A days-long search for a large wolf-dog hybrid that recently got loose in California has come to a happy conclusion, as the animal is safe again with its owners.
The large wolfdog had been on the run since Wednesday, sparking concern and an extensive search by police in the North Bay region of California.
According to KTVU, between 30 and 40 sightings were reported. While there were no incidents of the wolfdog being aggressive, authorities did not know what threat the animal posed and did not know if it had an owner.
The Sebastopol Police Department issued an alert, along with a photo of the hybrid walking on the road, urging people to contact authorities but not approach the animal.
Through social networks, the authorities learned that the wolfdog was not a stray but belonged to an owner from Santa Rosa; The name of the escaped wolfdog is “Shadow.”
The owner joined the effort to capture Shadow and bring him home safely, bringing with him his two huskies.
But Shadow was in “flight mode” and evaded multiple attempts to capture him. Authorities took precautions to ensure his safety: North Bay Animal Services CEO Mark Scott told KTVU they closed the road out of fear the wolfdog would be hit.
After multiple failed attempts, the owner, an animal care officer and a good Samaritan were finally able to corner Shadow on Monday, calming him down enough to put him on a leash.
Everyone was excited by the happy conclusion of the story, especially Shadow’s owner, who in the photos is seen on the ground hugging his wayward pet:
It can be an image of 1 person and a dog.
“A big shout out and THANK YOU to the vigilant community members who reported seeing Shadow,” North Bay Animal Services wrote on Facebook. “Your vigilance and cooperation with him made the difference in getting Shadow back to where he belongs.”
“This beautiful meeting shows the incredible impact we can achieve when we all work together for the well-being of our four-legged friends. Thank you for being part of this incredible community that cares about its animals.”
What a happy ending! We are so glad Shadow is home safe and
sound!
