In the wake of the wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles vicinity, a stray dog named Jackie found new opportunities ahead of her. Saved from a Los Angeles County shelter that could no longer accommodate her and was considering euthanasia, Jackie was transported to a safer haven in Juneau, Alaska.
However, Jackieโs stay in Juneau was short-lived. The German shepherd-husky mix managed to escape her collar on the very first day with her new family in mid-February and disappeared into a nearby forest. Ever since, sheโs relied on her instincts to survive, cleverly avoiding traps baited with burgers and chicken delicacies set by concerned animal control specialists and volunteers.
The wooded territory Jackie roams is perilously close to a busy highway, and with the emergence of black bears from their winter slumber, the risks Jackie faces increase. As a result, volunteers have discontinued leaving food and cat kibble to detract bears from the area. โPerhaps this is the life she seeks, to be wild and unconfined,โ expressed Thom Young-Bayer, an animal control officer in Juneau, though he acknowledged, โThis isnโt a secure way for her to exist here.โ
Both Thom Young-Bayer and his wife, Skylar, dedicate their spare time, frequently after dusk, to searching for Jackie and earning her trust. The elusive dog is adept at blending into her environment, burrowing in soft moss to hide and avoiding direct eye contact with their flashlight beams, making her difficult to spot. In the infrared footage captured by Young-Bayer, Jackieโs presence appears as a glowing red figure reminiscent of a scene from the film โPredator.โ
On a recent endeavor to locate her within the dense forest, Jackie made a fleeting appearance, her dark fur seamlessly blending with the tree stumps and roots. Despite surveying the enveloping underbrush and inspecting a long-monitored trap, Young-Bayer returned empty-handed. However, he discovered Jackie was seen trotting along a frozen pond when reunited with another officer on a nearby trail.
Lately, Young-Bayer is noticing Jackie more consistently. Whereas before she would swiftly run away at the sight of humans, her new presence suggests a slow progression in building her trust. The Young-Bayers are not seeking to ambush the dog but rather foster a sense of safety for her.
Juneau Animal Rescue, tasked with animal control and welfare services, has called for individuals to report any Jackie sightings, underlining that her skittish nature requires limited human interaction.
Little is documented about Jackieโs background. She came into a Californian shelter as a wandering dog in early January, just days preceding the Los Angeles wildfires. Her age is estimated to be between 2 to 3 years. Jackieโs shelter records characterized her as quiet, with moderate anxiety and stress indicators.
Skylar Young-Bayer, actively involved with rescue organizations in California, played a role in relocating Jackie and two other at-risk dogs facing euthanasia to Juneau for adoption. Jackie was placed in foster care before her adoption was finalized.
Previously, other runaway dogs have captured public attention, such as Scrim, a small terrier mix eventually caught in New Orleans after several months owing to a cat trap.
Mike Mazouch, director of animal control and protection at Juneau Animal Rescue, pointed out Jackieโs restricted bonding time with her new family before her escape. The prospect of using tranquilizers was discarded as too dangerous due to uncertainty in locating her post-sedation.
Mazouch joined Young-Bayer last week in dismantling the trap within the forest, with Jackie coming within 50 feet as she moved across the frozen pond where Mazouch managed to snap her photo amidst slender trees. Capturing Jackie has become a โbattle of wills,โ remarked Mazouch, affirming, โShe refuses to give in, and neither will we.โ