Canine Crusaders

10/20/2026

We had a very close call a couple of weeks ago!! Max was headed into Glenwood Pet Hospital for routine vaccines, and slipped his harness! His owner and several others tried to contained him, but it only caused him to run further away. One of the employees had Erie Animal Network make a post, and Staci Lynd got in ouch with his owner-Joan. Max vanished into thin air for 24 hours, then surfaced on I79 the next evening!! There is no worse feeling than a dog on the interstate!! Michael Valerio dropped everything he was doing, suited up and rushed out with his thermal drone. He was able to locate Max near the interchange exit of 79. He was in the woods and brush, but was making his way back out to the highway! Staci connected Max’s mom and Michael on a conference call, while we tried to get her as close to Max as possible. She drove just past him, got out of the car, and began yelling for him. He bolted! Right around the same time, Michael had to change the battery on the drone. Max vanished and could not located. All week, Michael spent his days and nights looking for Max, while Joan canvassed the surrounding neighborhoods. Janice Bertolet Dean put signs up, and after a few days of zero sightings, we received reports of Max being near the Reserve apartments, then on Interchange, and finally by First Alliance Church. The community awesome-keeping us abreast of sightings, and keeping an eye out for Max. Michael was able to again locate Max with the drone, and got Joan pretty close to where was, but he left the area. Michael had two traps set up, and while Max was near one, he left that spot when he was called for. Luckily, he couldn’t resist the good smells, and quickly returned. What a relief that he fit into the trap, because it was a close call. Michael managed to rescue Max and two others over the course of 7 days!!! 💗🐾🫶🏻

10/16/2026

What a weekend!!! Our friend Daisy Bailey reached out to Staci Lynd, to inform us that there was a terrible multi-car accident on I-79, and that a dog went missing. Staci was then able to connect with Marielle Lafaro, whom filled us in on the situation. A precious boy named Night was in the car, which rolled a couple of times. The back window blew out, and escaped from the wreckage! Staci immediately reached out to the team, and Michael Valerio, Trish and Michelle went into action. Micheal went to the scene and began searching, and flying his thermal drone. Trish drove the area, and Michelle connected with the family and handled social media. Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm allowed us permission to search their property. After several hours of searching, Night could not be found 😢. He’s not from this area, and his mom was hospitalized. With the wreck being soooooo painstakingly close to the interstate, we feared the worst! Michael set back out today, and again, flew his drone. He found just a little dot, and had the owner’s son go up on 79, while the owner’s daughter walked through the field. Once they were in place, he had the daughter calling Night, as he was on the edge of the field. The owner’s son remained on 79 in case Night went the opposite way. After some patience and anticipation, they were able to safely secure him!! Night is getting checked out at the vet, while his owner recovers. We hope these two make a quick recovery!! ❤️‍🩹 🐾💗

10/16/2026

Michael Valerio’s (Valerio's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria) namesake-“Valerio”, has been officially adopted!!! 💗 🎉

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cc9ZA37t5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/12/2026

PUPDATE: “Sloan” is now up for adoption, and her fee is only $25!!!!

We were alerted to this girl on 9/25/26. She was running around Hero BX, and going in and out of traffic-almost getting hit numerous times. Luckily, a handful of awesome women from the neighborhood reached and stepped up-putting food out, and canvassing the area for her. Renee tried to locate her, and also put food out, but was unsuccessful. Michael Valerio immediately put his thermal drone up upon returning from vacation, but she was nowhere to be found! He proceeded to deploy food plots and cameras-given the likelihood that she’d return. Still, several days passed with zero sightings. Then on Saturday, he got the lead that we’ve been waiting for. Someone called in and reported they saw her. He dropped everything he was doing, and went out quickly with his drone. He was able to spot her in no time! He deployed traps, and several hours later, she finally made her way to the trap. It is very common for dogs to growl once they are trapped, but she didn’t growl not even once. He got plenty of tail wags and affection. She was also very talkative. She does have some healing road rash so we do believe that she may have gotten hit. She is now at the ANNA Shelter, and will be up for adoption soon! Thank you to an awesome community, and our friends at Erie Animal Network!

While these stories are sometimes short, it’s important to note that the majority of these cases take upwards of 20 hours! There’ve been quite a few, that Michael worked around the clock, for days on end. His dedication is unmatched! 💗🐾🫶🏻

10/06/2026

Last Thursday our friends at Erie Animal Network reached out to Staci Lynd, as they received a report of a brown and white Terrier, that was hit on 99. Staci stopped at Cart and Horse Distilling, and learned that the pup’s owner lived close by. The dog was no longer in sight. Staci connected with the owner, whom was not on social media, and provided advice. She connected with EAN, and had them make a post. Trisha Slayton met up with Staci, was briefed on the situation, and set out to find the missing pup. Trisha went door knocking, and looked in the woods. She located Bruiser in the woods, but of course he ran. Staci called Bruiser’s mom, and told her where to meet Trish. Although Bruiser disappeared a couple of times, he didn’t go far. His mom rolled up on her golf cart, and he came right out of hiding. He didn’t seem to have any serious injuries, and was sleeping, eating and drinking fine the next day!

10/03/2026

We have placed one of our donation boxes at ZEF Color Society! So, if you love having GREAT hair, and love what we do, you now have another way to donate! Thank you to our friends at Zef, and thank you to all of our supporters! We are truly grateful!! 💗🐾🫶🏻

09/29/2026

09/19/2026

It is with very heavy hearts that we report Zeus did not make it 😭. We were in touch with his Dad very soon after his escape. Signs went up, and anytime there was a lead-which were far and few in between, his owner and Michael Valerio went out immediately. They spent days and hours canvassing the area, and Michael flew his drone. Dogs typically settle in one area-some bigger than others; but Zeus just kept traveling. On Wednesday we received reports that he was on Perry Highway, and had crossed I-90. There were zero sightings on Thursday. Yesterday we received reports that he was hit on 90, and that a Good Samaritan loaded him into the car, and took him to the emergency clinic. His owner and Michael met them there, and were able to get him seen quicker at Summit. We were hopeful! While we knew his injuries were serious, we thought he could recover. X-rays told us otherwise, and Zeus’ dad did the most humane thing he could, and gave Zeus peace and comfort. Michael was with them for much of the time, and made a personal contribution to Zeus’ care. Please keep Zeus’ family and Michael in your thoughts and prayers. This is the 2nd pup this past week that lost their life on 90. Michael picked up the other baby, and took her to be cremated. This week has been heavy. We want to extend a humongous THANK YOU, to Maegan, for picking Zeus up, taking him to the vet, and loving him until his owner got there! We don’t always have the outcome we so desperately want 😢 💔.