Lost One-Eyed Dog Anchovy Jack Found in San Francisco
Animal Care & Control San Francisco recovered the recently adopted dog after weeks of roaming several city neighborhoods.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Dogs
Animal Care & Control San Francisco recovered Anchovy Jack, a one-eyed dog who escaped his new home in San Francisco days after eye surgery and neutering. The dog had roamed the Sunset, Richmond, Golden Gate Park, Marina, and Presidio areas for weeks before being caught.
Why it matters
The recovery shows how a frightened, recently operated-on pet can evade rescuers across a large urban area for an extended period. The agency is now seeking a foster home for the dog while he recovers.
Anchovy Jack was recently adopted from the East Bay and escaped days after eye surgery and neutering. He was caught with a humane trap after a few days of pursuit by lost pet recovery specialist Susan Packer of K9Reunite.
The players
Animal Care & Control San Francisco
The city's animal services agency that recovered the dog and is seeking a foster home for him while he recovers.
Susan Packer
A lost pet recovery specialist with K9Reunite who tracked and trapped the dog after a multi-day search.
The details
Animal Control Officers repeatedly responded to the last reported sighting location, and good samaritans compiled detailed sightings for Packer. Packer stayed in San Francisco day and night to respond, and the dog is now back with the agency, eating, drinking, and resting in good shape.
Timeline
Recently adopted from the East Bay, then escaped days after surgery
Roamed San Francisco neighborhoods for weeks before recapture
Animal Care & Control issued its statement on Sunday, November 2, 2026
Season Trajectory
Recovery operations like this one, which combine municipal animal control with private lost pet specialists such as K9Reunite, are increasingly used when newly adopted animals bolt. The approach mirrors how specialized recovery networks have become a standard supplement to city shelters in dense urban areas.
San Francisco residents who spot a lost dog can contact local animal services for recovery help, and newly adopted pets may need extra time to settle in before roaming freely. Owners should keep newly adopted dogs securely contained during the first weeks after surgery or a move.
The takeaway
Newly adopted dogs, especially those recovering from surgery, can become frightened and hard to catch, so keeping them secured during the early weeks in a new home reduces the risk of losing them.
Further reading
For more on how animals like this one are cared for, browse our Dogs coverage.
