Dog Days Search & Rescue

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Dog Days Search & Rescue

An animal search and rescue organization created to assist in reuniting lost pets with their owners as well as saving stray or abandoned animals in need.

We have team members in Southern California & Middle Tennessee. Our experienced team not only has the passion and drive for search and rescue but they also have the skills! Working along with other rescuers in our field we have formed an exclusive team to help owners bring their pets home safely, along with catching and saving other stray, neglected or abandoned pets in need. Using the latest equi

pment and technology we will conduct search and rescues in a professional and compassionate manner. If you need our help, Dog Days Search and Rescue is here! Your support and contributions will enable us to help reunite lost & found pets and save homeless strays. Your generous donation will fund our mission and is tax deductible. You can donate via paypal, Venmo at DogDays-SAR or via mail to our P.O. Box at Dog Days Search & Rescue, P.O. Box 1511, Simi Valley, CA 93062

13/12/2025

🐾❤️When a gate failed after some bad weather, sweet little Maru found herself on quite the adventure. Lost in a Murfreesboro, TN neighborhood, this adorable girl was on the run.

When the Shiba Inu Rescue reached out to our team for help a few weeks ago, Jo Ann responded. Maru was lost almost two hours away so Jo Ann made the drive and went out to meet with her owners on a Saturday. Her owners had been doing everything they could to find and secure her for weeks. They had passed out fliers, gone door to door, got the word out all over social media and the neighborhood. It was 24 days and she was still on the move.

Sightings had just started to come in although nothing was super consistent. Her owners had compiled a map and they and Jo Ann went over it in detail and a plan was put together. A Trap and camera was dropped in her last known location, which appeared to be the best option. This was a quiet rural property with a wonderful owner who gave us full access to whatever we needed to do.

Much to our surprise, while setting the trap that late Saturday afternoon, a sighting came in! Maru was only blocks away. We were on it immediately!

We all left the trap area in hopes she would come back through when it was quiet. With a second trap in the truck at the ready, we all made way to the latest sighting location. Maru was not there but we dropped that trap and a second camera just in case. We drove the area for a while but did not see her anywhere.

It was dark at this point and getting late. There was no sign of Maru at either location. She may be hunkered down for the night. The homeowners at the second sighting were super accommodating and allowed us to keep the trap and camera there overnight. They also said they had seen Maru earlier in the day in the small field behind their house and in the open small forest space between homes. Our hopes were she would show herself in the am. Jo Ann eventually made the long trek home that night.

The next morning came and we had zero sightings of Maru on camera or from anyone else overnight. Based on information from the second sighting, we felt she was staying close to this area so we focused on that. The homeowners were keeping a watchful eye for her as well.

Jo Ann drove out early and both traps were set and ready, with fresh smelly bait in each. At the second home, her and the home owner decided to move the trap farther out to the open space area. While they were walking out to scout out a location for it, the homeowner spotted Maru hiding in a grassy bush. She was very close and just watching. Both stopped and immediately turned around and walked away. They grabbed the trap and moved it within 50 feet of her. No eye contact and ignoring her presence. She remained still but was on high alert, curious and watching.

The next six hours would be spent watching Maru check out the trap and then disappear into the brush and walk around and then come back again. We watched her on camera and from inside the house. She could not see us.

In person Maru was extremely tiny, barely 20 pounds. She was skittish by nature and very hesitant of the trap itself. But she was hungry. She continued to sniff it at times, walking circles around it. She would occasionally walk across the field and lay in the grass behind another house just watching from afar. Then she would come back, sniff the smelly food and lay next to the trap. She would sit and look at the trap door as if to say, "nope, not falling for this"! This was her world and her feisty self was going to do what she wanted.

At one point, we refreshed the trap with some super smelly food and unexpectedly Maru ran up to Jo Ann at the trap area, almost as if to say here I am. She wanted to come to Jo Ann, but she was still too scared. We even tried getting her owners out because even though she was a newer adoption of a few months, they felt she might come to them, but that did not work and in fact, she stayed away for a while after that. No one was gonna boss her around. So we rebaited again and waited.

Then finally, after hours and hours of building up her confidence, Maru gave in. With hunger overcoming her fear, she slowly and hesitantly, walked into the trap. This little tiny girl was safe after 25 days!

Everyone was thrilled, from her owners to the homeowners who had so graciously let us all camp out at their house for 24 hours. Everyone rallied and eventually carried her in the trap into the house. She was surprised so many people were happy to see her. She would be going home finally.

Maru was happy to be back home, and just in time for Thanksgiving! First up was a bath after her journey running through anything and everything. She had crossed major streets, dodged cars and coyotes and somehow kept herself safe. She was less than a mile from home but had not ventured back to her home. We wish she could tell us all about her adventure.

Welcome Home Maru!

A big thanks to all those that helped us that weekend! The sightings and the care and hospitality of neighbors and strangers, helped us get Maru back home.

To help us continue our mission to help lost and stray dogs, please consider making a donation to our cause. Dog Days Search & Rescue is a 501c3 Non Profit Organization. ALL donations are tax deductible!!

PayPal:
https://dogdayssar.com/donate
Or Venmo -SAR
Or Zelle @ [email protected]
Donations can be mailed and we also can receive corporate donation matching gifts. Contact us for more details on donations.

09/12/2025

🐾 Long Rescue Read but get ready to be on the edge of your seat! Will post video in comments.

Sometimes, it truly does take a village—
and sometimes, that village has to stare straight into a canyon, past treacherous terrain and mountain lions, to save one lost soul.

Rodger was the first to see him.
High above Ojai’s quiet valley, he lifted his binoculars toward a cliff face—more out of curiosity than expectation—and there, impossibly small against the sheer rock, was a dog. Motionless. Alone. As if carved from the mountainside itself. It was a miracle Roger spotted him at all.

Hours later, Rodger returned, heart sinking when the dog was still in the exact same place. Stuck? Hurt? Terrified? He didn’t know—but he knew he couldn’t just walk away. With no idea who to call, he threw the plea onto social media, hoping someone would hear him.

Someone did.
Ojai’s own “animal whisperer,” Jenny Kusch, saw the post and acted instantly. She collected every detail Rodger had and began placing calls—fire department, sheriff’s department, even Upper Ojai Search & Rescue. One by one, the answers came back:

“We can’t help.”

But Jenny didn’t quit.

As she kept pushing for solutions, messages began pouring in from people desperate to help. The situation was grim: the dog was perched on a remote outcrop, with the nearest trail across the canyon. Reaching him wouldn’t just be difficult—it might be dangerous.

A few members of the Upper Ojai team attempted to approach… until they came face-to-face with three mountain lions. They had no choice but to turn back. However, they did try again. This time, during the day. They also brought their drone and climbed even higher than anyone before, but still could not capture the dog.

Still, the village kept growing.

Stuart was one of the first willing to charge into the unknown. A seasoned runner and biker, he knew the unforgiving terrain better than most. He pushed deep into the canyon and located the dog’s general area—but visibility was nearly impossible. From across the canyon, Roger confirmed:

“He’s right above you. Maybe a hundred feet.”

That was enough.
Whether the dog was stuck or simply stranded, he needed water, food, and eyes watching over him. Once close enough, they realized he could reach the creek—but he wasn’t coming out on his own. Something was keeping him isolated, high on that desolate mountain. Possible the lions dens at the bottom of the cliff.

Cameras were placed. Food was delivered daily—sometimes twice, up on the cliffs. Cameras showed the dog was eating & drinking. Stuart and Jenny hiked in countless times. Even Jenny's friend Deborah joined in on a hike to drop food and water on Thanksgiving Day.

Jenny Kusch had been consulting with Jenn from our Dog Days Search & Rescue team the entire time. Since the dog did not appear stuck, Jenn and Linda went out and crawled through the harsh terrain to assess the options as well. To see what more could be done.

But the canyon was merciless—steep, overgrown, scattered with boulders and fallen trees. Every approach felt impossible unless the dog could be lured farther down.

Jenny rallied the town again, covering Ojai with signs. No owner ever came forward, but one man, Jeff, recognized the dog. He’d seen him sprinting up the road from town—bolting toward the mountains the very day before Rodger spotted him.

What was he running from?
Why flee so far, so fast, into a place even wildlife feared?

Stuart began laying trails of kibble, hoping to lure him into safer ground. But the dog, wary and traumatized, would only travel so far before stopping—always retreating to the same rock outcropping where watchers often saw him lying like a lonely sentinel.

Then came the worst news.

A mountain lion appeared on their cameras.

Time was running out.

The rescuers—Jenny, Stuart, Rodger, Jeff, and Linda, Justice & Jenn from the Dog Days Search & Rescue team—met and devised one last plan. Their only shot was to haul a 59-pound live trap nearly a quarter mile into brutal terrain, through poison oak, over boulders, through the creek, deep into lion territory. It had to be placed at the farthest point the dog had shown he would travel.

It sounded impossible.

But they did it anyway.

Wheels were attached to the trap, but the real force came from sheer human determination—Stuart, Rodger, and Jeff dragging, lifting, and muscling the heavy structure through obstacles that would challenge even trained rescue teams.

Once the trap was set, the group evacuated the canyon. The wind was perfect—carrying the scent of Jenny’s smoky bacon, brats, and hot dogs deep into the mountain shadows.

Then they waited.

The sun slipped behind the ridge, and darkness crept in. The canyon grew colder, the night animals waking. If the dog entered the trap at night… what then? It didn’t matter. The men were confident, steady, unshakably committed. If he went in they would make sure to go back in.

At 8:15 PM, the live camera pinged.
Movement.

They held their breath—
and then saw him.

The dog stepped forward, sniffing the night air, guided by hunger and the promise of safety. He crept inside, smelled the meatballs, and carefully stepped over the trigger plate.

The rescuers froze.
One wrong paw placement and he could leave without triggering the door.

Then, miraculously—
he turned around.

Snap.
The door slammed shut.

After 15 days, he was finally safe.

The team rushed forward through the darkness, armed with ropes, light, and bear spray. With incredible strength, they lifted and carried the heavy trap over the same brutal terrain that had challenged them earlier, but now in the dark. Inside, the dog—soon to be named Clifford—lay calmly, like a king being escorted from his mountain throne.

Back in the neighborhood, there were hugs, cheers, and tears. Clifford looked out at his rescuers with weary gratitude.

Jenny Kusch took him home for the night. Despite the ticks, the exhaustion, the weeks of fear, he was gentle, sweet, almost relieved. No chip. Not neutered. But utterly trusting.

The next day, he rolled onto his back for belly rubs—his first gesture of pure, joyful surrender.

Stuart and Jenny brought him to the Humane Society of Ventura County, for stray hold where he’ll receive care, vaccinations, and eventually… a new beginning. Several people already want to adopt him. Once his stray hold is up, Clifford’s next chapter will begin—with love, comfort, and safety for the rest of his life.

And none of it would have happened without an entire community rising up to save one dog who refused to give up.

To Jenny, whose compassion is endless.
To Rodger, who trusted his instincts and sparked it all.
To Stuart, Rodger, and Jeff—whose strength, grit, and courage carried a trap through the wild and saved this dog.
To our Dog Days Team for bringing forth your experience and know how and lead this rescue to victory.
To the volunteers, the watchers, the sharers, the helpers.
And to Clifford, who fought silently for 15 days until help arrived.

This village was extraordinary. We cannot wait to see where Clifford’s journey leads next.

If you would like to donate to Jenny Kusch and the Community Animal Response Team their gofund me link is below. This will allow them to help future lost dogs in need.
https://gofund.me/7057c11b1

To help Dog Days Search & Rescue continue our mission to help lost and stray dogs, please consider making a donation to our cause. Dog Days Search & Rescue is a 501c3 Non Profit Organization. ALL donations are tax deductible!

PayPal:
https://dogdayssar.com/donate
Or Venmo -SAR (7778)
Or Zelle @ [email protected]
Donations can be mailed and we also can receive corporate donation matching gifts. Contact us for more details on donations.

08/12/2025

🐾 What a cutie pie!! Please meet Meathead aka Sparky. This 6 year old Bulldog mix was dumped right before the Camarillo, CA Fires last year. He eventually got adopted last year and after 10 months, in September 2025, was left tied up in front of the shelter, abandoned and never reclaimed by owners. 🤬

He's a good boy who loves his people. He does sit and shake and has quite the personality when you meet him in the play yard!

He can be a little barky and may even need a little training, but how can we let this sweet boy sit in the shelter so long!! Are you telling me there is no one out there willing to give this gorgeous face the long term care and training he deserves!! We cannot give up on networking him. With the shelters full, he needs to get out of there! Please SHARE!

Here is his link:

https://animalservices.venturacounty.gov/viewan-2/?ida=A86171

If you are interested in adopting Meathead,
His ID # is A861711
He is located at the:
CAMARILLO ANIMAL SHELTER
600 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010

Thank you!

08/12/2025

🛑 40 WEEKS!! Thats how long Luigi has been sitting in the shelter. In a kennel. Sad. Wondering where his Christmas miracle home is.

Can all our 20,000+ followers PLEASE share Luigi! Let's not let him spend this Christmas alone in the shelter!! Look at this adorable pic! He is READY to go home! Doesn't anyone have an open spot for him? At 5 years old this big boy still has so much more love and joy to give someone!

🐾Handsome!
🐾Cuddly!
🐾Lovable!
🐾Good on Walks with leash!
🐾Loves chasing balls!
🐾Great napping buddy!
🐾Cutest ears ever!
🐾Good with kids and loves most everyone
🐾Good with some dogs so proper introductions needed
🐾 Unsure about cats as shelter does not test

Quite the resumee this boy has! Why in the world has no one adopted Luigi! His list of adoptable qualities is endless!

This sweet 75lb, gorgeous lab mix is still looking for his forever home. He has been sitting in the shelter since February! How sad he must be, watching all the other dogs find their forever families while he just sits and waits for someone to come throw the ball for him, all behind kennel doors. And with the cutest ears you've ever seen!

Please help SHARE Luigi! Share him far and wide to help get him out of the shelter!! He deserves so much more. He was found on the streets where we helped secure him, and then no owners ever came for him. We have to help him out of the shelter. We cannot keep rescuing dogs for them to just sit in the shelter!

If you are interested in adopting Luigi,
His ID # is A861711
He is located at the:
CAMARILLO ANIMAL SHELTER
600 Aviation Drive
Camarillo, CA 93010
county animal services

Here is his link
https://animalservices.venturacounty.gov/viewan-2/?ida=A861711

Thank you and please share!

05/12/2025

HURRY...12/5 is the FINAL day to place your orders!!! We are over halfway to our GOAL!

Help us to continue helping animals!!
Grab your favorite or have your favorite shipped to a friend.

SHOP HERE:
https://www.yumraising.com/store/winter-2025-dog-days-search-rescue-66bc/AprGei6510?fbclid=IwdGRjcAOfAIRjbGNrA58AfmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEe2N3aiX0J5XJFRGP3doX6LsHU0FfudY2oFZtHG3YFshUWzVWjBpBVnPFewt4_aem__Y7DVbjDexlM2wKq0qc1xg

THANK YOU!!

04/12/2025

🍭🍬Who doesn't love See's Candies!?! Tomorrow is the last day to get your order in!

Help support Dog Days Search & Rescue with every purchase you make!

You can send Delicious See's Candies to Someone this Holiday Season through our online fundraiser which will benefit our efforts to help owners with lost & found animals! This fundraiser will also help offset some of the medical costs we take on helping low income pet owners through out the year!

Candy for you and help for animals in need! Seems like a win win for all!

Please check it out! There are some very yummy options! Thanksgiving is right around the corner so get your orders in now! They can ship as early as 11/11!

The link for our direct Shop is below.

https://www.yumraising.com/store/winter-2025-dog-days-search-rescue-66bc/AprGei6510?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7Y3dqJfQnlckVEY_d2hfouwdTQV-51jagVm0cbdgWyFRbNVaMGkFWc8V7C3g_aem__Y7DVbjDexlM2wKq0qc1xg

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

04/12/2025

🐾❤️ Another newly adopted little dog gets out the front door and is on the run!

Tiny Aspen was just adopted and brought to his new home when disaster struck and he bolted out the door. Away he ran with people in tow. Dashing down the street, then back up, then to a fire road that led him straight to the strawberry fields in Camarillo, CA. Running like the wind, he ran almost 2 miles before they lost sight of him.

A sighting came in and he was by the metro center dodging people there. Then another sighting he was running up a busy road only to disappear into a church. The adopting rescue and owners searched for hours but couldn't find him.

At 8 lbs, his tiny body could fit anywhere!

The next morning, the owner saw him out running. Again he ran away and disappeared.

The rescue & owners contacted us and of course were instructed to get posters up right away. This was a busy area and sightings should come in. All was quiet though with no sightings until the next morning. This time, he was 2 streets away from his new home! A miracle that he had found his way back from 2 miles away.

He was the move though. A trap had been set at their house but luckily, a family member was in the right place, at the right time and watched him disappear into a hole in a fence. He was now in someone's yard! They blocked the hole to make sure he couldn't get out. Not knowing though what the rest of the fencing looked like, they were hopeful that he was contained.

Jenn got to the house right away and spotted him in the yard. He darted around the yard, looking for a way out. There were cars and other items back there he could hide under. Thankfully, he got himself into the corner of the yard and froze. She sat down, tossed him some chicken and he started to come close. Within minutes she was petting him and had a slip lead on him. He was safe and grateful to be caught!

His new mom and dad were emotional! They didn't really know him yet but had already fallen in love!

So happy this turned out this way. Between predators and cars, in a totally unfamiliar area, this guy had luck on his side.

His new owners have already taken necessary precautions and even ordered a GPS collar already. His new name is Adam!

Welcome home sweet boy.

To help us continue our mission to help lost and stray dogs, please consider making a donation to our cause. Dog Days Search & Rescue is a 501c3 Non Profit Organization. ALL donations are tax deductible!!

PayPal:
https://dogdayssar.com/donate
Or Venmo -SAR
Or Zelle @ [email protected]
Donations can be mailed and we also can receive corporate donation matching gifts. Contact us for more details on donations.

02/12/2025

❤️🐾Today is !
As a search and rescue group we strive to remain focused on helping reunite lost and found pets, while also helping abandoned strays in need. Our goal today is to help raise money to cover costs for fostering and training for the many stray dogs that come into our rescue and end up staying for a while, due to no fault of their own. We have seen an increase in the need to help socialize and better, the lives of these dogs.

Many of these dogs are abandoned and broken. Some have been out on their own for a very long time by the time we get to helping them. Their whole world gets turned upside down and they can be very scared and confused once caught. They need to be handled with patience and need time to decompress, time to trust us and time to know that we are there to help them. Some have to learn basic skills like walking inside a doorway to enter a home and walking on a leash, as they have been on the run for so long. Some are just fearful. Every noise and every quick movement sends them hiding. Others have some of the above along with medical needs. All need spays/neuters, vet check ups, food, toys, crates, bedding and of course, a warm place to sleep.

None of these dogs can be adopted out until they have worked through whatever trauma or abandonment or lack of socialization they experienced. This can take weeks, months or longer. Our team does the best they can when fostering these rescues in our homes, but occasionally we have to defer to outside trainers for help.

While our stray fosters are few, the hit financially can be high. As an example we can tell you that Mulligan, the dog we trapped after being out on his own for a month, is now in training for his second month. His board and train is close to $3000 per month. He is now on his second month. He had a long road ahead of him. This is a large expense to our rescue as we only operate off your donations and we only raised a handful of his training costs.

But Mulligan matters to us so we are spending the money. He needs this training to help him find his forever home. He is terrified of everything and learning how to be in a pack (and doing so good) and that not everything is this world is scary. He has even graduated to going on walks now (which is huge).

We will post more about Mulligan later this week but he is just one example of a dog we trapped that we could not easily adopt out. We are seeing more and more stray dogs like him out there. Without the money to help him, he would still be just another stray dog out on the street or possibly been euthanized at a shelter. The strays dogs are never-ending right now as people are dumping dogs coast to coast. We also have two other foster dogs on hand currently as well.

Our all volunteer team are blessed to do what we do, but we cannot continue helping strays without your financial help. If we do not continue to raise money for these types of challenging stray dogs, we will have to stop helping with strays all together, and we don't want to do that.

Any donation amount helps. Our goal this entire week is to raise the $3,000 to cover Mulligans next month of board and training, so that we can continue to help abandoned dogs like him. Our team has a few other fosters now as well but he is our biggest concern.

Please help us achieve this!! ❤️ We are a 501c3 so your donations are all tax deductible. Thank you for your help! Your donation goes directly to helping Mulligan and anything above the $3000 will go to more training of needed for him or to help other stray dogs, as our team continues efforts to help them in the communities and cities we can. Please share our post to help!

How to donate:

PayPal:
https://dogdayssar.com/donate
Or Venmo -SAR (7778 confirmation)
Or Zelle @ [email protected]
Donations can be mailed and we also can receive corporate donation matching gifts. Contact us for more details on donations.

27/11/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving to all our wonderful supporters and rescue friends!! We are grateful for all the animals rescued and home safe! ❤️

26/11/2025

🦃🛑 As we roll into Thanksgiving tomorrow, please remember that this holiday is one of the busiest for Veterinarians, when our pets have a little too much thanksgiving food and become sick!

It’s tempting to share, but giving pets table scraps can lead to everything from upset stomachs to serious problems like pancreatitis or blockages. Poultry bones can splinter, chocolate and grapes are toxic, and even secret ingredients in family recipes can be harmful. When it comes to Thanksgiving food, it’s always safest to say no.

In addition, please keep your pet's safely secured! With all the friends, family and kids over, it's easy for them to slip out a door or gate. Make sure they stay safe from all the hustle and craziness in the house.

Lastly, we appreciate you all and wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. 🤗

24/11/2025

🍭🍬Who doesn't love See's Candies!?!

Help support Dog Days Search & Rescue with every purchase you make! You can send Delicious See's Candies to Someone this Holiday Season through our online fundraiser which will benefit our efforts to help owners with lost & found animals! This fundraiser will also help offset some of the medical costs we take on helping low income pet owners through out the year!

Candy for you and help for animals in need! Seems like a win win for all! We love this fundraiser as it really does help us meet some of our goals for funding medical for rescue dogs.

Please check it out! There are some very yummy options! The link for our direct Shop is below:

https://www.yumraising.com/store/winter-2025-dog-days-search-rescue-66bc/AprGei6510?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7Y3dqJfQnlckVEY_d2hfouwdTQV-51jagVm0cbdgWyFRbNVaMGkFWc8V7C3g_aem__Y7DVbjDexlM2wKq0qc1xg

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

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