was nearby, we were able to respond immediately.

When we arrived, Max was wearing an old, worn leather collar with no tags. Unfortunately when we scanned him for a microchip, there wasn't one.

At that point, we had to figure out the best next step to get him home. Knowing the resources available to us, we decided to take Max to the police station. 

As luck would have it, we arrived just as his owner was calling the non-emergency number to report him missing!

Max was quickly reunited with his family and we were so happy to see him go home! 

Elkhorn, WI

Daisy was found on July 19th when she joined in on bringing another stray dog home! It turned out she belonged to the neighbors, and at some point that morning had broken her leash and wandered over. Maybe she wanted to investigate all the excitement... but we're pretty sure she just smelled the rotisserie chicken. 

In the end, two dogs, one rotisserie chicken, and two very happy reunions. And that's exactly how we like our stories to end!

Elkhorn, WI

Skeeter had been so terrified by the fireworks the night before that she managed to push out the window air conditioner unit and escaped. The next morning, we started getting phone calls about a stray dog that was hanging out at someone's farm. It turned out to be Skeeter! In her panic, she ended up running about a mile away from home, and was still too unsure and frightened to go up to anyone.

We talked with the owner about trying to let Skeeter come to her favorite person naturally. If that didn't work, we were ready to continue with the trapping plan.

𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭.

As we all walked back toward the house... there was another unknown dog standing there! 

While we were trying to figure out who this incredibly friendly dog belonged to, we suddenly spotted Skeeter standing safely in the garage. Her owner did everything exactly right, and Skeeter was absolutely thrilled to be reunited.

The second dog? Her name was Daisy, and she belonged to the neighbors. 

In the end, two dogs, one rotisserie chicken, and two very happy reunions. And that's exactly how we like our stories to end.

Waukesha, WI

At 4:55 a.m. this morning, Louis finally walked into the humane live trap, bringing his 9-day journey to a safe end. After days of uncertainty, countless hours of planning, and an incredible amount of patience, this sweet boy is finally back where he belongs—with the person who loves him most.

Over the course of nine days, more than 70 sightings were reported as Louis covered a surprising amount of ground. His AirTag helped provide general locations, but it was the community's reports that allowed us to piece together his travel patterns. 

Once we understood where he was spending his time, we shifted from searching to patiently waiting. We strategically placed a humane live trap, monitored it around the clock, and trusted the process. 

Mequon, WI

Murphy is home after a 3-day excursion! 

Murphy wandered into a neighbor's garage just a few feet away from where the owner's scent items had been laid out. The neighbor happened to look outside at just the right moment and spotted Murphy walking into the garage, allowing him to quickly notify Murphy's family and ultimately allowing Murphy to be safely reunited with his family! 

We are incredibly grateful for our Journey Home partners in the area. As soon as Alicia, Kay, and Danielle heard Murphy was missing, immediately stepped up to help. They jumped in without hesitation, offering their time, experience, and support during what was an incredibly stressful time for Murphy’s family. Their willingness to show up, help make a plan, and be there through the process is exactly what makes this community so special.

A huge thank you as well to Jeremy with Antler Recon in East Troy, who made the trip to Mequon to fly his thermal drone. We truly appreciate his dedication and willingness to help. We'd also like to thank the Mequon Police Department for deploying their thermal drone on Murphy's very first night missing in an effort to locate him.

Cambridge, WI

Poseidon slipped away on the Fourth of July after the massive fireworks display frightened him. Like so many lost dogs, he found an area to settle in, and surprisingly it wasn't that far from home. Whether he wasn't sure how to get back or understood the danger of crossing Highway 12, he stayed put.

As soon as we realized he was being seen consistently in the same area, we got a humane live trap and camera set up. Then came the waiting.

He checked out the trap around midnight... and walked away.

He came back again around 1:00 a.m... and walked away.

Finally, at 3:00 a.m., Poseidon walked into the trap, laid down, and made the decision we'd all been hoping for. It was time to go home.

It's moments like this that make every sleepless night, every late-night drive, and every early morning alarm completely worth it. 

Menomonee Falls, WI

Winnie went missing on July 2nd from Menomonee Falls. After a single sighting in Lannon, she seemed to completely disappear. 

Then, to our absolute surprise and excitement, Winnie was spotted on July 13th near a quarry...11 days after she was last spotted! Our volunteer Danielle immediately went into action mode — gathering supplies, contacting Judy, and heading straight to the location.

When they arrived, a kind gentleman showed them exactly where he had seen Winnie earlier that morning. As they were scouting the area and deciding where a humane trap could be safely placed, Danielle caught a glimpse of Winnie peeking her head out from the rocks where she had been hiding.

Instead of rushing her, Judy sat quietly on the ground, turned slightly to the side, and simply waited. For over two hours in the brutal heat, Winnie watched from a distance, slowly building the courage to come closer.

Danielle eventually started setting up the trap, and—of course—that was the exact moment Winnie decided to come back out. 

Together, Judy and Danielle patiently offered treats, letting Winnie make every decision. She got close enough to eat from their hands, and Danielle even almost slipped a lead over her head, but Winnie wasn't quite ready. A few more trips back into the rocks, a little more patience, and then the moment everyone had been hoping for...  Winnie walked over, laid down next to her mom, and quietly let Judy take hold of her collar. A slip lead went on, and just like that, she was safe.

Valentine, NE

 While our Director was visiting family at the end of June 2026, an extremely friendly dog was running around saying hi to neighbors. With it being a small neighborhood, and no one recognizing this sweet girl, our Director held onto her, made some phones, and posted on the local community page.

Thankfully within a few hours, someone recognized her and contacted the owner! She was a few miles away from home and had been missing since fireworks went off the night before.

Clinton, WI

 Matthew came up from a southern state and was spooked shortly before being adopted. Fortunately, he stayed close to the area after getting loose. After 24 hours of multiple attempts to encourage Matthew to come to the person he was most familiar with, the rescue reached out to us to see if we could assist with live trapping him.

Before we began, Jeremy from Antler Recon came out with his thermal drone to help search the area and provide additional eyes from above. Having aerial thermal support can be incredibly valuable, especially when tracking a frightened dog that may be hiding in cover or moving unpredictably.

Once we arrived and got everything set up, Matthew suddenly appeared along the roadside and slowly began making his way toward us. Recognizing that our presence could make him nervous, we quietly backed away and gave him the space he needed to feel comfortable approaching. Within minutes, Matthew walked up to the trap and was safely contained.

Sometimes the simplest recoveries still require patience, teamwork, and the right tools. We're grateful for the collaboration between the rescue, our team, and Jeremy's thermal drone support that helped bring Matthew safely home!

Whitewater, WI

Four dumped puppies on Engel Road in the Town of Whitewater were brought to safety by multiple members of the community on June 8th, 2026.

While the act of dumping vulnerable animals leaves us angry and heartbroken, we have to celebrate the teamwork it took to ensure these four puppies remained safe. An individual who knew of us immediately called us for help and our director was out the door to help out. 

That night, everyone received much needed baths and flea medications. Per the municipality contract, we took them to Lakeland Animal Shelter the next day.

Update 8/01: Everyone is adopted! Even more special, our Director fell in love with one and adopted him. Blackberry is a permanent member of the Journey Home team now! 

Menomonee Falls, WI

On May 31st, French Fry squirmed her way out of an individual's hold and took off running. Our volunteer Danielle immediately responded to help French Fry's owner out, and we set up multiple road signs in the area to help notify members of the community. After working with the park staff to receive permission to set up a humane live trap, French Fry decided to surprise us! 

On the morning of June 3rd the dog park gates at Menomonee Park were briefly open due to a fawn that had been inside the area. In that small window, French Fry slipped in unnoticed. She made her way right back to her familiar corner where she likes to watch the squirrels, and that’s exactly where she was spotted by a passerby who was able to call the owner. 

From there, it was a swift reunion!  

Menomonee Falls, WI

On May 17th, Eleven took off running and disappeared into a marsh area about 1.5 miles southwest of her home. Despite spending days talking to community members, posting her photo on social media, and notifying businesses, there was no sightings reported. 

Then, Leonard from Thermal Drone SAR had the opportunity to drive up to Menomonee Falls and fly. A few hours in, he found her! Next came the tricky part. Eleven was deep into the marsh, and it was 11pm at night. Once we realized she was not stuck and was still able to move, we made the decision to come back during the day when we had light on our side. 

The next day Leonard's drone found her nearly in the same spot as the night before. Using his drone as a way to navigate, El's owner and our director began making their way to her. After walking a quarter of a mile in, it became clear that the deep mud and water was slowing everyone down, including Eleven. Once close enough, our Director was able to grab ahold of her and Eleven was able to be reunited with her owner!

1 Dog, 70+ Miles, 6 Counties

Marv's story started off in Beloit, WI towards the end of February. From there, he made his way to Clinton, which is when we were made aware of a stray dog roaming around the I43 on-ramp. We worked quickly to set up a humane-live trap only for Marv to get spooked by something and travel 17 miles east, all the way into Elkhorn. From there...nothing. 2 weeks of not knowing where he was. To our shock, he showed up in Racine! We worked quickly to get road signs out only for him to once again disappear. Weeks passed and we were beginning to feel discouraged until someone made a post about a dog hanging out by the WM Landfill in Franklin, WI. Turns out, it was Marv! 

We worked quickly to touch base with the staff at the landfill, and found out he had been patrolling the landfill for 2 weeks. He certainly felt at home! A trap went up, and by morning, we were able to safely live trap him. Marv turned out to be just the sweetest dog ever and he is currently up for adoption!

Whitewater, WI

While visiting family in the beginning of April, this spunky young dog decided to take off on an adventure of a lifetime. This case was especially challenging in multiple ways and we will be putting something together on our blog to discuss this lost dog case in depth!

Thankfully after 6 days of running all over the City of Whitewater, Tank was safely live trapped at 9:45pm on April 13th and quickly reunited with his owner. This was truly an amazing team effort that included everyone - from local businesses, UW-Whitewater students, and community members.

Waukesha, WI

To everyone's shock, Bitsy jumped out of the car during busy rush hour and took off running!

The next day, a community member saw Bitsy and did everything right. She stayed calm and remained a safe distance away while she waited for our team members to respond. With help of the community member and airport security, our volunteer was able to safely hand-catch Bitsy. 

This is what it takes: teamwork, communication, and good old-fashioned coordinated effort!

Caledonia, WI

After having a seizure, Daisy became confused and took off running on March 30th, 2026. Her family immediately stepped up and began doing everything right to bring their Daisy back home. At one point, after heavy rain, the owner even walked through 2.5ft of freezing cold water to get to the area Daisy was hanging out in. An attempt was made to lure Daisy back to the owner and a familiar dog, but Daisy was too nervous and not falling for any tricks. 

With the help of Leonard from Thermal Drone SAR, we were able to get eyes on her and come up with a plan. We strategically placed two humane live traps based on where she was staying and the wind direction. A few hours later, she went into the trap! 

Turtle & Beloit, WI

 After days of talking to people and hearing how the closest anyone could get was still 200–300 yards away, this little sweetie decided to throw everyone a curveball!

On March 27th, she walked right up to a group of kids playing and had the best time with them. We are incredibly grateful for the quick thinking and kindness of Ashley and her kids, who were able to safely contain her and help bring this case to a close.

We went to pick her up ourselves—still in shock that she approached someone so willingly after days of avoidance—and brought her to the HSSW where she’ll be extra spoiled and cared for.
 

Rome, WI

The community's concerns were heard after this stray yellow lab was seen multiple times walking in the road on March 23rd, 2026. She was acting nervous and wouldn't go up to anyone that attempted to hand-catch her.

After spending all day knocking on doors, and talking to the Game Warden, a plan was put into action. A nearby house was all-in when he came to setting up a trap, even offering to help monitor if needed. Then, to everyone's surprise, that evening she decided to go up to that individual and was safely contained in a pole barn. She was initially taken to Humane Society of Jefferson County but after a few days they transferred her to another shelter, and she was ultimately behaviorally euthanized due to unprovoked aggression concerns.

Burlington, WI

A happy adoption takes a turn when Nala gets scared at a veterinary clinic and takes off running. After an extensive drone search with Leonard from Thermal Drone SAR and Jeremy from JR's Drone Services, Nala was seen just on the edge of the nearby lake. A water rescue was attempted, but it turned out that Nala was not stuck and took off running. Traps and cameras were then strategically set up, and then came the hard part...waiting. 

Much to our surprise, Nala decided after 3 days to go up to a group of kids, whose smart-thinking allowed her to be safely caught and reunited!

Town of Beloit, WI

A concerned citizen reached out to us on March 8th after seeing a stray dog repeatedly show up on their property. From there, a plan was quickly set into motion. The trap and trail cameras went up within 2 hours, and it became a waiting game. Just 5 hours after the trap was set, we caught the dog! 

Many thanks to the community member for recognizing something wasn't right and to HSSW for taking him in after hours. As always, JHAC follows contracts already in place which thankfully meant this stray dog had a place to hang out after he was caught. As of this time, Scooby is currently up for adoption at HSSW. 

Oconomowoc, WI

Carmelo took off from home with his brother in tow, however when the brother came back and Carmelo didn't, we realized there was a need for help. There was a larger marsh area directly to the south and there was concern that he may have been pushed in there. By push, we refer to outside influences that cause a dog to move away from 

Within minutes of Jon from Sky Guardian coming out to fly, Carmelo was located - in the marsh! From there, our volunteer went out with the owner and we were able to direct them to where Carmelo was. Everyone's help led to a safe recovery!

Mequon, WI

Named Chauncey by the community member, our volunteers jumped into action on February 26th when we received word of a stray Heeler that was consistently seen hanging out by a landscape business in Mequon. With no matching reports and not wanting to waste any more time, we headed out. Thankfully, just a few hours later and after the Heeler gained some courage to enter the trap, we caught her! Mequon PD was fantastic to work with, and she was taken to Ozaukee Humane Society. We were recently informed in May 2026 that Chauncey found her forever home!

Journey Home assisted the community member with live-trapping. 

Richmond, WI

On February 18th, 2026 an individual recognized that this German-Shorthaired Pointer was not a neighborhood dog and reached out to us. Within minutes of us getting there and setting up the trap, this sweetie was hungry and immediately went in while we were standing about 30ft away. 

Then, as we were moving her, a truck pulled over - it was her owner! We found out that she had caught whiff of something and took off running the night before. She had ended up nearly 5 miles away from home. It was truly a happy ending!

Journey Home assisted the community member with live-trapping and getting this sweetheart home.

Oconomowoc, WI

Blush got scared and took off running from her new adopter on February 15th, 2026. Given the time of year, the lake was frozen over and she was able to cross over, going roughly 2 miles south. At one point we were able to see her on the ice, but a passerby who was unaware of what was happening spooked Blush, driving her away from the owner and one of our volunteers. Then, after an all-hands-on-deck effort, the trainer who's worked with Blush for years was able to come down from Sun Prairie, WI and safely hand catch Blush on February 17th, 2026. 

Journey Home worked with the Police Departments, the Fire Department, and Leonard from Thermal Drone SAR to help locate her and bring her home.

Hartland, WI

Rosie took off running on January 7th, 2026 after being taken to a friends house. After tracking her patterns and setting up food stations, Rosie was able to be successfully trapped on January 17th, 2026.

Journey Home worked with two thermal drone operators, Tony from Sky Guardian Rescue and Leonard from Thermal Drone SAR Services, to safely bring Rosie home! Both thermal drone teams flew for nearly 9 hours on the 17th and it helped determine where to set the trap for our best chance of success. 

Beloit, WI

Chimera ran out the door in early November 2025 and despite multiple attempts from the family, she kept running away from them. Over the course of several weeks, Chimera traveled multiple times between South Beloit, Illinois and Beloit, Wisconsin. 

Towards the beginning of December, Chimera's owner reached out to Journey Home for assistance in trapping her dog. At this point, there was a lot of community investment in the safety of Chimera and getting her back home, so sightings were regular and we began to establish a pattern for how Chimera was travelling. 

Then, on December 19th, 2025, at 3am Chimera was seen less than 0.1 miles away from our trap by a police officer. At that point, Chimera decided to just walk right up to her and be safely contained, thus ending her outside adventure. 

*Journey Home assisted with talking to individuals, setting up a feeding station, setting up a trap and trail cameras, etc. 

Whitewater, WI

Maggie was spooked while out on a walk on November 28th, 2025 and took off running from her family. Of course, this was also right before a major snow storm! Two thermal drones were sent up in the area - one by Jon at Sky Guardian Rescue and one by the Whitewater Police Department - but unfortunately she wasn't seen. 

After the snow started, it wasn't a big surprise that there were no sightings, as she was likely hunkered down somewhere safe to wait out the storm. 

Then, on November 30th, 2025, at 3am she was spotted nearly 1.5 miles southeast of where she got out. From then on, numerous sightings and a quick response from the owner led to Maggie thankfully being safely caught by Highway 12 (3.5 miles away from where she ran from).

*Journey Home assisted with talking to individuals, and having a trap and trail camera ready to go if it was needed

Lake Geneva, WI

Coco's family was visiting Lake Geneva when the door to their Airbnb didn't latch! Coco took off and was spotted multiple times within a half mile radius. After handing out flyers, posting all over social media, working with a thermal drone operator from Sky Guardian Rescue, and spending time canvassing the area, the owner's had to call it for the night. 

Thankfully the next day Coco was seen curled up on a nearby porch and the owner was able to get her! 

*Journey Home assisted with handing out flyers and setting up a camera by the Airbnb in case Coco circled back home. We also had a trap ready to go if it was needed!

Rockford, IL

Jack Frost "Frosty" was seen free-roaming in a Rockford, Illinois neighborhood from October to November 2025. After seeing multiple posts from worried community members, JHAC director Rachael reached out to a contact in Illinois to see what was going on and if more could be done. Because there was a known owner, it was going to be up to the owner to decide to surrender or not. 

Thankfully, after he was spotted yet again before a cold snap and in even worse condition, the owner made the decision to surrender him. We recognize this was not an easy decision for her, as she has had Frosty since he was a kitten, but we are incredibly grateful she was willing to do so. Our director was reached out to and JHAC immediately agreed to assist! 

After multiple baths, Frosty looked like a distinguished gentleman again! Given his age (15 years old) and several medical concerns, he will be welcomed into a quiet WI household with a few other senior pets to comfortably live out the rest of his life. 

Whitewater, WI

Trapped in record time — just 5 hours— on November 4th, 2025! This scared girl had been using the railroad tracks as her highway, traveling miles at a time. When she finally made it into the middle of Whitewater, we were able to get quick permission to set a trap on a property right next to the tracks. As night fell, we parked nearby and watched quietly, hoping she’d stay in the area. The moment she caught the scent of food, she walked straight into the trap without a second thought.

We know she’d been roaming for at least a week, but after finally seeing her up close in the light, it’s very likely she’d been out much longer. 

We are incredibly grateful to the staff at Lakeland Animal Shelter for taking care of her and working on getting her healthy! She was adopted out to a loving family in December 2025

Beloit, WI

This wandering girl started being seen in June 2025. After a few months and realizing no one was stepping up to the plate, JHAC committed to helping bring this dog to safety. With the help of the community, and a new volunteer, JHAC successfully trapped her within 30 hours on September 30th, 2025.

Per municipality contract, and with the help of a CSO, she was transported to Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin (HSSW). She has since been adopted into an amazing, loving home!

Eagle, WI

This little guy was first reported in the area along Highway 67, between Pieper Road and ZZ, on August 23rd, 2025. After it became obvious he was staying in the area, a small trapping team was put together and the work began. 

By some miracle, two days after we received permission to set up a trap in the Kettle Moraine Forest, the Game Warden found him at an abandoned campsite and was able to safely contain him on September 21st, 2025. 

Adopted out through Humane Animal Welfare Association (HAWS - Waukesha)

Palmyra, WI

Batman was safely trapped on June 23rd, 2025! Originally, Batman got out in South Milwaukee towards the start of May 2025. Over time, Batman travelled from South Milwaukee to Palmyra. Once he was starting to be seen in Palmyra, JHAC was contacted to help trap him.  After a week, Batman was convinced to go into the trap and he was finally brought to safety.

Whitewater, WI

Robbie was safely trapped on May 12th, 2025 after being outside for nearly a month and a half. He had slipped out the door on March 28th, 2025 and proceeded to be difficult to catch in a normal trap. For a month he was desensitized to the drop trap and when he became more comfortable eating under it, he was caught!

JHAC assisted the owners and worked alongside someone from the rescue Robbie was adopted from to get him back home

Elkhorn, WI

Barbie was safely live trapped on April 10th, 2025. This was a wonderful team effort with Billy's Posse (based in Racine County) who did a majority of the work as we had our trap currently in use. The distance from where Barbie got out to where she was trapped was just a little under 3 miles.

JHAC responded to help lift the trap and get Barbie back into the owner's vehicle after being caught, but was otherwise just on stand-by if more assistance was needed.

Turtle, WI

Magnolia (rescue name) was safely live trapped on March 30th, 2025. She had been wandering around South Creek Road for several days, and after the neighbors started talking, they quickly realized she was a stray. With storms on the way, JHAC met up with neighboring houses and came up with a game plan to bring Magnolia to safety.  In just a few days, Magnolia was caught!

Adopted out through Albert's Dog Lounge!

*JHAC assisted with trail cameras and trapping

Eagle, WI

Teddy went missing on March 4th, 2025. With the help of observant community members and a drone operator, the owner was able to find Teddy in just a few days! Measuring the distance between all the sightings, and understanding that he likely retraced his steps/walked in circles trying to find his way back home, Teddy traveled anywhere between 5-10 miles. He stayed relatively close to where he got out, but that is still quite the distance for a 10lb Pomeranian!

*JHAC assisted with trail cameras, and having a trap ready to go if he stayed in one area long enough

Whitewater, WI

Nayla went missing in May of 2021. On February 4th, 2025 she was trapped at a feral cat caretaker's house and scanned for a microchip. She was chipped and it was discovered she had been missing for years! She was trapped less than half a mile away from where she got out and had never been trapped or taken in by anyone during that time.

*JHAC trapped her,  scanned for a chip, and helped reuniting her!

Fort Atkinson/Whitewater, WI

Burger went missing in November 2024 by someone who assumed she was abandoned. That person wasn't on social media and took her home. A few months later, at the end of January 2025, they needed to surrender Burger due to moving. The connection was made a week later and Burger went home! Burger was not microchipped at the time she went missing, but she's microchipped now to prevent issues like this again. 

*JHAC recognized and reunited her!

Rockdale to Cambridge to Lake Mills, WI

Romeo ran away from his home on January 10th, 2025 and sparked a community to join together and reunite him with his owner. After using 18 days of tracking sightings, using drones, knocking on doors, handing out fliers, etc, Romeo was safely captured by his owner and brought back home!

*JHAC assisted with setting up a trap and trail camera in areas he was spotted multiple times

Darien/Allen's Grove, WI

Baby was a new foster dog and she slipped away when going outside to the bathroom. From January 6th, 2025 to January 11th, 2025 there were no sightings and then all of a sudden she popped up nearly 5 miles away. The foster family rushed over and was able to convince her that it was okay, leading to a safe capture!

*JHAC assisted with trail cameras and was ready to go with a trap once there was a sighting

Whitewater, WI

Buffy got away from the pet sitter during a winter storm on January 19th, 2024. After no sightings for 5 days, Buffy appeared right down the road from where she went missing. Soaking wet from the rain, a lovely couple stopped their car and Buffy hopped right in!

*JHAC assisted with handing out fliers, talking to businesses, meeting up with the owner several times, and helping look her over for any potential injuries after she was finally found.