Toto - Reunited 1/6/25

✔️✔️ WE GOT TOTO!! ✔️✔️

Toto’s journey is one for the books—a story of persistence, community effort, and a whole lot of creativity. After escaping from his new owner’s arms just moments after arriving home, this scrappy little Shih Tzu led us on a week-long chase that involved liquid smoke, chicken nuggets, and an incredible group of animal lovers who refused to give up.

It all started when Toto, freshly adopted from the humane society, bolted in fear as his new dad tried to carry him inside. He was unfamiliar with his new life, confused and shocked by his surroundings. It became clear that Toto wasn’t used to being a pet—he likely had spent most of his life outside, evidenced by his survival skills and the unfortunate fact that he had heartworm, a common condition in neglected outdoor dogs.

Cam from Pet Pals of Lake Keowee reached out to Anakin’s Trails after Toto had been missing for six days. With sightings coming in from different areas, a plan started to take shape. Cam had already coordinated a feeding station where Toto had eaten two nights in a row. It was a good start, but there was still a long way to go.

We arrived in Seneca, greeted by a yard full of animal-loving volunteers ready to help. The trap went up just as the sun was going down. But, as with many rescues, things didn’t go as planned. Toto appeared in the distance, watching us from a safe spot, but the number of people present spooked him. He took off, never returning to that spot again.

The next day, volunteer Leslie jumped into action, blanketing the lakeside neighborhoods with flyers. Flyers are often the key to success, and this case was no different. After the original trap location proved unfruitful, we decided to move the trap to a quieter area down the road. Volunteers Rachel and Heather joined us as we set it up again, hopeful that Toto would return.

Days passed with no sign of Toto at the trap. Hope started to fade as sightings dried up. But then—BINGO! A sighting came in from a quiet, dead-end road across the main highway. Toto had found comfort and safety there, being fed by a kind family who had no idea he was missing. He was sleeping on their driveway, clearly feeling secure in this new environment.

Leslie, who had been tirelessly watching the camera feed, even pulled an all-nighter to keep an eye out for Toto. When heavy rain started to fall, she drove out alone in the early morning hours to cover the trap with a tarp. That’s dedication.

Despite all efforts, Toto still hadn’t made his way into the trap. So, on Monday morning, I arrived at his safe zone to try a different tactic. My plan was to set a box trap close to where he had been hanging out and lure him in slowly.

Progress finally came when we noticed Toto was consistently eating and hanging around one particular house. I carefully picked a spot to set the second trap and coached Leslie step-by-step on what to do. Leslie followed every instruction perfectly. She gained Toto’s trust by dropping food into the back of the trap while he watched. Slowly but surely, he began to trust the process.

And then came the game-changer: chicken nuggets from McDonald’s. Rachel, one of the volunteers, swung by the trap with a fresh batch of hot nuggets and placed them at the back of the trap before heading inside.

It was too much for Toto to resist.

His little furry face appeared on camera, sniffing around the trap. After a few hesitant sniffs and cautious steps, he finally took the warrior walk down into the trap. The door closed behind him. He was safe.

The last image on the camera was of Toto’s fluffy little butt as he made his way out of the cold and into safety, where he belongs. His new owners were beyond relieved to have him back, and from now on, he’ll be staying put—no more eating with the foxes or wandering the streets.

Welcome home, Toto. You’ve got a family who loves you, and the streets are no place for a sweet Shih Tzu like you. 🐾❤️