About Us
Search and Capture ~ Elusive, Injured & Sick Dogs
Our team specializes in locating and capturing sick, injured, and elusive dogs when all traditional capture efforts have failed. We also respond to emergency situations where dogs have fled after major vehicle collisions or have been displaced during disasters or large-scale events.
We operate around the clock using advanced aerial and ground-based technology, including thermal imaging, night vision, and live cellular cameras, to safely locate, track, and capture dogs. When necessary, immediate lifesaving veterinary care is provided.
All cases are carefully triaged and accepted based on medical condition, trauma severity, and overall urgency, including situations identified as critical by animal control or law enforcement. Some captures are completed within hours, while others may take days or weeks depending on the dog’s condition, terrain, accessibility, and size of the search area.
Once a dog is safely captured, they are scanned for a microchip and provided emergency veterinary care if needed. In accordance with Texas law, stray dogs are transported to the appropriate Animal Control authority within the jurisdiction where they were found for a mandatory stray hold. If an owner is not located, we work closely with our rescue partners to secure foster placement, continue medical care, and facilitate adoption.
Every possible effort is made to reunite dogs with their owners. In addition to coordinating with local Animal Control agencies, we actively use social media, Nextdoor, and other networking platforms to help locate owners of lost pets.
Aerial Operations
Utilizing state-of-the-art thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras aboard our DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise drone, we are able to conduct thorough aerial searches in support of our ground operations and tracking efforts. This technology allows our team to confirm den locations and locate injured or hiding dogs without ever needing to approach them directly.
By maintaining distance, we significantly reduce stress on the dog and avoid altering their natural behavior. In most cases, the dog is never aware of our team’s presence prior to safe and humane capture.
Tracking
We utilize confirmed public sightings to help track the movements of an elusive dog. This information allows our team to map locations, routes, and travel patterns over time. By understanding where a dog moves and rests, we are often able to identify den areas and determine the most effective and strategic locations for deploying video monitored feeding stations.
This data driven approach allows us to guide the dog toward a safe, controlled environment, reducing stress and minimizing risk. Establishing predictable movement patterns and routines helps us position feeding stations and prepare for humane capture in a way that prioritizes the dog’s safety and wellbeing.
Learn Dog vs. Coyote tracks: https://muttsandmayhem.org/dog-vs-coyote-tracks
Feeding Stations
During an active search, we may deploy one or more video monitored feeding stations along the dog’s known travel routes. Feeding stations allow our team to safely observe the dog’s condition, movement patterns, and behavior while encouraging them to stop, eat, and conserve energy. All feeding stations are placed in discreet, undisclosed locations and kept out of public view to protect both the dog and the integrity of the operation.
Once a dog begins visiting a feeding station, we remove the others and use that single location as a consistent and reliable food source. Providing regular access to food helps reduce stress, build predictability, and establish a routine that is critical for a safe and humane capture. We feed nutritious meals and may supplement them with highly enticing foods such as bacon, brisket, or rotisserie chicken to encourage consistent visits.
After the dog has been reliably eating at the feeding station, we carefully introduce one of our custom built humane capture systems, such as a corral trap or drop net. This method allows the dog to be captured with minimal stress and without the need for force or pursuit, prioritizing safety for both the dog and our team.
Capture Equipment: Corral Trap & Drop Net System
Our custom built corral trap is designed to be flexible and humane. It can be configured from 50 square feet up to 400 square feet, depending on the individual dog’s needs, behavior, and tolerance for entering an enclosed space. We do not use small box traps. The larger footprint allows the dog to move freely, reduces stress, and encourages natural behavior.
When a corral trap is deployed, we install video cameras both inside and outside the enclosure, providing a full 360 degree view. The corral door is held open using an electronic magnet system powered by a high capacity marine battery. This allows the door to be released remotely and smoothly when the dog is safely inside.
Our drop net system utilizes the same custom electronic control system as the corral trap. A 25 foot by 25 foot net is suspended approximately 15 to 20 feet in the air using powerful magnets. When the dog is calmly eating in the center of the net, the system is remotely activated, allowing the net to drop quickly and safely around them.
Regardless of which capture method is used, our team is always staged nearby, typically within 200 yards, while monitoring the operation through live video feeds. This distance allows the dog to remain calm and unaware of human presence while ensuring our team can respond immediately once capture occurs. Motion sensors and live cameras alert us when the dog arrives, enters the corral, or moves beneath the drop net, allowing the equipment to be activated remotely. Once captured, we are able to begin the decompression period and any necessary treatment without delay.
Community-Based Search Teams
In emergency situations where dogs have fled from the scene of an incident or have been displaced after suffering major trauma, such as a vehicle collision or severe weather event, and are believed to be injured or unable to ambulate, MMESAR develops, deploys, and commands coordinated ground foot searches utilizing trained community search volunteers.
In support of these efforts, our command team also initiates aerial searches to enhance ground operations, increase coverage, and improve the likelihood of locating the dog quickly and safely.
Rehabilitation & Adoption
Occasionally, when space allows after a mandatory stray hold at the municipal shelter, we are able to intake a dog we have captured and provide short or long term medical, physiological, and social rehabilitation tailored to their individual needs, as well as adoption placement.
Rehabilitation takes place in carefully selected, well balanced foster homes where dogs are supported as they prepare for domestic family life. In more severe cases involving fear, anxiety, or psychological trauma, rehabilitation is provided under 24 hour care by advanced canine behaviorists and a professional training team at Happy Gentle Dog Ranch.
Because our primary mission focuses on boots on the ground search, capture, and emergency response operations, foster placements and openings at the ranch are extremely limited. We do not operate a large foster to adoption network, as the majority of our team resources are dedicated to locating, capturing, and stabilizing dogs in urgent and high risk situations.
To ensure dogs still receive the care and placement they need, we work closely with a trusted network of rescue partners. When we are unable to intake a dog directly, these partners assist with foster placement, continued medical care, behavioral support, and adoption efforts. This collaborative approach allows each organization to focus on its strengths while ensuring dogs receive appropriate care and the best possible chance at a safe and permanent home.