Raven - Reunited 2/24/25

Anakin's Trails
Feb 24
3 min read

✔️✔️ WE GOT RAVEN! ✔️✔️

Seven Months of Survival Ends with a Safe Capture

It was exactly seven months to the day that Raven, a Dutch Shepherd, slipped away from her pet sitter and vanished. Her owner never stopped searching, but this strong, athletic dog was locked in Lost Dog Syndrome, running from everyone—including the very person who loved her most.

For six and a half months, she evaded capture, outmaneuvered well-meaning rescuers, and found ways to survive on her own. But one determined woman, Alyssa, refused to give up. With the help of a few dedicated friends, they were determined to bring Raven home.

That’s when Anakin’s Trails stepped in.

Setting the Stage for Rescue

When Beth and I arrived in Gastonia, NC, Alyssa had already completed the most important first step—establishing a reliable feeding station.

👏 That’s the golden rule of trapping. Before we even consider setting a trap, the dog must feel safe enough to return to the same spot consistently for food.

Because Alyssa had done an incredible job ensuring Raven had a reliable feeding routine, we kept our promise and made the trip.

Upon arriving, we met Alyssa and her three friends, explaining trap operation, the dos and don’ts, and what to expect. Everyone was on board and ready for the mission!

With the trap camouflaged and baited with enticing food, we had high hopes that Raven would return that night.

She did return…

…but she sprinted right past the trap like it was never there.

Adapting the Plan: The Leapfrog Method

A video recording confirmed what we feared—Raven was too skittish to enter the trap.

That meant one thing: we needed to adjust our approach.

🏆 Enter the "Leapfrog" method. 🏆

We removed the food from the trap and instead placed it just outside in a safe and visible area. The goal? Condition Raven to approach the trap without fear.

But for eight long days, she didn’t return.

Why?

Because someone else was feeding her.

Community Cooperation Saves Lives

Through flyers and community outreach, we identified a well-meaning person who had been feeding Raven during the trapping process.

🚨 This is one of the biggest challenges we face in lost pet recovery. 🚨

Feeding a stray dog without coordination with trappers can actually prolong their time on the streets. The more food sources they have, the less likely they are to rely on the controlled food stations that will lead them into safety.

With education, the neighbor understood the importance of stopping the handouts, and within a day, Raven returned to the feeding station.

This time, we upped the ante.

🍗 STEAMING HOT FRIED CHICKEN. 🍗

Because after seven months on the run, we knew she needed something she couldn’t resist.

The Longest Night

Alyssa and her team committed to pulling late-night stakeouts at the trap.

💤 Night One: Raven entered the trap completely… but didn’t trigger it.💤

Night Two: She approached cautiously, but one new element spooked her—Alyssa’s car. That slight difference was enough for her instincts to say "Something isn’t right"—and she bolted.

It was exhausting.

At 3:30 AM, after another near miss, we were all feeling the weight of the situation. Raven was smart. Too smart.

We knew we had one last shot.

By this point, she hadn’t eaten in over a day.

We had her routine.We had her scent trail.We had her hunger on our side.

Now, we just needed patience.