Trapper builds trust with missing ‘skittish’ dog for a year. Then comes ‘amazing news’

A dog that went missing in a Michigan state park was captured by a dog trapper who was patiently biding her time for a year, officials say.

The “skittish” dog named Barley went missing from Tahquamenon Falls State Park in May 2023. Capturing Barley proved difficult because he would run away if approached.

But Deanna Suggitt, a professional dog trapper, was up for the task.

After feeding Barley for a year but unable to successfully catch the dog, Suggitt finally built enough trust with the missing pup to capture him, the Chippewa County Animal Shelter said in a July 25 Facebook post, calling it “amazing news.”

“Deanna, you are our hero and never once gave up on Barley,” the shelter said. “Through rain, sleet, snow or hail, day after day you fed him knowing one day he’d finally be safe!”

Barley was caught around 50 miles from the campgrounds where he went missing, the state park said.

Barley, a shepherd/terrier mix, was described by Suggitt as a “very gentle soul.” She said Barley endured “horrible treatment” from his previous owners before getting away.

Suggitt said in a Facebook post the owner of the property where Barley was captured had allowed her to “trap, feed (and) set up cameras” for more than a year.

“A sincere thank you to every single person involved and every property owner along this boy’s journey who allowed access, reported sightings and Moore’s Lost K9 Search & Recovery for their willingness to help in the early stages and camera support,” Suggitt said on Facebook.

“A special thank you to Steve (Jorgensen) for allowing access to his property for a year, as Deanna and Denny worked daily to feed and keep this doggo in one location, until this special boy could be secured,” the post read.

Tahquamenon Falls State Park is in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan near Lake Superior.

This story was originally published July 30, 2024 at 9:01 AM with the headline "Trapper builds trust with missing ‘skittish’ dog for a year. Then comes ‘amazing news’."