Leia, a former puppy mill resident, was rescued during a raid. Her new family instantly adopted her after spotting her in a Maryland shelter, and ever since, she has brought joy to everyone at home, especially to her dad, Mark, who adored her and took her everywhere.
After 7 wonderful years filled with love and happiness, their lives took a turn on a fateful day.
The Fateful Day That Changed Everything
On that day, Mark and Leia were visiting a neighbor when everything seemed normal. Mark chatted with guests while Leia played in the hallway. However, one guest accidentally left the door ajar, and just like that, Leia vanished.
“I think she caught a scent of deer and ran after them,” shared Patty, Mark’s wife, in an interview for GeoBeats.
Despite everyone searching tirelessly, a week passed without any sign of Leia. In their desperation, the family contacted Lost and Found Pets of Anne Arundel County for assistance, marking the beginning of a long and challenging search.
Long And Exhausting Rescue
Thanks to the expertise of Donna, a dedicated volunteer, the family quickly put up signs across the area. Their efforts bore fruit when, almost three weeks later, a couple reported seeing Leia in the woods.
“We walked into the woods and there she was, about 50 feet away,” shared Patty, as they approached their beloved dog.
Unfortunately, the commotion caused Leia to panic and flee deeper into the woods. It was later discovered that she had entered a state of survival mode, which affected her behavior even around her family.
For three more months, the family tried everything to find her, but Leia was elusive, moving from location to location. However, just two days before New Year’s Eve, they received a call from a woman who saw a dog resembling Leia at the forest’s edge, four miles from her last known location.
Convinced it was Leia, the family sprang into action once more. With Donna’s help, they commissioned an engineer to create a large trap activated by a laser trip.
“When the dog would walk past the laser, the door would shut and lock,” explained Patty.
After nearly two weeks of close encounters, they finally succeeded. Leia was lured into the trap by the food left out for her every night.
On her official Instagram account, Pattie joyously shared, “We got her!”
Happy Ending After All
“It was such an exciting moment when she finally recognized me as I walked into the woods,” Pattie recalled through tears. Leia was home again. She had changed, appearing exhausted and timid; at first, she flinched at every approach from her family.
However, as time passed, Leia started to regain her cheerful personality that everyone loved, allowing her family to cuddle her once more. This was a significant sign of her recovery.
The moment turned even sweeter when Leia’s daddy returned from a long trip.
