07/01/2026
A New Year’s to remember… For Sunny‘s family…
Sunny is just an 8-month old Goldendoodle, visiting North Carolina with her family from Florida for the holidays.
New Year’s Eve was supposed to be cozy and fun—family time and ringing in the New Year together.
But just after midnight, a few unexpected poppers went off… and Sunny panicked.
In a flash, she bolted with her sister Sky, from the Airbnb and disappeared into the dark woods. Sky returned but there was no sign of Sunny.
Her family was terrified. Sunny was still a puppy, didn’t know the area and the temperatures were dropping fast. The only small comfort was knowing she had run off wearing a sweater.
They tried everything they knew to do. They even brought out a thermal drone, but had no luck finding her.
New Year’s Day arrived with still no sign of Sunny.
That’s when they reached out to us for help.
After sharing some immediate tips to get recovery efforts moving, I headed out on day two with K-9 Joker. Given Sunny’s age, the unfamiliar terrain, and the cold, the situation was urgent.
We started by getting a feel for the land, then split into two teams.
One team focused on printing, hanging flyers and reinforcing scent trails near the Airbnb.
My team started with scent checks in the direction that Sunny was last seen running towards…
The first area? Nothing.
The second area?
Well… that’s when things got exciting.
Without hesitation, Joker jumped into action—and by “jumped,” I mean he practically dragged me toward a creek. A nice size creek that fed directly into a nearby river. Joker took us straight to a bridge, then worked his way down closer to the water.
That’s when I knew we had scent.
Here’s a fun fact—Did you know that scent can travel on water? Yep!!
That meant Sunny could be somewhere upstream, following the creek, or using it as a natural pathway. The location Joker keyed into was also at the base of the mountain below the Airbnb, which made perfect sense for a scared puppy..
If you’ve never watched a trained search dog work a body of water—creeks, rivers, lakes—it’s absolutely incredible. Joker was focused, confident, and completely in his element, showing us the way..
Armed with this new information, we regrouped back at the Airbnb and laid out a clear game plan.
And let me tell you—Sunny’s family was READY.
With specific tasks, clear goals and renewed hope, they hit the ground running.
Then… just a few short hours later…
They returned to the Airbnb.
And guess who was already there?
✨ Sunny. ✨
Waiting & Tail wagging!!!
Somehow, that brave little Goldendoodle had found her way back on her own!!
There were happy tears, hugs and a scared family made whole again—just in time to head home together.
A scary start to the New Year turned into a story they’ll never forget.
And Sunny?
She proved that even a little puppy can have a big adventure—and an even bigger will to find her way back to the people who love her.
When answers were needed, K-9 Joker went to work. His focus and drive helped turn uncertainty into direction—and ultimately, a happy ending. 🐾🧡
GOOD NOSE JOKER!
~Michelle~
