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Canine Capture UK (CCUK) specialise in the re-capture of escaped nervous rescue and ex-street dogs using a range of skills and equipment.

Animal Capture UK exist to help the ‘trap savvy’ and nervous complex lost dogs and are the only LANTRA trained and qualified team in ‘Basic Trapping’ and ‘Live Animal Capture with Chemical Immobilisation Technology’ ie darting.

31/10/2026

🐾 JACK, A BABY ON A ROAD TO SURVIVAL 🐾

Jack was a young, nervous dog who, on 28th June 2026, encountered something that would barely register with most of us. But for Jack, a simple noise was enough to trigger his nervous system into action. Just metres from home in Lyme Upton, Devon, Jack slipped his collar and took off. Thankfully, he didn’t go far. Jack remained close to home, and that’s where he stayed for the next couple of months. But being close to home doesn’t necessarily mean a dog is safe, and Jack’s story was far from over.

We don’t have a complete picture of everything that happened over the following weeks, but feeding stations were established and a Vulcan trap was placed. Jack, however, was never going to entertain that trap.

Fast forward to July when Missing Dog Support Team CIC became aware of Jack’s situation and began advocating for him, with the aim of moving things forward and finding a way to bring his ordeal to an end. A larger trap was needed, but there was a problem. The existing feeding location wasn’t big enough to accommodate a Missy trap.

With summer in full swing, the local campsite was busy, so the local team decided to wait until the campsite closed for the season before attempting to introduce a larger trap. But waiting wasn’t without its risks. After summer comes autumn, bringing fireworks, longer and colder nights, and then winter. Every day a dog remains loose brings its own risks, regardless of how close they are to home. Time matters. And waiting for circumstances to become more convenient simply isn’t an option.

In August, Missing Dog Support Team CIC hired a large van, loaded up a bigger solid trap and cameras, and made the long journey to Devon. The next phase of Jack’s recovery began.

The plan was to introduce Jack to the larger solid trap using the feeding bowl he already knew and trusted. Progress was made. Jack began entering the trap, but his behaviour wasn’t consistent enough, and he never seemed fully relaxed. He was always stretching, always ready to bolt.

When food was placed at the back of the trap, Jack simply waited for the bowl to be brought forward. He wasn’t daft! Jack wasn’t prepared to put himself in a position where he didn’t feel safe. If he didn’t trust where the bowl was, he simply wouldn’t eat.

And so the pattern repeated.

This is an important reminder that a dog’s willingness to eat does not necessarily mean they feel safe enough to be caught. Food can be a valuable tool in recovery, but it cannot override fear. Jack needed more than a tempting meal. He needed an approach that recognised his anxiety and prioritised his welfare.

As time passed, the local team suggested using Jack’s food to administer sedation, with the intention of relaxing him just enough to make recovery possible. For us, the alarm bells started ringing.

Absolutely not.

Administering oral sedatives to a loose dog, whether the intention is to relax them or fully sedate them, carries significant risks that are difficult to control outside a veterinary setting. We are increasingly concerned about the use of this approach as a way of trying to secure loose dogs. Oral sedatives do not offer a predictable, guaranteed route to recovery. Their effects can vary, and a frightened dog living in an uncontrolled environment may not respond in the way people expect. A dog that appears calmer is not necessarily safely sedated, and there is no guarantee that the medication will produce the desired effect at the right time.

There is also no oral sedative in existence that will immobilise a dog.

But there is another risk that deserves just as much consideration.

What happens to the trust the dog has developed in their food source?

Jack had been learning where he could find food. That food was part of the routine helping him survive.

Imagine eating something you have eaten time and time again, only for it to make you feel strange or unwell one day. Would you be so willing to eat it again?

Now imagine being a frightened dog, surviving outdoors and relying on that food source.

If the experience undermines that trust, where does it leave the dog? It doesn’t bear thinking about.

Quite simply, the risk versus reward is not one we would advise accepting when safer, professionally planned recovery options are available.

Anyone considering this approach should carefully consider the risks and seek specialist advice.

Time passed, and Jack continued with his routine.

He was still close to home, but the fact that he was nearby didn’t make the situation any less important. That left the biggest question of all: How long do you give it?

Darting, or Chemical Immobilisation Technology (CIT), was discussed with Jack’s adopters. However, the local team considered the terrain unsafe for carrying out CIT, even with the tracking darts they believed were not available in the UK. We have to be honest: that left us scratching our heads a little.
The terrain was actually among the safer locations we had been presented with, and, as this page demonstrates, we have located many dogs using the tracking dart technology available to us. Of course, every location must be assessed individually, and no two recovery operations are the same. Safety has to be considered carefully, and CIT is never something to undertake without appropriate planning and expertise. But it is equally important that all available options are properly understood and assessed before a decision is made.

Discussions continued because, ultimately, although Jack was only metres from home, his situation needed to reach a conclusion.

CIT was agreed upon, and the next phase began.

The team needed to identify a suitable location for the darting operation and then work towards getting Jack into a routine that would give him the best possible chance of being recovered safely. This took time, patience and planning. Eventually, Jack began to follow some form of routine, although he could have chosen a slightly more sociable time of day! His regular arrival window was between 4 am and 6 am. Not exactly the hours the team would have chosen, but Jack was calling the shots, and we had to work with him. The important thing was that an opportunity was finally developing.

On 21 September, the team made the very, very long journey to Lyme Regis. And where did we settle in for our luxurious five-star accommodation for the night? A local pub car park, of course! At midnight, everything was ready for Jack’s arrival around dawn. The team positioned themselves where they needed to be and waited. And waited.

Then Jack arrived.

A young, frightened dog who had spent months surviving outdoors was finally presented with an opportunity to come home.

This was the moment everything changed.

A dart was deployed.

Now Jack had to be located.

Using the tracking technology embedded in the dart, together with the receiver, we were able to locate Jack and safely contain him.

Jack was safe. ❤️🐾

After months of surviving outside, this little dog finally had the chance to leave that life behind.

❤️ WHAT JACK’S STORY REMINDS US
Jack’s story is about so much more than a dog who wouldn’t enter a trap. It reminds us that fear can make even the smallest things feel enormous to a nervous dog. It reminds us that food alone cannot overcome fear, and that a dog approaching a feeding station is not necessarily a dog ready to be caught.
It reminds us to question whether a proposed intervention is genuinely in the dog’s best interests.
And it reminds us that being close to home does not mean a dog is safe, or that their recovery can wait indefinitely.
Sometimes, progress comes slowly. Sometimes, a different approach is needed.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Every dog deserves an individual plan, built around their behaviour, their environment and their welfare.

🐾 THANK YOU

A huge thank you to Missing Dog Support Team CIC for advocating for Jack, investing the time and resources needed to move his recovery forward, and making that long journey to Devon.

And finally…

WELCOME BACK, JACK! ❤️🐾

A little dog who spent months surviving outdoors now has the chance to put that chapter behind him.

Sometimes, getting a dog safely recovered means changing the plan, challenging assumptions and refusing to accept that a situation has no way forward.

Because every dog deserves that chance. 🐾

24/10/2026

🐾 PIP, INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR THIS COLLIE 🐾

On 4 July, Pip took off after being spooked during a walk near her new home in Great Easton, Leicestershire. She was still trailing her lead.

The trapping team got straight to work, tracking Pip’s movements. Thankfully, she stayed close to her point of loss and settled a few fields away on a working estate.

A Missy trap was placed, but as time passed, Pip showed little progress.

On 16 August, the trapping team reached out for help. Camera footage was reviewed, and two potential obstacles became apparent.

The first was a small wooden block on one of the Missy trap panels, along with the enclosed space in which the trap was positioned. To us humans, these might have seemed insignificant. To Pip, they were anything but. For a nervous dog, seemingly minor details can become enormous obstacles. The fear associated with the block and the enclosed space outweighed her desire for the food inside the trap.

The second issue was the Ring cameras. These cameras are invaluable tools for monitoring dogs like Pip without the need for constant human presence. They can be lifesaving, allowing teams to observe behaviour and make informed decisions without disturbing the dog. However, not every dog reacts to them in the same way. The cameras were unsettling for Pip. In a dark space, the light from a camera can be surprisingly intense for a nervous dog, and Pip was a Collie! She gave the cameras a wide berth and remained highly suspicious of them.

What works for one dog may be a significant barrier for another. We must look at the situation through the dog’s eyes, not our own.

At this point, we didn’t believe Pip was untrappable. We believed we needed to change the approach. A solid trap was positioned in an area with more space, giving Pip a less enclosed environment. The Ring cameras were moved far enough away to allow her some mental space from them, whilst still enabling the team to monitor her movements.

Pip began showing some positive behaviour around the new trap, which was encouraging. However, her progress wasn’t consistent, and there was another problem we couldn’t ignore, time.

Shooting season was approaching, and there was growing pressure to get Pip safely home before the situation became higher risk and more challenging.

We had to consider what options remained available to give Pip the best chance of coming home safely. Chemical Immobilisation Technology (CIT), or darting, was discussed as an alternative.

Unlike trapping, CIT didn’t require Pip to enter a trap to access food. It offered another potential route to recovery and, crucially, a lifeline to get her safely off the land before shooting began.

The decision was agreed, and planning began.

This wasn’t simply a case of turning up and hoping for the best. The team needed to put a plan in place that gave Pip a high chance of a successful recovery, taking into account her behaviour, the environment and the limited time available.

At the end of August, with only days remaining before shooting began, the dart team arrived on site and put the plan into action.

Pip appeared.

A few tense moments followed, but the opportunity came, and a dart was successfully deployed.

Now Pip had to be located.

She was safely found, recovered and, at last, taken home. ❤️🐾

For Pip, independence had meant weeks away from home, navigating a world that felt frightening and unfamiliar. Her recovery is a reminder that sensitive dogs need a willingness to look at things differently.

Thank you to CESaR CIC for your trapping efforts and for recognising when additional help was needed.

Thank you to Missing Dog Support Team CIC for your help and support on the weeks leading to dart night and on dart night itself.

Welcome home, Pip. ❤️🐾

Sometimes, the greatest thing we can do for a dog is to change the plan.

19/10/2026

🐾 RUBIO UNDERSTANDING THE DOG BEHIND THE JOURNEY 🐾

Where do we start?

A Spanish Podenco who, unlike Ava who was a stayer, Rubio was most definitely not!

Rubio decided to take himself on a rather extensive tour around the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire.

There is a lot to his story, and we think it’s worth taking the time to share a small insight into what happened along the way. Not just how Rubio was eventually recovered, but why certain decisions were made, why the approach had to change and why Chemical Immobilisation Technology (CIT), or darting, became the right option for him.

So, rather than trying to squeeze Rubio’s story into a few paragraphs…

Grab a brew.

Rubio’s story is not simply about a dog who went missing. It is about understanding behaviour, making difficult decisions, adapting when circumstances change and, above everything else, putting the dog’s welfare first.

It also demonstrates why CIT should never be viewed as a quick fix. It is one of a number of recovery options available and, where appropriate, should be considered as part of a carefully planned welfare-led approach.

Every dog is an individual, and there is no single recovery method that works for every dog.

The greatest tool any recovery team has is understanding the dog in front of them.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

Rubio, a six-year-old Podenco, escaped whilst on holiday with his owner near May Hill in Gloucestershire on 25th June 2026. He was wearing his three-point harness, with his lead still attached. Initially, Rubio remained close to the area where he had escaped, and Team Izzy and Forest of Dean Dogs Lost and Found began trapping efforts.

Rubio found the trap, but a reported disturbance in the woodland changed everything. He left the area and began travelling through the Forest of Dean. Eventually, he made his way to Brockweir, where trapping efforts began again. Despite everyone’s efforts, Rubio continued to travel considerable distances, never staying in one place long enough for trapping attempts to progress consistently and nor was it appropriate to ‘follow’ Rubio around with a trap.

This is where understanding the dog becomes so important.

Rubio wasn’t just a lost dog. He had a history, his own experiences and his own way of responding to fear, stress and uncertainty.

And Rubio was a Podenco.

That mattered.

Podencos are often described as “The Great Forgotten.” They originate from ancient hunting dogs and have been developed over generations as multi-sensory hunters, relying heavily on sight, scent and hearing. They are intelligent, athletic and remarkably resilient. Many have spent their lives solving problems independently, covering significant distances and making decisions without human guidance. Those characteristics don’t disappear because a dog becomes lost. If anything, they can become even more apparent.

Understanding a dog’s breed, history, previous experiences and temperament can provide valuable insight into what that dog may be capable of, sometimes before they ever demonstrate it.

Behaviour is not random. Every interaction teaches a lost dog something, and every attempt to catch them can influence what they do next. That is why recovery strategies must be based on the individual dog, not simply on what has worked for other dogs.

On 12th July, the trapping team wanted to discuss darting in more detail. This was when we began to understand Rubio and the challenges his behaviour presented. But before we could decide how best to recover him, we needed to understand what he needed from us first.

WELFARE BEFORE RECOVERY

When people think about recovering a missing dog, the natural focus is on catching them as quickly as possible. Our priority was slightly different. Our first priority was understanding Rubio, his behaviour and his welfare.

Rubio had lost condition. He was travelling large distances and was still wearing his harness and trailing his lead. Before we could ask anything of Rubio, we needed to meet his most basic needs: Food, water, safety and consistency.

During our first conversation with Forest of Dean Lost and Found, Rubio’s last sighting had been at a campsite close to Wyesham. Interestingly, Wyesham was somewhere Rubio had previously visited with his owner, who was also still staying there whilst searching for him.

Did Rubio know where he was? Could he recognise the area? Was he returning because it was familiar?

We couldn’t know for certain, but we advised providing food and water at the home Rubio knew. Perhaps he would enter Wyesham looking for food and come across the house. Perhaps he knew exactly where he was. Given that Rubio had gone missing approximately 20 miles away, if he did recognise the area, that would be remarkable.

That night, Rubio did indeed find the food waiting for him at Wyesham. A bit of a jaw-dropping moment!

However, finding food in Wyesham didn’t mean he was going to stay there.

Rubio soon left and returned to Brockweir.

We had to work with what Rubio was showing us, rather than what we expected him to do. It was also important to speak to sighter’s directly. It is a key part of the process. The team need specific information to follow the process and understand the dog in front of them, so a page was set up specifically for Rubio.

TWO FEEDING LOCATIONS, 10 MILES APART!

Rubio was already demonstrating that not every lost dog follows the ‘rules’. We often hear that once a dog finds a reliable food source, they will settle nearby. Rubio didn’t. Despite being fed regularly and fed well, he continued to travel. Our strategy had to adapt to the dog in front of us. Rather than chasing sightings from one village to the next, feeding stations were established in both Wyesham and Brockweir. Yes, you read that right: two feeding locations, 10 miles apart.

We couldn’t force Rubio to stay in one location. We could, however, reduce the number of decisions he had to make and work with the routine he was showing us.

The objective wasn’t simply to put food down. It was to create consistency around the routine Rubio had established for himself. Consistency can reduce stress. Reduced stress can help stabilise behaviour. Stable behaviour can create more predictable routines, and predictable routines can provide safer, more consistent opportunities for a recovery attempt.

With consistency, Rubio began to look healthier. His ribs were becoming less prominent but, more importantly, we were giving him an opportunity to meet his basic needs without adding further pressure. The feeding stations became safe places where Rubio could eat and drink, whilst the team observed his behaviour from a distance.

Rubio continued travelling between the two locations, often covering the distance in around three hours without a single reported sighting in between.

Think about that for a moment.

He was travelling between two locations 10 miles apart, often in around three hours, without being seen along the way.

He was doing what made sense to him. Not what conventional wisdom said he should do.

And whilst we were learning how Rubio moved, another challenge was beginning to emerge: the impact of people trying to help.

WHEN HELP DOESN’T ALWAYS HELP

Everyone wants to help. That compassion is what brings communities together, but unfortunately, well-intentioned actions can sometimes make recovering a frightened dog much more difficult. When people see a loose dog, the natural instinct is to call them, follow them, watch from a distance, go out and about to ‘spot’ the dog or offer food or try to catch them. Especially when Rubio still had his lead attached, he was viewed as a quick catch. But from the dog’s perspective, those actions can reinforce exactly the behaviour we are trying to change.

Every failed attempt can teach a dog something. Every follow can teach them that people are something to avoid. Every disturbance at a resting place can tell them that nowhere is truly safe. And every meal provided in a different location can encourage continued travelling, rather than returning to somewhere we are trying to establish as predictable.

None of these actions are malicious. They are often acts of kindness, driven by a genuine desire to help.

But kindness without understanding can unintentionally prolong a recovery.

We became aware that Rubio had been hand-fed, repeatedly approached and, on occasions, chased. He was also reported to have suffered an injury. None of those encounters resulted in him being secured, but they did affect the situation we were trying to manage. Places we were working hard to make feel safe and predictable had suddenly become associated with disturbance. At one stage, the disruption became significant enough that Rubio abandoned the area we were trying to stabilise in preparation for a recovery attempt. He chose a new route to return back to Brockweir, thankfully, food was already waiting for him there.

Rather than rushing in and trying to force an opportunity, we chose to observe. It wasn’t simply a case of putting food down whenever Rubio appeared. Food was placed at consistent times and in consistent locations, regardless of where the last sighting had been. We wanted Rubio to learn that he could eat without being disturbed.

To some people, that may have looked like we were doing very little. In reality, we were doing exactly what Rubio needed. We were allowing him to feel safe enough to make the same decisions tomorrow that he had made today. That is what stabilisation looks like.

And that brings us to a question people often ask.

“WHY CAN’T YOU JUST CATCH HIM?”

When a dog has been missing for what people perceive as an extended period, this is a question that often comes up. It can also stem from a misconception about darting. Many people assume the dart team arrives, waits for the dog to appear, deploys a dart and the job is done. The reality is very different.

Yes, there is a trained, qualified and experienced dart gun operator responsible for safely deploying prescribed medication using a dart projector. However, the dartsman is only one part of a much larger operational team. By the time ‘dart night’ arrives, work has already been happening every day the dog is loose. Sightings have been analysed. Movements mapped. Feeding locations reviewed. Behavioural changes discussed. Risks assessed. Discussions with the veterinarian have been ongoing.

We had assessed where Rubio travelled, where he felt safe enough to rest, how he reacted to people, how previous trapping attempts had influenced him and how his behaviour had evolved since leaving May Hill. All of this information helped us understand the situation we were dealing with and the risks involved.

The objective is not simply to deploy a dart. It is to create the safest and best possible opportunity for the dog. That means asking questions most people never see, because once an operation begins, there is no room for guesswork. Decisions are informed by behavioural analysis and operational planning over the time the dog is loose. The more information we have, the better equipped we are to make decisions that put the dog’s welfare first.

It is also important to understand that the dart projector is a fi***rm. It is not a magic wand. It cannot undo weeks of disrupted behaviour. It cannot replace behavioural understanding. It cannot remove every hazard, nor can it create an opportunity where one does not exist.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Whilst all these assessments were ongoing, Rubio continued travelling between Wyesham and Brockweir. We had hoped he would provide an opportunity for recovery in Brockweir. However, he never stayed there long enough for that to be a realistic option. He typically spent less than 24 hours in Brockweir before travelling up to Wyesham where he would spend a couple of nights.

His pattern of movement was becoming clearer, but that didn’t mean we could predict exactly when he would appear or guarantee that an opportunity would present itself. However, at the end of July, Rubio arrived back in Wyesham, and the main road was due to re-open after being closed for the entire time Rubio was loose. He did not know that road was gong to re-open…this posed a substantial additional risk to him.

We had to take the opportunity in front of us.

On 30 July, the team made the long journey to Monmouthshire and put the plan in place. As the streets began to quieten down, Rubio arrived. He stopped. And then, for a few seconds, weeks of planning came down to one opportunity.

The dart was deployed.

Now Rubio had to be located.

Using the knowledge we had gathered over the previous weeks, together with the transmitter dart, Rubio was located 300 metres away and safely contained.

Rubio was safe. 🧡

WHAT RUBIO TAUGHT US

Rubio’s story is a reminder that no two lost dogs are the same. Much of the advice surrounding missing dogs is based on patterns of behaviour, and those patterns can be incredibly useful. But patterns aren’t rules. We often hear that once a dog finds a reliable food source, they will settle. Rubio challenged that assumption. Despite having regular food and water, he continued travelling considerable distances. He did what made sense to him, not what conventional wisdom suggested he should do.

He also demonstrated why behaviour must always drive the recovery strategy. Every interaction influences a dog’s decisions. A kind-hearted attempt to catch a dog, or spot the dog to provide a sighting, may seem insignificant, but to a frightened dog, it becomes another experience to learn from. Sometimes those experiences build trust. Sometimes they reinforce fear. Understanding the difference is one of the most important parts of recovering a missing dog.

Rubio also demonstrated why welfare must always come before capture. He had lost condition, spent weeks travelling miles every day and was dragging a lead behind him. Before we could ask anything of Rubio, we had to meet his needs and give him the opportunity to eat, drink and rest without further disturbance.

Recovery isn’t simply about catching a dog. It is about giving that dog the best possible opportunity to come home safely, both physically and mentally, and to be in the best position possible to go on and live a safe life. Our actions have consequences that go far beyond simply securing a missing dog.

Finally, Rubio’s story reminds us that every dog deserves access to the recovery method that best meets their individual needs. Trapping is an incredibly valuable tool and has reunited countless dogs with their families. Hand-catching has its place too. But neither method is right for every dog. Recovery should never become about proving that one technique is better than another. It should always be about choosing the method that offers that individual dog the safest route home. The dog’s welfare must determine the plan, not our preferred method.

The most successful recoveries happen when experience is shared, expertise is respected and everyone involved is prepared to adapt if it means giving the dog the best possible chance of coming home safely.

Ultimately, putting the dog first isn’t about who recovers them.

It’s about making sure they are recovered safely.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE RECOVERY

Rubio’s recovery would not have been possible without a number of people, and we want to take a moment to recognise them.

Thank you to Missing Dog Support Team CIC for responding so quickly when additional cameras and trap coverage were essential. You helped create the consistency Rubio needed. You drove hours for a ginger dog you didn’t know. Thank you, too, for collecting the equipment once Rubio was safe, particularly when the team was exhausted and had limited capacity to deal with equipment collection on dart night. Without your help, recovering Rubio would have become much more challenging. Thank You and to your supporters for making it happen!

Maria, thank you. There are people who help, and then there are people who quietly become a dog’s constant. You were Rubio’s constant. From the moment the journey began, you took every step with him. You embraced changing advice and trusted the process. You never lost sight of what mattered: Rubio. Your compassion, patience and unwavering commitment gave him the stability he needed during the most uncertain weeks of his life.

Thank you to Team Izzy for all your trapping efforts. We know how much time, patience and dedication goes into every attempt. 🐾

To Gary, you had quite the time of it, but you trusted us with your clever boy! Thank you for trusting the process and allowing us to work towards bringing Rubio home safely.

WELCOME HOME, RUBIO 🧡 🐾

16/10/2026

🐾 GG, the elusive non-risk taker. 🐾

The dog who would quite literally rather starve than take a risk.

Yes, these types of lost dogs really do exist!

Some dogs will take food, approach people or investigate a trap when they're hungry enough.

Others? No chance.

GG was one of those dogs.

There’s not much more we need to say about her, other than the two words that matters most, WELCOME HOME, GG. ❤️🐾

We’ll leave you with the trapping team’s full account, because they can tell GG’s story far better than we can.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19WKUAYD8b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

14/10/2026

🐾 Jess, back to every team’s nightmare. 🐾

Jess, a Border Collie, made his second bid for freedom in January 2025 in Glasgow.

This wasn’t long after his first escape, where he had been successfully secured using a trap. So when he escaped again, a trap was put back in place. Would Jess entertain it a second time? Nope. Jess knew the score.

Months passed.

Then, in August 2025, the trapping team got in touch asking us to assist with Jess’s recapture using Chemical Immobilisation Technology (CIT).

And then the challenges started. We won’t go into all the details. We did what we always do, we worked through the problems until we found a solution for Jess.

A few weeks later, as the sun was beginning to rise, the opportunity was taken. Dart deployed. Jess was located, safely recovered and finally taken home.

Jess’s case was simple. The challenges around him were not, but were our challenges to solve. And solve them we did.

Jess is safe. 🐾❤️

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