09/10/2026
Home at Last! ATLAS, the American Staffordshire Terrier/Labrador Retriever missing from, IL, is home safe and sound after 3 long days! Missing 8/30/2026 - Reunited 9/2/2026 Welcome home Atlas!
ID # 812404
Reunion story from Rosanne from Team Atlas:
"Atlas went missing on an early morning when a door was left ajar. Many sightings came in later that day with some following and chasing.
Tips to the family were coming in on comments. Everyone wanted to help! Atlas suffers from seizures and takes medicine daily, so that added a layer of worry to this extremely busy and overloaded family (which also consists of 4 human siblings, a few dog siblings and a foster pup. The heat index for the week and weekend was at an all time high....
Smithic Air got a call to look for Atlas. That was unsuccessful, but some tips for luring and basics for recovery were given for guidance.
We decided to do some teamwork.
1. Feeding station at home/lost area (food, water and scent items) VERY important 🔥
2. Covered simple lost flyers on cut neon posterboard went up in the residential area and exits/entries. I started to map Atlas last sightings and piece together areas of interest. (The flyers were key in the recovery and calls) Not everyone is on social media so a visual flyer is always important. Atlas had been seen blocks from home.
3. Shared on many social media pages, nextdoor and neighborhood pages
specificallyto keep eyes on yards, window wells, sheds, garages and water areas.
4. The heat index got hotter and sightings dropped off for almost 2 days! Yes, we started to worry. We always trust the recovery process, but the immediate area had water and wooded areas. If a pup is impaired, sick or injured it may become important to break down the area in grids and quietly search. Only recommended in extreme cases or when sightings just drop off. Dogs are very resilient, but uncontrolled things can happen.
THEN!
Andrea (the owner) got a call around midnight Tues/Wed of last week, that a resident coming home from work had seen Atlas walking down a close by sidewalk. Andrea bounced into action, but in excitement forgot some key steps to try and lure:
1. Calm/Breath
2. Bring Smelly Yummy food (easy to toss)
3. Leash/Slip Lead
4. Scent items (clothes and you are a huge scent)
5. The urge to call out, scream, follow, grab)
When Andrea got to the block Atlas dodged in between a house and was not able to be contained. BUT, we knew he was alive and close to home. We re-grouped, put a few more flyers up and refreshed food/water! Then back at it again in the morning.
Right around 6am, the calls started (flyers doing their job) 🤩🤩🤩
Andrea was trying to get ready for an important appointment, and I was getting ready for work. But Atlas had stuck around close looking for food and water) A trusted fellow animal friend (Erin) went to area to door knock and if Atlas around to try and lure.
Andrea decided to try one more pass in the general area, and saw Atlas laying near a fence. Put the lure plan into action.
Quiet
Lay Down
Talk Softly
Let scent work
Atlas was a little irritated but finally gave into his mom's arms and he was lured and safe!!!
Vet check, seizure medicine and all the worries melted away. This sweet family had their whole pack back together 🩵
Thanks to the community, Smithic Air, BFF (Best Furry Friend Search/Rescue) for flying two days! And some amazing volunteers keeping eyes on social media, checking the area and helping to take down flyers.
Teamwork makes the Recovery work"
