PSA Reaches a Major Benchmark with First Starlink Missy Trap Deployment and Double Capture in Churchtown
Early November marked an important milestone for Pet Search Alliance. Thanks to generous community donations, PSA has now fully outfitted its hook and go trailer with every trapping option needed for lost and abandoned pets. Our teams can now deploy everything from small cat traps to medium and large box traps, all the way up to the advanced Missy Trap system that had its field debut in Churchtown. Check out the video bellow to see it in action as we catch two dogs at same time.
Our organization has used variations of Missy Traps for a long time, but the newest version represents a major step forward in how lost pets are captured safely and efficiently. To our knowledge, PSA has built the first satellite enabled Missy Trap system using Starlink for live connectivity. The new setup includes multiple camera feeds, two way audio, remote lighting control, and most importantly, a true remote trigger mechanism. This allows the team to close the door only when the right animals are inside, avoiding late night reset trips and reducing the risk of catching wildlife or unintended animals. The biggest resource we have is human time, and this system preserves it in a way no traditional trap can.
Back yard testing for days at a time. .
After hundreds of hours of backyard testing, we knew it was ready. The double capture in Churchtown proved it. Two roaming dogs had been spotted across fields, roads, and residential areas for more than a week, raising concerns for local pets and homeowners. Traditional traps could have worked, but this was the moment to demonstrate the real-world value of the Starlink Missy Trap.
We worked closely with the property layout, the homeowner, and incoming responders. On battery alone, the trap can operate with a live feed and a hold-open door for up to 36 hours with full fast internet connection. When plugged in, it can run indefinitely. That stability allowed us to watch both dogs enter the trap together, eat comfortably, and settle down before the door was closed remotely. The homeowner witnessed the entire moment live. When the door shut, both dogs were startled, then calmed within a minute and returned to eating before eventually laying down to rest.
Live monitoring until help arrives. Bellies full they start to relax.
The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley already had two responders en route, coordinated through our live video and pre-planned capture protocol. The team traveled roughly thirty minutes from different positions, all while maintaining full situational awareness through the live feed. By the time the dogs were safely removed, daylight had faded and remote lighting control proved essential for the remainder of the operation.
Our Vosker Cell Cams played a major role during the setup phase. Their reliability in dense and uneven terrain continues to anchor our feed station strategy, helping us confirm activity and plan smarter deployments.
Feed Station monitored by Vosker Cams. Our trusted partners
This operation not only brought two dogs to safety but officially demonstrated that PSA now has a complete, field-tested satellite-enabled trapping system that no one else in MOV and beyond is operating at this level. It represents countless hours of work, community support, and a commitment to reducing the time and risk involved in recovering the most skittish and difficult pets. We are currently serving Washington County in Ohio and Wood County in West Virginia, and this deployment shows what a fully prepared regional team can accomplish.
This November benchmark was the goal we set, and we reached it on schedule with a successful real-world rescue to show for it. PSA is ready for the next chapter.
Learn How the Missy Trap Got Its Name
If you want to know where the Missy Trap originated, you can read the story here: https://www.theretrievers.org/missy-trap/. The Retrievers organization created the original design and offers free information on how to build one.
Get Involved and Join the Team
PSA is expanding and we need people across many different skill sets. Field operators, logistics support, social media help, fundraising, mapping support, and general volunteer roles are all vital to keeping our response times sharp and our operations reliable.
As we continue growing across Washington County and Wood County, our next goal is to build a second hook and go trailer so that each county has its own ready assets for rapid deployment. Volunteers positioned throughout both counties will strengthen that readiness.
If you are interested in helping or becoming part of our volunteer team, visit our website for more information and sign up. Every role contributes to saving lost, abandoned, and displaced pets.
Support PSA’s Mission
Community support has brought us to this point. Donations allowed us to outfit our first hook and go trailer, build out advanced trapping systems, and maintain the technology that keeps us operating at a true 911 level of readiness. As we continue to expand, we are working toward adding a second trailer so both Washington County and Wood County can have fast-response assets staged and ready.
We carry ongoing expenses that keep this system live and dependable. Starlink, maintenance for the trap trailer, fuel for field operations, equipment upkeep, and the small but constant costs of running feed stations and traps. Even the basics matter. Liverwurst and liquid smoke are two of our most effective tools, and we go through a surprising amount of both during active cases.
We have reached our November goals and are fully prepared for the cold season, which is the most critical time of year for lost pets. If you would like to support the next phase of PSA’s readiness, consider making a contribution. Every donation strengthens our ability to respond quickly with the thermal drones, satellite connectivity, and advanced tools that save pets and reunite families.
If you need help locating a lost or displaced pet, submit a request and our team will begin reviewing your case right away.
