Pepper's Posse corrals uncatchable dog

SANTA FE (KRQE) - You've heard of the dog whisperer. Well how about the dog finder, a retired volunteer deputy turned dog tracker who could star in such a TV show?

Word about that missing and free-roaming Santa Fe pup named Pepper and the man who searched for him even made the Los Angeles Times.

Eight months ago Pepper was a stray adopted from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. But within days Pepper ran away from his new owner.

"Essentially he was living on the streets of Santa Fe, crossing the busiest roads of Santa Fe dozens of times each day," said Steve Dobbie, one of the volunteers who searched for Pepper. "Eventually he was going to get hit."

Dobbie got involved after shelter workers asked him to help. The retired architect and volunteer sheriff's deputy joined in the search, and it wasn't easy.

"I've trapped him a couple of times, but he got away," Dobbie said.

But Dobbie and other volunteers didn't give up. They formed a Facebook page called "Pepper's Posse" and word about the search for Pepper quickly spread.

Along the way, Dobbie found other strays and even caught a guy shooting prairie dogs. And early Thursday morning, Dobbie finally got Pepper.

"I was his worst enemy for eight months, and to be able to pet him today was just wonderful," Dobbie said.

The pooch is now back at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter where workers are trying to find a safe home for him. They say a ranch or sanctuary would be a good fit because Pepper likes to roam.