A chihuahua named Daisy, lost for nearly a week after escaping her home and wandering onto the restricted grounds of Naval Weapons Station Earle, was joyously reunited with her owner on the night of April 18.
Daisy, a 9-pound chihuahua, bolted from an open door on April 14, slipping under a fence and into the naval property, prompting an intense search effort. The Monmouth County SPCA, animal control officer Mike Flynn, and volunteers from Tri-Borough Lost Dog Trackers launched a coordinated effort to locate the dog.
Beth Lane, Daisy’s owner, had begun to fear the worst after three days without any sign of her pet. But on April 17, a breakthrough came when the Monmouth County SPCA placed cameras near humane traps in the area, capturing images of Daisy around the fence. Lane, who had been watching the camera feed at all hours, was filled with hope.
“I jokingly said Daisy went AWOL to join the Navy,” Lane said, reflecting on the situation. “But at that point, it was more than just a joke.”
The following day, Lane spent hours near the fence where Daisy had last been seen. After a brief, frustrating near-miss, Lane, covered in grease from rotisserie chicken and bone broth, heard Daisy’s familiar bark. Despite her earlier slip-up, this time Lane remained calm.
Lying on her stomach in a soccer field, Lane waited patiently as Daisy approached, eventually finding herself face-to-face with her beloved dog. “The next thing I knew, she was on my face and in my hair, crying,” Lane recalled. “I just grabbed hold of her and didn’t want to let her go.”
Now back at home, Daisy was greeted by a few new toys, a welcoming banner, and much-needed flea and tick shampoo after her days in the wild.
The emotional reunion marked the end of a week-long ordeal and was a relief for Lane, who expressed disbelief at the happy outcome. “It’s surreal,” she said. “I’m still pinching myself.”