Paws of Hope Animal Rescue

11/01/2025

👀 Watch for us in your neighborhood!

Our team might be out setting traps, placing feeding stations, or quietly monitoring areas where a scared or lost pet has been spotted. When you see us, know that we’re working to bring another animal from — doing everything we can to get them home safely.

Every rescue looks a little different. Sometimes we’re granted permission to set traps right away, and sometimes we have to adjust our approach depending on property access or safety. It takes patience, teamwork, and trust — but we never give up.

If you happen to see us working in your area, feel free to wave, share a kind word, or message us if you spot the animal we’re searching for. Your support and awareness help more than you know. Together, we’re one paw at a time. 🐾❤️

11/01/2025

🚗 Fun Fact Friday — and a reminder of the work behind the scenes.
On Wednesday alone, our team traveled 325.2 miles getting trap areas ready, setting feeding stations, and placing traps for three different dogs — all while also helping three cats in need.

That’s hundreds of miles of dedication, teamwork, and compassion. Every location, every setup, and every mile driven is a step toward bringing these animals from . ❤️🐾

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

🐾 Understanding “Survival Mode” in Lost Dogs 🐾
This is so important for everyone to know — “survival mode” is real and it can make the difference between bringing a lost dog home safely or scaring them farther away.

When a dog becomes lost or frightened, their brain can switch from family pet mode to wild survival mode. This isn’t about obedience, training, or love — it’s pure instinct.

💡 What Happens in Survival Mode:
• The dog’s brain is focused only on survival: food, water, shelter, and safety.
• They may not recognize their own name, owner’s voice, or familiar scents.
• They often avoid everyone — even the people they love most.
• Their behavior can drastically change — running from humans, hiding, or acting like a stray.

🚫 What NOT to Do if You See a Lost Dog:
• Don’t chase, call, whistle, or make eye contact.
• Don’t assume the dog is abused or feral just because it runs.
• Don’t post “I saw this dog but couldn’t catch it” — that’s okay! What matters is where and when you saw them.

✅ What TO Do Instead:
• Snap a photo from a distance if possible.
• Note the exact location, direction of travel, and time.
• Report sightings to local rescue teams like Paws of Hope Animal Rescue — we specialize in humane capture and tracking of dogs in survival mode.
• Leave food, water, and familiar scents (if part of an active search plan).

Survival mode isn’t bad behavior — it’s fear and instinct taking over. Understanding this helps save lives.
💔➡️💖 From heartache to hope — with patience and the right approach, they can be brought home safely.

10/31/2025

🐾 MIKI IS SAFE! 🐾

Four days ago, Miki went missing in Grimes after getting spooked while going out to potty — he managed to wriggle out of his harness and take off.

Right away, Isaiah from Heartland Sky answered the call for help to locate Miki. He was soon spotted crossing a busy road and heading into a nearby field. Unfortunately, permission to place a trap on that property wasn’t granted, so the team quickly made new arrangements, setting up along a ditch in hopes Miki would circle back.

Tonight, just after 6 p.m., Miki was seen near Hy-Vee! Calls started pouring in with sightings — and that’s when Sam, Emma, and Miki began their unexpected race. 🏃‍♂️🐶

Lucky for Miki, Sam won!! 💪
He was able to safely snag Miki and bring him to safety. ❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who helped share, watch, and report sightings — and to Isaiah and the entire team for their dedication and quick thinking.

10/30/2025

🐾 Why do we take on some of the hardest animal catches?
Because we refuse to turn our backs on the ones who need us the most. 💛

The terrified ones. The ones who run at the slightest sound. The ones who’ve learned not to trust anyone — they’re the ones who need someone to believe in them. And that’s exactly what we do. 💪🐕🐈

We have the patience to wait, to watch, and to learn their patterns. We have the determination to keep showing up — even when it’s cold, dark, and discouraging. 🌙❄️

And above all, we have hope — the kind that never fades, even when the odds feel impossible. ✨

You may think we forgot or gave up… but we haven’t.
We are still looking, still trying, and still holding on to hope for the day they finally come home. 🏡💖

Every trap we set, every camera we check, every long night spent waiting — it’s all for the chance to bring one more soul home safely.

Because here at Paws of Hope, we don’t give up.
Not ever. 💛🐾

10/29/2025

💛 Wish List Wednesday 💛
This week, we’re asking for gas cards to Casey’s or Kwik Star. Why? Because every mile we drive brings a lost pet closer to the family who’s missing them. 🐾

When you donate, you’re not just filling a tank—you’re fueling hope, comfort, and safe returns for pets who need us most. Every little bit helps us chase hope across the state.

Ways to Donate:
• Venmo:
• PayPal: [email protected]
• Mail: Paws of Hope Animal Rescue,
PO Box 236, Mechanicsville, Iowa 52306

Help us bring them home.

10/28/2025

Teamwork Tuesday!
Behind every reunion story is a community that cared enough to share, search, donate, and believe.
We couldn’t do this without YOU — our rescue family. ❤️
Let’s keep catching hope together.
Venmo:
PayPal: [email protected]
Paws of Hope Animal Rescue
PO Box 236, Mechanicsville, IA 52306

10/28/2025

💔 Libby’s Story – 2.5 Years Without Home 💔

Some dogs come into our lives and change everything.
For us, that dog is Libby.

On May 26, 2023, Libby’s world turned upside down. One loud noise. One flash of fear. One split second — and she was gone. Her leash still trailing behind her as she vanished into the fields of rural Tama, Iowa.

We searched day after day, praying she hadn’t gotten caught, praying she was still moving.
But the days turned into weeks… then months… and the silence was deafening.

When Libby finally appeared on a trail camera, our hearts stopped. There she was — alive. Scared, but surviving. The moment we went to bring her home, she was gone again.

Months later, another sighting — five miles away. Still dragging that same leash. Still fighting for her life.

We came with traps, food, toys, her family’s scent… but Libby is no ordinary dog. She’s cautious, brilliant, and far too smart for her own good. Every time we got close, she slipped away like smoke in the wind.

We built her a special trap — “The Missy Trap” — and started over. We fed her for weeks, built her trust inch by inch… and then she disappeared again. Weeks turned to months with no sign.

Just when we thought we’d lost her trail, a farmer sent a video — Libby, running with a coyote. The same girl we’d been chasing for over a year, still out there surviving against all odds.

Our team went back out again.
Door to door. Field to field.
Begging for permission to place cameras, food stations, anything that might bring her one step closer to safety.

And people opened their hearts. They opened their land. Together, we’re still fighting for her.

Libby has taught us more about patience, loyalty, and love than we ever thought possible. She’s taught us that rescue isn’t just about bringing them home — it’s about never turning your back while they’re still out there fighting to survive.

She’s finally going into her new and improved trap. Every time we see her on camera, our hearts ache — she’s right there, so close, yet still just out of reach.

Please keep Libby, her family, and our entire team in your prayers as we continue doing everything we can to bring her home where she belongs. ❤️

Because we made her a promise — and we will not stop until she’s safe.