MANCELONA, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Moore’s Lost K9 Search and Recovery, the beloved grassroots team behind countless missing and stray dog rescues across Northern Michigan, has hit a heartbreaking roadblock – and it’s all because of vehicle trouble.

Founder Beth Moore announced over the weekend that her dog recovery organization is closing indefinitely after her trusty Toyota Sequoia, critical for tracking and transporting dogs, suffered two major blows: first, a deer collision while searching for a lost dog named Ben in Central Lake, and then a total rear differential failure after successfully capturing another stray, Brownie, in Petoskey.

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Helping lost dogs has left Moore without the resources to repair her vehicle. Moore shared. “The donations we received have not even cover fuel expenses for the last two dogs (rescued).”

Roadblock to rescue.

Moore estimates she’ll need about $5,500 to replace her vehicle or roughly $3,200 – and several weeks of downtime – if she chooses to repair the one she has. This threatens to her rescue work. To help get her back on the road, volunteers have launched a GoFundMe campaign. The fund, at the time of the publishing of this article was up to $3,400.

From farm girl to lifesaver.

Over the years, Moore and her team have built a reputation as one of Michigan’s most dedicated lost dog recovery crews. She has worked tirelessly across Antrim, Crawford, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Otsego, Roscommon, and Wexford Counties – and has even traveled as far as Chippewa County in the Upper Peninsula. Whether she’s setting humane traps, hiking through thick woods, or tracking paw prints through the snow, Moore has made it her mission to bring missing dogs home – often while running her entire operation on little more than grit and gas money.

It’s been more than a decade that Moore has been dedicated to search and recovery efforts across Northern Michigan. Her lifelong bond with dogs began in childhood on a farm near I-94 in lower Michigan, where abandoned and stray animals were a regular sight. After relocating up north, she and her then-husband, Mike Moore, began helping dog owners as a way to support him following his traumatic brain injury.

What started as a personal mission grew quickly after she launched a Facebook page – and the response was overwhelming. Despite working full time, she’s continued running the operation largely on her own, as Mike has since stepped away and now only occasionally assists with cases. She also has two dedicated supporters, Maureen “Momo” Pobalis and Patricia Olson who volunteer with her.

Helping hands for lost paws.

Moore told Michigan News Source that pet owners typically contact her directly and pay a fee for her services. However, over the years, she’s often stepped in at no cost or at a reduced rate to support families in need. When it comes to stray or dumped dogs, Moore says those recoveries often rely on the support and cooperation of the local community. Even when she can’t assist in person, she offers phone consultations to guide owners through the steps to safely recover their lost dogs.