Boomer - Reunited 2/6/26

What started as a quick trip to Petco for a grooming appointment quickly turned into every pet parent’s nightmare.

Boomer slipped away from a family member and took off running. People tried to chase him on foot and in cars, but that only scared him more. Boomer ran into a tight-knit Simpsonville neighborhood, and from that moment on, the community became a huge part of his journey home.

Simpsonville has a long history of helping lost dogs. When Anakin once ran through this town for over a month, residents reported sightings every single day. That same spirit showed up again for Boomer.

Anakin’s Trails team member April took the intake form and created a recovery report. What we needed most were sightings. Boomer was being seen often in the Waterton neighborhood, which gave us a good starting point.

April met the family near the last sighting and coached them on what to do and what not to do while Boomer was in “lost dog mode.” Since he had been spotted so frequently in one area, we decided to place a baited food station nearby.

Team member Beth placed the food station close to a creek where Boomer had easy access.

For two days, nothing showed up on the camera. On the third day, Boomer finally found the food. That told us he was staying close and would likely return.

We moved quickly.

While Beth picked up a humane trap, Sharon and another team member set it near the creek and carefully camouflaged it. No shortcuts. No rushing. Just doing it the right way.

Less than 15 minutes after the trap was set, Boomer was seen casually walking through a nearby yard toward the area.

Then came the waiting.

Minutes felt like hours.

Finally, Boomer’s sweet brown eyes appeared on the camera as he stepped into the trap.

Boomer was caught safely.

No more running along the creek at night. No more hiding. Boomer is going home.

At Anakin’s Trails, we are not a rescue. We are a stray and pet recovery organization that helps animals be located, trapped, or recovered so pets can be reunited with their families and strays can find a new forever home.

Boomer’s story is a powerful reminder of what can happen when families, communities, and experienced recovery teams work together.

Welcome home, Boomer. ❤️🐾