Canine Crusaders

06/26/2026

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Greenville Rotary Club and Ken Lori McEwen, for the generous donation!! Your donations help us to continuing our mission, of locating and capturing loose dogs in need! 💗🐾🫶🏻

06/21/2026

Little Lulu accidentally slipped out on Thursday evening. She’s a scared girl, and was seen running in a high traffic area. While running about, she was grazed by a car-then disappeared for almost 48 hours! Her family and neighbors searched high and low, but were unsuccessful in locating her. After working all day yesterday, Michael Valerio put his drone up, to aid in the search. Thick foliage and warm temps affect the abilities of thermal drones, but luckily, Lulu wasn’t in a wooded area. Within minutes, the call came in-Michael located Lulu, and she was ALIVE! Her family was able to respond quickly, and bring their little lady to safety in no time! She’s suspected to have a broken leg, and went to the emergency vet last night. Thank goodness Lulu was able to be located by humans, before being found by predators!! Wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all you proud papa’s out there-whether you have humans or fur babies; and especially to a very own, Micheal 💗🐾!!

06/20/2026

This beautiful girl showed up in Albion a few weeks ago. Several neighbors reached out to us and our friends at Erie Animal Network. She wasn’t going far, and was staying in the same neighborhood. Cameras and a trap went up, then she disappeared!! We then received a tip that a lovely lady in the neighborhood had befriended sweet Gypsy!! The lady was able to contain her, and we assisted with transport to the ANNA Shelter. Thank you, Village, as you’ve helped bring yet another sweet pup to safety!! Gypsy is a great girl, and still available for adoption. Go meet her-you won’t be disappointed!! 💗🐾🫶🏻

06/15/2026

🚨🚨 ATTN: This was forwarded to us, from some of our friends at a shelter.

Scam alert!!! Especially to other non-profits. Last week the shelter received a $4000 check as a donation to the Shelter in the memory of a loved one. We deposited the check. The day after we received the check a man called the Shelter saying it was a mistake and the amount should have been $2000. We offered to send a check for $2000 to him. He said he needed the money right away to cover other donations. He wanted us to PayPal him. We refused to do that. He then wanted a bank check. We told him it would have to be a Shelter account check. He wasn’t happy and threw all types of threats to go public of how badly we are treating his family at a time of mourning. The check bounced. Ironically we received a second check this morning under the same name for $4000. Even the check number was the same. Please pass this on so none of the other wonderful non-profits in our area do not fall for this scam.

06/10/2026

Our friend Heather Sinnott reached out to us on May 18th. She had recently adopted Nessa from the Erie Humane Society, whom is a shy girl from a skittish pack. If you remember the story about Lucky, well Nessa is one of Lucky’s littermates. Heather did everything right-from immediately notifying our friends at Erie Animal Network, to contacting us for advice and assistance. Heather was as proactive as you could be. She has worked with dogs for years, and is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to handling a variety of dogs.

Over the first few days, there weren’t many sightings-many of which couldn’t even be confirmed to be Nessa. Of course by the time they came in, the sighting was hours old. Jan assisted Heather in getting signs up, and Renee drove the neighborhood. Staci provided ongoing guidance and support. Becca and Anne from EHS brought Lucky and another one of Nessa’s friends out multiple times.

Super-Mike (aka Michael Valerio) hit the ground running from the very beginning! He sets up multiple food plots, cameras and traps. He logged over 500 miles on his vehicle, in a very short period of time-working endlessly and around the clock. Even though high temps and thick foliage aren’t ideal to operate a thermal drone in, Micheal put his thermal drone up multiple times. During one of his search attempts, his drone was significantly damaged 😫.

Nessa seemed to be traveling from 33rd to 44th, and crossing some very busy (and dangerous) streets! She was often witnessed running at high speeds, and scaling MULTIPLE fences. By the time Heather, Becca or Anne got to the area, she would already be gone. She only showed up on camera a couple of times. On the morning of May 30th, Heather was reviewing footage from her cameras, and discovered that Nessa made two appearances at HER HOUSE in the wee hours of the night and morning. Michael had Heather put food out, as soon as he learned about the sightings. When Heather went out, she heard a noise in the garage, and discovered Nessa had returned!!! She quickly secured the doors and leashed Nessa. We can thank everyone enough, for all of your help with this case!!! We think Nessa would be excellent at an agility!!

06/07/2026

Just a friendly reminder, as thermal drones just aren’t as effective this time of year. They are a wonderful tool, and have been a game changer for us; but have some limitations. We appreciate the transparency, especially during times of desperation.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18fxbRSRgs/?mibextid=wwXIfr

We encourage pilots to maintain transparency and honesty when pet owners make the call.📞

As the trees grow thicker, in some areas thermal drones become less effective. 🌳

But in many areas across the U.S. with less dense vegetation, thermal drones are used year round to find and save lost pets!

Speak with a pilot near you to find out what is best for your situation and your pet 🙏✅

05/30/2026

After spending several months at Erie Humane Society, Red was adopted out. Just a few months after being adopted, Red is back at the shelter 😔. He is now warming up to people much quicker. Please consider opening your home and heart to this sweet fellow!

05/29/2026

This little one surfaced in Springfield last month. We initially thought it was a dog that had been missing from Cambridge Springs. A few people were able to capture videos of this dog, and it was clear that it needed help. Michelle Wasmund went out and got food plots and cameras set up. She and Michael Valerio then began trapping efforts. This little one was in a trapped in no time. Within a minutes of his capture, we received notification that this dog was Cash, and he was from Conneaut Ohio, and had owners. It was clear that he needed medical attention, which Michael generously offered to covered the costs. This little man was home a short while later, getting the care and love that needed!

05/22/2026

We truly have the BEST supporters!! We would like to thank Marcia Combine, for our BRAND NEW microchip reader!! We did not have a microchip reader, and relied on local veterinarian offices and shelters, to assist us in checking stray dogs for chips. Marcia has been supporting us since day one, and routinely helps us with monitoring posts for the Mercer area dogs, canvassing Mercer County for lost dogs, and setting up food plots and cameras when needed. THANK YOU, we appreciate our new tool!!

05/10/2026

Last month, this dog surfaced in North East. It had been running the vineyards and in a high traffic area for several days – not allowing anyone to get close. It was just devastating to see her running in the pouring rain! Super Mike (Michael Valerio) managed to squeeze time in, in between some very important appointments, to bring this gal to safety! Micheal put his drone in the air, and was able to get a solid location. After a scary standoff with a coyote, she made her way to the trap. Renee kept her company, until she could be transported to the ANNA Shelter. She was quickly adopted out, and now living her best life!! 🫶🏻🐾💗