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The search for Stella

Dog back home after nine days on run in area

By Terri Castelaz 10 min read

IRON MOUNTAIN -- In the blink of an eye, Stella pulled off an escape act worthy of Harry Houdini. What happened next was no magic trick.

For nine long days, Jeff and Ann Hruska lived every pet owner's nightmare as they searched for their newly adopted Bernedoodle, unsure if they would ever see her again.

The timid, 5-year-old dog had only been in her Iron Mountain home for four days when she slipped out the door and disappeared, beginning a journey through unfamiliar woods and neighborhoods that would bring strangers together in the effort to find her.

"I'm in awe of how many eyes and hearts were working for Stella's return," said Ann Hruska. "A special thanks to Leah (Gussert Ziemba) for all her help with the search -- I'm not sure we could have done it without her guidance."

For Stella, running was nothing new.

She came to the Hruskas with a history of uncertainty and change. Before she became the center of a rescue effort, she had already spent several years trying to find a place where she belonged.

The Hruskas adopted Stella from the original breeder after she was given back by her previous family last November due to her running.

For much of her life, Stella had been passed from one household to another. The constant changes left her unsure and unsettled. "She didn't really ever get secure in her environment, which made her timid and a little nervous," Hruska said.

The breeder later learned from neighbors that Stella spent a significant amount of time chained outside and believes she may have been attacked by other dogs while tethered in the yard.

"She had a lot of negative experiences," Hruska said.

The breeder spent months helping her rebuild confidence. "She just kept her quiet, re-integrating her and calming her down," Hruska said.

She believed Stella was ready for a new beginning, but knew she needed more individual attention than she could provide while caring for several other animals.

The Hruskas were familiar with the breeder after adopting two cats from her and felt Stella would fit well into their family, that include two Goldendoodle sisters, Griffin and Chia.

"They all really got along well together, the cats especially took to her," Hruska said.

On the day they brought Stella home, the Canadian wildfire smoke had settled over the region. "She was in a strange environment with a strange smell," Hruska said. "Stella is timid, but she's super sweet and good natured."

Like many rescue dogs, adjusting to a new home takes time.

Although Stella spent time in the family's fenced yard when she went outdoors, the breeder recommended daily walks to help build confidence.

"On that Saturday (July 18) morning, we went out and she walked like a dream," Hruska said. "Nice and calm, right by my side and didn't pull."

That evening, after temperatures cooled, Hruska prepared to take all three dogs for another walk.

While attaching leashes to Griffin and Chia, Stella slipped underneath one of the dogs and darted through the open door. "She bolted so fast -- by the time I got to the end of the driveway, she was already three blocks down," she said.

Knowing Stella had previously run nearly 15 miles after escaping another home, the family had attached an Apple AirTag to her collar as a precaution.

For about 90 minutes, the tracker provided locations near Fourth Street, Northside ball field and Chapin Pit, before suddenly going silent.

A volunteer even flew a drone over the pit to make sure she hadn't gone down the steep incline.

"We were thinking, 'Oh no, did she fall in?' It was just really odd," Hruska said.

Because AirTags rely on nearby iPhones rather than satellites, they stop reporting locations when outside cellular traffic.

The Hruskas believe Stella spent much of the next week hidden in the wooded terrain around Millie Hill.

"There was nothing for nine days," Hruska said.

The search quickly expanded, Hruska contacted law enforcement, Almost Home Animal Shelter and posted on Facebook.

By the next morning, Ziemba, who has experience in lost animal recovery and volunteered and trained with other animal rescues, immediately reached out to offer her help and began guiding the search.

"I didn't know what to do because this was all new to me," Hruska said.

Ziemba designed flyers and large yard signs with Stella's photo that were placed throughout the community.

"She knew exactly how to word things," Hruska said. "One of her first recommendations was not to publicly share Stella's last known location."

Hruska said after her missing dog post the response was overwhelming.

"There were homeless guys out looking and several others walking miles to help find her," Hruska said. "Most people in this town are so awesome and good-hearted."

However, not every call was genuine. As the search gained attention online, Hruska received several scam calls and even prank reports from people hoping to collect a reward.

Ziemba said that is why she advised using her phone number and not the owners' in rescue cases.

At 2 p.m. Monday, July 27, her husband called to tell her the Air Tag transmitted from the VA Medical Center.

Hruska immediately jumped in the car to rush to the location, only to be sidetracked by another false report that ultimately proved to be a prank.

She had also notified Ziemba, who is also a VA employee, of the update. Being familiar with the property, she was the first to spot Stella.

She found the frightened dog bedded down next to a storage building during a storm, but Stella bolted again before anyone could safely approach.

Soon afterward, sightings began coming in rapidly as more residents recognized Stella from the flyers.

"Everyone said she was on the run but was able to give us direction," Hruska said.

Eventually the search led them to the street along the Menominee River in Kingsford.

Finally, the call they had hoped for arrived. "We have your dog -- she's in our house," Hruska said.

Exhausted after more than a week without regular food or shelter, Stella wandered into an open garage and curled up outside the door leading into the house on Easton Lanes in Kingsford.

When the homeowners returned from a walk, they were able to keep her from escaping again. "A family member inside unknowingly had opened the door and she instinctually bolted into their home," Hruska said.

When she and Ziemba arrived at the home, they found a smelly, dirty Bernedoodle standing in their kitchen, with leash still attached.

Stella had lost about 4 pounds. Her paws were raw and bleeding from days of running, and had some burrs, but otherwise appeared to be in remarkably good condition.

Hruska said she didn't get the story from the family until the next day, as she was too emotional and just wanted to get her back home.

Once home, Stella spent much of the next day curled up with the stuffed animal she arrived with, shaking from the experience.

Hruska chose not to immediately take her to a veterinarian, believing another stressful trip would only add to the trauma. Instead, she carefully examined Stella herself, gave her a flea and tick treatment and bathed her the next day.

Now the work begins to help Stella understand she finally has a home.

"We will continue to work on gaining trust and show her this is her place and we're going to take care of her," Hruska said.

For Ziemba, Stella's rescue highlights the importance of understanding the whole rescue process.

Over the years, she has helped recover numerous lost dogs and cats in the local area and is currently assisting with several active cases. She works closely with Dickinson County Animal Control and Niagara Animal Control.

While every case is different, she said there are several steps owners should take as soon as a pet goes missing.

Her first recommendation is to spread the word quickly with roadside signs and flyers throughout the neighborhood while sharing the original location on social media.

Ziemba also cautions owners against offering rewards, saying they can attract well-meaning people who unknowingly chase a frightened dog farther away or scammers who falsely claim to have found the pet and demand money.

Owners are encouraged to notify local law enforcement, animal control agencies, veterinary clinics, animal shelters and even local radio stations.

She gives credit to Peggy Gingrass, who created the Lost/Missing Pegs Dickinson County, MI Facebook page and also Phyllis Carlson as being another great resource.

Neighbors can help by checking security cameras, garages, sheds and other outbuildings, and if a pet remains missing for several days, owners should expand their search into neighboring communities and counties.

One of the most important pieces of advice, Ziemba said, is understanding that many lost dogs enter what rescuers call "survival mode" as that is what keeps them alive.

"In the majority of the cases, dogs don't behave like the pets the owners have known -- they change personalities," Ziemba said. "So calling out their names will most often drive them out further."

"It really takes finesse work trying to get the dogs' trust and in a lot of cases they need to live trap the animal," she added.

If an animal is located, owners should sit quietly on the ground, speak in a calm, gentle voice and place familiar scents such as worn clothing, bedding or a favorite blanket or toy outside to help draw the dog back.

"Liquid smoke for food items is great to add to their food or treats as the smell can be picked up from a distance," Ziemba said.

If sightings continue, rescuers may set live traps equipped with cameras and scent items to safely capture the animal.

Ziemba said Stella was a very unique situation, as normally they would have to set a live trap considering her time on the run.

The experience also provides tips about tracking technology. While the AirTag provided crucial clues, it has significant limitations in wooded areas. Dedicated GPS collars offer more reliable tracking, but require subscriptions and regular charging.

"Thermal Drones could also be an option if a pet owner has access," she said.

Keeping pets microchipped and maintaining current contact information can also make a significant difference if they become lost.

Above all, she encourages patience. "It's very hard -- you're worried sick and you want them back home safe," she said.

Hruska advises others going through the same situation to trust the process.

"Every rescue is different and you learn something from every one," said Ziemba. "You would be surprised of what they can survive."

For Ziemba, every reunion is worth the long hours of searching, planning and waiting.

"I love animals," she said. "If one of mine went missing, I would be devastated."

That compassion continues to drive her mission of helping lost pets find their way home.

She recently raised the funds for a 6-foot Tomahawk live trap, and hopes to continue expanding the local rescue effort by raising funds for additional equipment, including a satellite-connected trail camera for remote trapping locations and eventually a larger "Missy Trap" -- a 10-by-10-foot chain-link enclosure with a trigger-operated door designed for difficult canine rescues.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Ziemba at 906-282-7925, message her on Facebook or email leahrae26@hotmail.com.

For the Hruskas, though, the greatest reward is much simpler. After a lifetime of uncertainty and nine unforgettable days on the run, Stella is finally where she belongs -- home.

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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