Maryland Dog Missing In The Woods For 100 Days Finally Triggers The Trap That Brings Her Home
Leia vanished into the Maryland woods after a door was accidentally left open. For 100 days, her family refused to give up, setting up cameras and a high-tech trap to bring their beloved dog home.
A Sudden Disappearance
Leia’s life began in a puppy mill, but a raid gave her a second chance. At just 12 weeks old, she was adopted from a shelter in Maryland and quickly blossomed into a sweet, gentle dog.
For seven years, she was an adored member of the family. She was a big sweetheart who loved her people deeply.
But everything changed in an instant. On October 11, 2022, Leia’s dad took her to visit a neighbor.
Someone who didn’t live there accidentally left a door open. Leia wandered outside, likely caught the scent of deer, and chased them into the unknown.
Calling In The Experts
The family desperately searched the area, but there was no sign of Leia. As the days ticked by, they even began to fear she had been stolen.
That’s when a local rescue group, Lost and Found Pets of Anne Arundel County, reached out. They advised the family to start putting up signs immediately.
Through the group, they connected with a dedicated volunteer named Donna. She stepped in to help them hang signs all over the area.
They put up around 150 signs, spending every single weekend replacing the ones taken down by businesses or highway patrol.
The Survival Mode Shift
It took three agonizing weeks before they finally got their first sighting. A couple driving down the road spotted Leia standing in the woods.
Her mom rushed to the location and walked into the trees. Sure enough, Leia was standing just 50 feet away.
But the dog they knew was gone, replaced by a terrified animal in survival mode. When Leia saw people, she panicked and ran.
They received several calls that night, but Leia never stayed in one place long enough to be caught. Primal instincts had taken over, causing her to avoid humans and retreat deeper into the woods.
Cold Nights And Cameras
Every single night, Leia’s dad would drive around the area looking for any sign of her. He remained hopeful, insisting she was waiting for them to find her.
Feeling helpless, her mom reached back out to Donna. The volunteer immediately ramped up her efforts, helping them set up feeding stations, traps, and cameras.
The family spent sleepless nights worrying about the dropping temperatures. They imagined their sweet dog huddled up somewhere, alone, scared, and freezing.
Despite the heartbreak, they checked the feeding stations daily, hoping Leia would leave a clue that she was still out there.
A Crucial Tip
Leia had been gone for nearly three months when a miracle happened. Two days before New Year’s Eve, a woman named Amanda was working in her office.
Amanda looked out her window and noticed a dog standing on the edge of the woods. She drove around the area, found one of the family’s signs, and called them.
Leia had moved to a completely different area, about four miles away from her original sighting. It was the break the family desperately needed.
With Donna’s help, they immediately set up a new food station and cameras in the five-square-mile section of woods where Leia was hiding.
Building The Missy Trap
To safely capture a dog in survival mode, they needed something special. Donna brought out a massive enclosure known as a Missy trap.
It took two and a half hours to assemble the six-by-twelve-foot pen. The trap featured a high-tech laser tripwire designed to shut and lock the door once the dog walked far enough inside.
They started catching Leia on camera almost every day. She would eat the food left near the entrance, but she refused to go deep enough to trip the laser.
The trap did manage to catch a few unexpected visitors. A persistent possum accidentally locked himself inside twice, forcing the family to go out and shake him loose.
The Call They Waited For
For two weeks, they patiently waited. They slowly acclimated Leia to the trap, leaving a trail of food leading further toward the back.
Then, the moment they had been praying for finally arrived. Donna called with three simple words: “We got her.”
Her mom rushed out to the woods, tears in her eyes. She walked down to the trap, terrified that Leia might still be too scared to recognize her.
But as she approached, Leia looked at her and knew exactly who she was.
Remembering Mom
Leia sat down, sniffing and licking her mom’s hands through the wire. She whined and pawed at the door, clearly saying, “Take me home now.”
After about 100 days lost in the elements, Leia was finally safe. The family still has no idea how she survived or what she ate during all those months.
During the search, her dad had been transferred for a new job and had to move, while her mom stayed behind in Maryland to keep looking.
Right there in the woods, her mom FaceTimed her dad to share the incredible news. Leia happily listened to her papa’s voice through the phone.
Healing And Holding Close
Leia had lost a third of her body weight and was understandably anxious after her ordeal. She was nervous about walking through doorways and more reactive to sounds.
But as she settled back into home life, her sweet personality returned stronger than ever. She finally got to reunite with her dad in person, greeting him with happy wiggles.
Before she went missing, Leia used to sleep at the foot of the bed. Now, she insists on being right up next to her parents, snuggled as close as possible.
Her family’s hearts still feel tight just looking at her. The terrifying 100-day separation has only made them more determined to give her a wonderful, safe life for as long as they have her.
