A dog is most certainly man’s best friend and when he or she goes missing it is a family crisis.
Jennifer and Tommy Ganley of Laurel, Delaware know all about that. The Ganleys visited Bethpage Camp-Resort near Urbanna with three children and one of their three Great Danes on June 15th when their dog, named Raven, went missing. This sparked a community wide search for the large black female Great Dane.
A local volunteer group of dog rescuers partnered with the Ganley family and others and made Raven’s rescue story possible. On July 9 – 24 days missing – she was finally reunited with her family.
Raven’s owner Jennifer Ganley
“Since we lost Raven it has been a wave of emotions. We lost our dog and wondered if we would ever get her back” said Jennifer. “We want to thank the rescue volunteers, the community members who texted and called us with sightings and Bethpage officials for their outpouring of support in helping us find Raven.”
The Ganleys have five children and three Great Danes – Raven, Abby and Max. Raven is Abby’s mother which Jennifer thinks helped bring Raven home. “I brought Abby with me on the last trip because we felt if Raven picked up her daughter’s scent, she would come to her.”
“While we searched for Raven, the campground let us setup our camper for free and campground employees bought toys and food used in attempts to entice her to come home,” said Jennifer. “We just can’t thank everyone enough for the community wide effort that led to us bringing our dog home,” she said.
Rescue effort as told by volunteer Erin Ewan of Hartfield
Weeks 1-2:
The local volunteer rescue team consisted of Erin Ewan, Stacy Jones, Maura Santoni and Lisa Saint John. The search that unfolded is told below by Ewan.
- Tuesday, June 18th – “Our team of volunteers was asked by Raven’s family to assist in finding Raven and help bring her home safely. We began to get sightings of Raven on Burrell’s Marina Road.
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Raven was filmed here eating food that volunteers placed in the woods near Bethpage Camp-Resort. The Great Dane roamed for 24 days before it was finally retrieved. (Contributed) Wednesday, June 19th – “Our team combed the area and set up scent stations with WiFi cameras at areas we thought would attract Raven most. We received many sightings and continued to move our scent stations to the areas that Raven was frequenting most. Raven’s pattern was often unpredictable as she would pop up in new spots, but staying in the general area.”
- Wednesday, June 26th, “Urbanna had a bad storm roll through the area. We believe the storm caused Raven to change patterns. It was around this time that we began to get sightings at Bethpage. Raven’s Dad and Sister drove 4.5 hours Wednesday evening to help the team. Raven was spotted by the workers at Bethpage and Ravens’s family went over immediately to lay eyes on her. Once Raven saw them, she bolted into the woods. It was devastating but we knew Raven wasn’t ready to surrender just yet. We continued to get sightings around Bethpage.
“Most nights Raven would roam the campground or she would visit the dumpster area. She was seen the most at 2 areas at Bethpage – behind the cottages on Hewick View Lane and near the dumpsters. We had a feeling she was camping out in the woods during the day and making her loop at night, which is typical for a dog in fight or flight. Our team set up cameras and scent stations in these locations. We began to get Raven on camera as well as received many sightings at Bethpage.
Week 3:
- Sunday, June 30th – “We set the trap in the woods behind the cottages because we had Raven on camera there a few times. We continued to get sightings of Raven near the dumpsters as well as on the camera by the scent station we set near the dumpsters.”
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A camera caught Raven here inside of a trap but the door did not release frustrating volunteer rescuer. He was later found and caught at the owner’s camper at Bethpage. (Contributed) Wednesday, July 3rd – “Our team felt Raven was becoming more vulnerable. Raven was seen searching campers many nights (often between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.) and was showing interest in trucks like her family drives. We felt if the right opportunity presented itself, Raven would come to the family. Plans were made with the family to bring their camper and other dogs down to Bethpage for a few days.
- Saturday July 6th – “The team & family made the decision to move the trap closer to the dumpsters because this seemed to be where Raven was most comfortable.”
- Sunday, July 7th – “The family came down to Urbanna with their dogs Max and Abby and set up their camper at BethPage. The team and family moved the trap into the woods by the dumpsters and reset the scent station within the trap. That evening Raven was seen on camera by the trap but did not enter the trap. It was a big bummer to see her walk away but we knew this meant Raven was comfortable with the trap being in the area, so we knew it would just be a matter of time!
- Monday, July 8th, “Raven’s mom Jennifer reset the scent station at the trap. She brought Abby (Raven’s daughter) over with her to the trap area in hopes that Abby’s scent would help draw Raven in. Around 9:15 p.m. Raven showed back up on camera and entered the trap.
Animal Trap
The way the trap is designed, there is an invisible beam of light, once that beam is broken the door to the trap shuts. Typically when dogs eat a big bite of food, they have to raise their head to swallow. Once they raise their head the invisible beam is broken and the door closes. Due to Raven’s size, we had to rig 2 traps together to make 1 large trap. Raven entered the trap with her head down but sadly never raised her head which means the beam was not broken and the door did not shut. Our team and the family were in shock but we knew what would happen in perfect timing. Raven disappeared for about an hour. She returned to the area of the trap around 11:40 p.m. We could tell that she didn’t seem to be eating but instead was sniffing around. Once again, Raven went into the trap but didn’t go all the way to the back so the beam was not broken and the door did not close. Raven then left the area. Our hearts sank. Where did she go?! Why isn’t she going in to eat the food?! Again, we knew it would happen in perfect timing,” said Ewan.
- Tuesday, July 9th – “Around 12:20 a.m. Raven is spotted on camera at the family’s camper. She sniffs around and then goes right up to the door. Raven followed Abby’s scent from the trap to the family’s camper! At this time we had a feeling Raven was about ready to surrender. Then we see Raven walking away. Once again our hearts sank. Jennifer, Raven’s mom, took Abby outside. While outside Jennifer calmly and quietly called for Raven. When Raven realized who it was, she came over to Jennifer and Abby. Raven was finally ready to surrender and be reunited with her family. Jennifer was able to gently get a leash on Raven and bring her safely inside.”
“Our team spent every night from Wednesday, June 19 to Monday, July 8th following up on sightings, moving cameras and scent stations, re-baiting scent stations, driving around the area, answering calls at every hour of the day and night.”
“We are thankful to the Bethpage team for being so great to work with. We are thankful for everyone who has called in sightings and have reached out to help.
“Raven is covered in ticks but appears to be in good condition overall (just a bit skinny),” said Ewan. “We are so happy for Raven and the Ganley family!”
“We plan to come back to Bethpage in the future,” said Jennifer. “But I think we will leave the dogs at home!”
