28/10/2025
Where do I even begin with this little Houdini?
Stevie was a foster dog from the Char Meck shelter — an abandonment case who had suffered abuse and was still learning that people could be kind. His foster had only had him for two days when, in a moment that still baffles us all, he somehow let himself out of his kennel and slipped through an open door. He was frightened, confused, and still shut down.
Within just two days, Stevie had made his way from Ballantyne all the way to Waxhaw — miles away — and that’s where his journey really began.
He was only about 10–12 pounds and had just been shaved down due to matting — tiny, vulnerable, and terrified. But incredibly determined. In those early days, he stuck to main roads, covering 5 to 6 miles in an 8-hour stretch. Going from one end of Waxhaw all the way to the other. It was absolutely terrifying getting videos sent to me of him running just inches from moving vehicles, darting across busy roads with traffic all around him. Every time my phone rang with a new sighting, I held my breath, afraid it might be the one where something went wrong.
For the first week, he never returned to the same place twice. He also stayed away from residential areas and only stayed on main roads making it impossible to trap him. And every time he started to slow down, someone would chase or try to follow him, hoping to help. But each time that happened, he bolted again. It happened more times than I can count. It’s something I can’t stress enough: PLEASE, never chase a lost dog. Especially one like Stevie. To him, every person coming toward him felt like danger. He wasn’t running away to be defiant, he was running for his life.
By day 13, Stevie finally began to slow down in a neighborhood called Providence Downs South. He was tired. That’s also when things started to shift — so many incredible people from that neighborhood reached out, offering to help in any way they could. With their reports and videos, we were finally able to piece together his timeline — when he was coming, where he was going, and how he was moving through the area. I was given full approval right away for traps, along with my own gate code so I could get in and out as needed. We surrounded the area with traps and cameras, thinking this might finally be it. We added some more traps to other locations along his route as well. But true to form, Stevie had other plans — the next thing we knew, he was four miles away.
That’s when he found the Inverness and Providence Grove neighborhood. This neighborhood would change everything. Stevie chose a porch couch to curl up on, and — bless this homeowner — they did the exact right thing: they left him alone. They immediately called, and thankfully, I was already nearby. I rushed over and surrounded the area with traps. I didn’t tell anyone exactly where he was — we needed the spot kept quiet so no one would chase him and ruin our chance to trap him. I stayed low, checked cameras, and waited.
That night, after two long weeks of running, Stevie finally showed up at one of the traps. My heart stopped as I watched him step inside — we had him. Relief washed over me… but in true Stevie fashion, just eight minutes later, he somehow managed to escape. I could hardly believe it.
But Stevie wasn’t fazed. He went right back to his couch, his safe place. The next day, we replaced the trap with a much larger one, and right on schedule, he showed up, walked right in, and this time — we had him.
Aside from his eye, which had already been under treatment before he ran away, Stevie seems to be in good shape — exhausted, scared, but otherwise healthy and ready to go home.
I can’t say enough about the people of Waxhaw. Every single person who helped — sharing sightings, offering access, leaving food out — you are the reason Stevie made it home. This little guy has been through so much, and seeing him finally safe and able to rest in his foster’s arms is the best feeling!
Welcome home, Stevie. ❤️
- Nicole
