01/28/2023
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
17 days ago, Luna escaped the back seat of her owner’s truck while in a shopping center parking lot. Not only was she lost away from home, but they recently moved to the area. Since they had just moved to the area, Luna’s mom didn’t know very many people who could help. She met with a local LDI volunteer who was able to assemble a wonderful team to help find Luna. Luna had confirmed sightings, but they were typically only once in the morning, were 1-3 days apart, and she covered 1 – 7 miles between sightings. Her owner remained in the previous sighting area and was able to quickly respond to every lead, but by the time she arrived, Luna had vanished. Luna’s mom did everything LDI suggested to help ensure the sightings kept coming. Her team spent every day looking for Luna while putting up intersection signs, passing out flyers to people in the area, delivering flyers to every home around the area and beyond, setting up food and cameras, updating posts on social media and Luna’s Mom even created a graphic to put on her truck. Luna’s Mom was incredibly dedicated, and the efforts paid off. It seemed like everyone in a three-city area knew about Luna and had seen her signs. When a similar looking dog was spotted at a shelter 40 miles away, around 50 tips arrived hoping it was Luna. Unlike most lost dogs that will eventually find a safe spot and settle down, Luna wouldn’t. As typically happens, worry set in when cold temperatures and snow were predicted. But renewed hope came when Luna’s mom was reassured that the fresh snow may bring needed clues. After spending the day putting out 20 more intersection signs and delivery flyers to an expanded search area, she was headed home when someone called and had eyes on Luna running through a field along a busy road. When she arrived, she was able to follow the pawprints in the snow and she saw her girl. But Luna was running through the field and always too far away to lure to safety. With earbuds on, she was on the phone with her local LDI volunteer, Susan. While she searched, messages were being sent to the other members of the search team. Her mom kept following her pawprints. Luna was running through the field along a very busy road. While tracking Luna, a member of her search team arrived to watch the busy road to make sure Luna didn’t run toward it. She would drive Luna’s Mom further down the road when Luna got too far ahead of her. Imagine Luna’s Mom’s horror when she got close enough to finally throw treats to Luna, reached into her pocket, and realized she had dropped them. Messages were sent and treats were on the way, but her mom had gone a long way along the wood line and couldn’t be found. Luna would pop out of the woods; realize she wasn’t alone and go back in. But her mom kept following her. Luna then ran up a hill and her mom went up with her. Susan told her to pretend she was crying, and her mom said she wasn’t a crier. Susan told her to say Luna’s pet names very softly, so she started saying nu-na. Luna will ignore her name but when she does, she typically answers to nu-na. Softly saying Nu-na going up the hill, but when she got to the top and could no longer see Luna, she dropped to her knees, let a cry and was totally defeated. Two seconds later Luna was on her from behind, crying, licking her and pawing at her face. Luna was howling for joy and so were all the wonderful ladies on Team Luna.
From Luna’s Owner: First I’d like to thank Susan from LDI for all the hard work, dedication and overall love she had for me and Luna. She was out there looking for Luna like she was her own baby. I am forever grateful to all the ladies on “Team Luna” and Nate for dedicating so much time effort and resources along with the words of encouragement along the way. Sherrill, Candie, Janis, Penny, Kayla and Patti with LDI, I came here knowing no one and now Luna and I have a whole family. You all are so amazing I truly couldn’t have done any of this without all of you. Jane thank you for the call, showing me where to look, and running thru the snow to help. Your call brought me my baby home. I would also like to thank Vicki for looking, walking woods on your own free time and consistently checking in on where I was with everything. Theresa and Bill for coming out to show me exactly where she was once spotted and bringing me out to put food and my scent in the woods. Rachel for keeping her in your sights so I could see my baby and for checking in thru out. Kelly, thank you for asking what you could do to help and reminding me GSD’s are survivors and constantly posting about Luna. Your post on Hanna city was how Luna was found.
I know I’m missing people but just know there is so much love for all of you that rallied around us to bring my baby home. It really does take a village and I’m so proud to be a part of this one. The support is overwhelming, beautiful and I can’t wait to pay it forward.
I’d also like to say to anyone missing their baby. Don’t give up and don’t underestimate your baby. Their will to survive is amazing and I promise you they’re looking for you just as hard as you are them. Don’t give up on yourself either. It’s so hard to imagine all they’re going thru but they survive in places we don’t. Luna is evidence of that because she is so pampered and coddled that I worried, and she came home to me with no signs of fight. Just don’t give up hope.
