Scrolling through the Happening Now archives, here’s the 2025 compilation of wayward pups, animal stroll alerts, reader pet pics and community kindness. From tiny kittens to full-grown llamas, lost and found animals in Nevada County really have a community ready to look out for them.
The year began with a chill that sent pets seeking warmth in unusual places. In January, a long-haired grey tabby became a regular at St. Josephโs in Grass Valley, while a Burmese kitty suffered the “indignity” of being locked in a neighborโs garage before returning to her fiefdom. On the icy roads, a puppy named Jax was pulled from traffic by alert readers.
In February, firefighters rescued a cat from a garage fire on Oak Circle, providing oxygen and care after a close call with smoke inhalation.
As the weather warmed in March, the traditional cats and dogs were joined by more adventurous livestock. A brown cow was spotted taking a quiet morning walk on Lime Kiln Road, and by April, a duo of dogs – a Doberman and a Border Collie mix – decided to explore Harmony Ridge.
May had readers spotting a wayward pig in Alta Sierra proving that in Nevada County, a “stroll alert” can apply to almost any member of the animal kingdom. In other good news, firefighters rescued a teen and two dogs from an abandoned well shaft. Paramedics on scene evaluated the individuals, and the teen was released at scene with no injuries. The dogs were treated for minor dehydration and are expected to make a full recovery.
Summer was the season of the “escape artists.” In June, three sheep were found wandering Blackledge Road, and July saw a successful community effort to find Norbert, an 8-month-old Bloodhound puppy.
August is of course Fair time in Nevada County. After seeing this photo, our readers shared some of their pet pictures for the “If it fits, I sits” story.
The roads remained busy: one dog was reported stuck on a fence on Hwy 49, still attached to the lawn chair he had been tethered to. The pup was rescued by Animal Control and was fine.
September was headlined by Pepper the llama, who went on a walkabout in Penn Valley before being safely ushered home. Two black lab puppies without collars or leashes were roaming and running through the Grocery Outlet parking lot. A Good Samaritan took them to the shelter. Also that month, a black bear was settling in to take an afternoon nap in the rosemary bushes at YubaNet HQ.
As the leaves turned in October, pups like Buck and Aster were photographed enjoying the fall colors. Remember all the reader photos of the fall colors?
Others, like the black Rottweiler and tan Shepherd on Highway 49, kept drivers on their toes.
November brought a series of “bovine and goat stroll alerts,” and the week of Thanksgiving saw the return of wayward favorites like Dawn and Guardian, both reunited with their families just in time for the holiday.
As December is coming to a close, horses and pups rule the roads (so they think.) On the 30th, a brown horse and a grey horse were reported running down Highway 174. Banner pup Hoshino was reunited with his humans, capping off a year of reader-driven reunions.
In total, 83 dogs, 12 cats, 33 goats, 12 sheep, 16 solo cows and one herd, 14 horses, 4 flocks of ducks and ducklings, 3 pigs and 1 llama were reported by readers – and the overwhelming majority of these reports ended with the animals being reunited with their humans. Thanks to all our readers for caring!