Deanie - Reunited 1/26/25

A Battle Against the Elements, A Community That Wouldn’t Give Up

Hurricane Helene left more than just destruction in its wake—it displaced countless animals, forcing them into survival mode. Many wandered aimlessly, their once-secure dens destroyed, left to navigate an unfamiliar and dangerous world. But one thing was clear: these were survivors.

That was the case for Deanie, a small but resilient pup who found herself alone on the streets of Woodruff. With no shelter, no food source, and an overwhelming fear of humans, she did what so many strays do—she ran.

The Start of Deanie’s Journey

Woodruff residents Heather and AJ reached out to Anakin’s Trails after spotting Deanie near a familiar sheltering spot. As soon as I arrived, we set up a box trap, baited it, and waited. She came to investigate, her hunger overpowering her fear… but something spooked her at the last second. She bolted and never returned to that location again.

Our hearts sank. She had nowhere safe to go, and every time she saw a human, she would vanish for an entire day.

Keeping Deanie in the Area

We knew food was the key to keeping her close enough to save. So, we started a new food station at an alternate location, and it worked. She came back multiple times a day—three, four, sometimes five times!

Now, it was time for the Anakin Missy trap. But we knew this would take time. Deanie was too smart, too skittish, and too untrusting to fall for a quick setup. Instead, we had to build it slowly, panel by panel, carefully blending it into the environment so she wouldn’t notice.

Patience, Persistence, and Camouflage

Each day, we added more panels—two at a time—while maintaining her food source just feet away. We watched her reaction carefully—would she notice? Would she get suspicious?

She didn’t. She kept coming back.

With each meal, she grew more comfortable. Joyce even prepared a special food mixture just for her, and soon, Deanie started recognizing the vehicles of those feeding her. She waited for us to leave, then appeared on camera, always hungry and ready to eat.

Finally, on the night of the first snowfall, we saw her huddled in the mulch beneath a tree. It was 15 degrees outside, and she had no protection from the cold. Our hearts shattered. While we were home, warm and safe, she was out there, fighting to survive.

The next morning, we delivered straw to create insulation in her sleeping area. We couldn’t save her that night, but we could at least help her make it through one more.

The Moment Arrives

After days of careful trapping, watching, and waiting, the final panel was placed. It was go time.

That evening, Deanie walked all the way in for the first time! But in a frustrating turn of events, the door didn’t shut properly. A mechanical failure. Our hearts sank again.

Debbie and Tommy to the rescue! They arrived, assessed the issue, and within hours, the trap was fixed, improved, and reinforced—but Deanie was gone for the night.

“The trap is dead… and so am I,” Sharon texted after the long day. We all laughed through our exhaustion—because at the end of the day, we would keep going until Deanie was safe.

Victory in the Snow

With the trap finally ready, the team gathered one last time: Debbie, Tommy, Sharon, and Beth.

That afternoon, Deanie emerged from her hiding spot and cautiously approached the food. She had been through so much—cold nights, hunger, fear—but in the end, her stomach won.

The trap door snapped shut.

And just like that, Deanie was safe.

No More Cold Nights, No More Hunger

The pure joy on the team’s faces said it all—Deanie’s days of struggling were over. She was on her way to Stone Soup Animal Rescue, where she would finally be loved, cared for, and given the life she deserved.

No more sleeping in the snow, Deanie—your journey as a survivor is over, and your life as a beloved companion begins.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in this rescue, from the volunteers who braved the cold to the generous souls who provided food, straw, and supplies.

And finally—a special thanks to the A-Team for surprising my family with Mutts BBQ after I drove 21 hours to Indianapolis and back in two days. It’s moments like these that remind me why we do what we do.

👉 Also… in respect to my husband, even though it was a close one—GO BILLS! 🏈🤣

#AnakinsTrails #FromTheStreetToTheSofa #LostDogRecovery #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork