When Nina Love, founder of The Black Thornberry rescue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, received a report about a strange furry animal roaming the woods, she didn’t hesitate to investigate.
Upon arriving at the scene, she spotted the creature and quickly realized it was a frightened dog, wary of human contact.
To avoid scaring her off, Love and her team kept their distance. They decided to install trail cameras to track her movements and learn more about her behavior.
A Trap Set With Care
Though Love typically avoids using traps, she felt it was necessary in this situation. With help from the cameras, she pinpointed the dog’s usual location and placed the trap with care.
“I wanted to provide a safe place for her and a good food source, so I set the trap. I tend to not want to use a trap. [But] I thought for her safety the trap would be the best situation,” Love told The Dodo.
Despite the dog’s fear, Love remained determined. After a full week of waiting, the dog finally entered the crate.
Seeing her safely inside, Love was overcome with emotion and struggled to hold back tears.
The dog trembled, unsure of what was happening. But as Love approached and spoke softly, the pup began to settle.
Love noticed the dog was wearing two collars, which seemed unusual. Hoping to identify her, she posted the dog’s photo online and asked if anyone recognized her.
Soon, a friend saw the post and thought of a family that had been searching for their missing dog for two months. She contacted Love to share her suspicion.
After comparing photos, it was clear: they had found the missing dog.
Love reached out to the family with the news.
She learned the dog’s name was Hannah, and her family had been heartbroken since she vanished from a nearby park.
Love took Hannah to the vet for a full check-up and microchip scan, which confirmed her owner was Ashley.
A Reunion Filled With Emotion
Love brought Hannah home for a long-awaited reunion with her mom.
Ashley was overjoyed. She scooped Hannah into her arms and carried her inside, overwhelmed with gratitude for Love’s efforts. Hannah nestled into Ashley’s embrace and showered her with gentle kisses.
Ashley had done everything she could to find her, visiting shelters, posting flyers, and searching tirelessly. But nothing had worked.
She had adopted Hannah from a shelter in South Carolina, and though Hannah was shy at first, she had begun to settle in. Then, just two days after arriving, she disappeared.
Back home again, Hannah still needed time to feel safe. With constant love and reassurance from her family, she slowly began to heal. Ashley was thrilled the day she heard Hannah bark again.
Thanks to their support, Hannah was finally able to move beyond her fear and embrace the life she was meant to have.
Today, Hannah is thriving. She spends her time playing with her dog siblings and cuddling with her family.
Endless thanks to Nina Love for rescuing Hannah and helping her find her way back to the people who love her most.