Two Abandoned Dogs Roaming Blue Ridge Parkway Spark Community Rescue Campaign
Two stray dogs wandering a stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina have captured the attention of nearby residents and social media users alike, sparking concern for the animals’ well-being and prompting the National Park Service to launch trapping operations.
The dogs — one white and one brown — were first reportedly seen in March near Fork Ridge Overlook along the parkway at milepost 449, close to Sylva and Bryson City. Neither animal was wearing a collar when first spotted, and no owner has come forward to claim either dog, according to Jackson County Animal Services.
WLOS was the first to report the news.
Community members have shared photos of the animals at various scenic overlooks along the parkway, and residents report the dogs appear to be losing weight over time. The brown dog reportedly has a facial injury that some suspect came from a gunshot.
Locals believe someone abandoned the dogs in the area.
“We could tell that they had been set out and abandoned and so we started coming up. We live close so we started coming up and checking on the dogs,” one resident told WLOS.
Reports of Aggression Led to Road Closures
Concern escalated on April 18 when the National Park Service received a report describing the dogs as “aggressive” near milepost 451 at Waterrock Knob. The NPS closed the road to investigate but couldn’t find the dogs. The road was later reopened.
A second road closure occurred on April 20 between mileposts 443 and 455 in hopes of trapping and capturing the two dogs.
The National Park Service confirmed trapping operations are underway and ongoing. Jackson County Animal Services has coordinated with the National Park Service, and the animals are expected to be taken to a local shelter once caught.
Residents Say the Dogs Are Scared, Not Dangerous
Despite the report that initially described the dogs as aggressive, witnesses who have encountered the pair paint a different picture. Residents describe the dogs as frightened and wary rather than dangerous.
“That dog was very nice but extremely scared. These dogs were dumped off by somebody, and they are scared and timid,” another resident told the outlet.
“These dogs are hungry, and they’re used to people feeding them. So, they came up to her thinking maybe she had food or something. I don’t think these dogs are going to hurt anybody,” they continued.
The accounts from local residents suggest the dogs may have approached people out of hunger rather than aggression, a distinction that has fueled sympathy across social media and among those living near the parkway.
“We encountered these dogs and they weren’t super aggressive but were barking at us,” one mother commented on Facebook. “We had our toddler with us and decided to leave just because they were barking and coming up to us but I think they were just hungry.”
What the National Park Service Asks the Public to Do
While the community rallies around the fate of the two dogs, the National Park Service is urging caution.
“We ask that the public notify park officials immediately if they spot dogs off leash in this area and do not approach or attempt to capture or feed the animals,” the NPS wrote in a statement, per WLOS.
The agency’s message is clear: even well-meaning attempts to help could complicate the ongoing trapping efforts or put people at risk around unfamiliar animals.
For now, the search continues along the mountain parkway. The NPS has not provided a timeline for when the dogs might be captured, but trapping operations remain active in the area between mileposts 443 and 455.
Anyone who spots the dogs along the Blue Ridge Parkway is asked to contact park officials immediately and keep their distance.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
