MAVERICK

The Pet Adoption Center received a call about a young dog believed to have been dumped in the West Alton area. He wouldn’t approach people, avoided almost everyone, and was surviving completely on his own. It quickly became clear this wasn’t going to be a simple rescue — this boy needed to be trapped. Animal Control reached out to Ernie for help, and without hesitation, he said yes.On April 2, 2026, Ernie and his friend Tracy began the mission to bring this scared boy to safety. The family who called about Maverick generously allowed them access to their property, and from that day forward, Ernie and Tracy made the hour round trip to West Alton every single day for 30 days straight.Thirty days.Thirty days of showing up.Thirty days of refusing to give up on a dog who didn’t yet know humans could be trusted.Some nights they sat quietly for 3–5 hours. Other nights stretched to 10 hours. One day? Seventeen hours. They upgraded traps, changed locations, adjusted strategies, and worked around every little thing that frightened him — moving objects, wildlife, cats, unfamiliar noises. Maverick was terrified of the world around him and survival was all he knew.But Ernie and Tracy never stopped trying.Finally, on May 1, 2026, Maverick was safely trapped. His story is still unfolding, and we are continuing to look into his situation, but one thing is certain: this dog mattered enough for people to fight for him.Now Maverick begins the next chapter of his journey — learning that he no longer has to run.A few staff members have already started spending quiet time with him, helping him feel safe and showing him that humans are not so scary after all. Progress will take time, patience, and understanding, but little by little, he’s beginning to peek out from behind the fear.Staff has learned that Maverick feels most comfortable around other dogs and really starts to come out of his shell when he has a confident canine friend nearby. He also ignores cats completely.Because of his fear of unfamiliar things, noises, and sudden changes, Maverick will require: A secure fenced yard A quiet, patient home Older children only (15+) A confident dog companion would be idealRight now, the world still feels big and scary to Maverick. But after surviving alone for so long, he deserves a family willing to move at his pace and help him discover what safety, love, and belonging truly feel like.PAC promised Maverick they wouldn’t give up on him. ??