Alaskan Sled Dog Loose in Bangor: Here’s What You Need to Know

There's an Alaskan sled dog loose in Bangor, and here's what you need to know.

The dog, named Beaver, is a 4 year-old Husky Mix that was making its way to be re-homed in Searsport. The person waiting to adopt Beaver has had Huskies in the past and is familiar with the animals. The adoption had been arranged through an organization called The August Fund, which rehomes mostly retired Iditarod race dogs.

On February 27, a volunteer pilot had flown Beaver (who was snuggling with his young kids during the entire flight, just to give you an idea of what a sweetheart this dog is usually) to Bangor International Airport.

That's when things went awry.

Unfortunately, Beaver got spooked when she deplaned, and ran off. She was wearing a bright yellow harness, a red collar and a black leash--all of which are still likely attached to her.

And she's been on the run ever since.

Typically, Beaver is a sweet natured and loving dog, who gets along with both people and other animals. But understandably, this normal "pack animal" is now in a completely unfamiliar place filled with completely unfamiliar faces, and she's doing the only thing she knows to do: run.

Get our free mobile app

There have been several "Beaver Sightings" reported since she got loose. A small number of local social media groups have been working to get the word out that Beaver is loose and likely scared and hungry.

Denise Lawson, a volunteer with The August Fund and another sled-dog rehoming organization, Black Bear Sled Dog, says the best chance anyone has of getting Beaver back to safety is to be patient, calm and to go low.

"The biggest key is whomever sees her, don't approach her. Let her come to you. Sit or kneel down. Look sideways versus directly at her. And be patient. If you have food, just put it down next to you and see if she comes over. No sudden movements."

Some local folks have been trying to coordinate an effort to rescue the dog, as her intended owner lived out of town.  A Facebook Page called Find Beaver that has been set up to give folks a place to report sightings, in an effort to map out where Beaver might be frequenting. There's also information about Beaver on the Maine Lost Dog Recovery Facebook Page.

If you do happen to spot Beaver while you're out and about, please contact Animal Control Officer,  Trisha Bruen at the Bangor Dispatch by calling 207-947-7384. She is the one handling the situation.

As a side note, there have also been reports of a pretty bold coyote running around the same area, during the day. While Beaver and they coyote may not look alike, I think it's a good idea to remind folks not to approach these animals, in either case. Better to report any and all sightings to the professionals.