06/21/2025
We are happy to share the great news … Elle who went missing in Old Bridge has been found and will be reunited with her mom and dad shortly ..
Elle had gotten away from her owner , arriving at a boarding facility last Friday with her leash still attached .. We received the call for help on Tuesday from the owner’s sister Helen . Lauren , one of our volunteers immediately met with the family , they searched the area , spoke to local businesses in the area , hung flyers and began the process of setting up cameras and feeding stations .
On Thursday evening just before the storms began a call would come for a sighting , but due to the fierce intensity of the storms ( downed trees , power lines , ect) in the area, we would have to wait to set up more cameras with feed stations until the next day .
After carefully mapping , cameras were strategically placed to see if we could lure Elle to one of them . Our goal was to get her to one of these locations and implement our next move . This morning Ellie made her appearance on camera , she immediately picked up on the familiar scrent of her owners as well as the food . She stayed walking around for a bit even laying down near the blanket that was left out. You can even see her howling for her family in the picture below . Steve and Jordan , ( son and granddaughter of the owners Annette and Angelo ) headed out to the location with food in hand . Steve and myself stayed on the phone together as he and Jordan were walking up the trail .. I explained to both exactly what needed to be done in order to lure her to them .. Steve then saw Elle but she hadn’t made the connection yet .. he sat on the ground with food , as Jordan sat about 40 ft behind him with food as well . Elle continued to move around the area in a grid like pattern and eventually made her way behind Steven closer to Jordan .. I instructed Jordan step by step , as she quietly and quickly placed food and scent near her without making direct eye contact. Elle was about 75 ft away , and with each step I could hear the excitement in Jordans voice , each time she peaked over Elle had moved a little closer to her .. 75 ft , 25ft , 10 ft , then Jordan whispered to me .. “she’s 5 ft away “ ( with excitement) . We agreed to have her calmly and quietly say her name ..Jordan did this 3 times . The next sound I would hear is Jordan crying “ I have her “.
These are the heartwarming moments that make this all worth it .
The is an example of how important scent articles are in recovery ..
It’s not always necessary to set a trap .
We would like to thank the community for keeping a lookout , sharing posts , helping search .
Thank you to our volunteer Lauren who spoke with businesses , searched the area, set up cameras and feed stations .
and Dianne , who also worked along side us mapping the area .
Thank you to the family for trusting us and the process . Steven and Jordan for your determination and patience .. Jordan’s incredible attention to the details, and understanding every step , she did an amazing job ! We are so proud !
Welcome Home Elle !! ♥️🐾♥️