Our Story
There has always been K9 tracking for people, but what about for pets?
This is a question our founder, Linda Shaw, asked herself one day in 2019. What was first just a thought, accompanied by a laugh and dismissal, eventually turned into a deep understanding and amazement that the same principle for tracking holds across all species: odor is odor. Scent is scent. And it is unique to every living
being.
She then apprenticed with Carmen Brothers of Professional Pet Trackers, where she continues to be part of and subcontract to this day. It turns out that the volume of requests for finding lost pets was much higher than imagined, and the work has become so very rewarding. It is difficult, as with all good enterprises, satisfying, sometimes heartbreaking, but mostly joyful. Turns out she loves the “hunt.” But mostly she loves the look on the pet owners’ faces when there is a happy outcome.
Our Team
Scent Up. Track. Find.
Linda Shaw
Founder & Principal Tracker
Linda's skill, compassion, and drive for tracking makes The Road Home a one-of-a-kind pet tracking organization.
Her motto when she is on the hunt is "I trust my dogs," and rightfully so! She trusts in the training and the noses of her teammates, and assists them with her critical thinking and situational awareness of your pet's unique circumstances.
Lily
7-year-old German shepherd, female, scent-discriminant trailing dog. Trained by a rescue, Lily has the most experience and uses her mind as well as her nose. Hails from Texas.
Specialty: cats, reptiles.
Hobbies: snuggling with Linda, chasing squirrels, water sports.
Shelby
2-year-old bloodhound, female, scent-discriminant trailing dog. Trained by Tin Star K9, Shelby is the first professionally trained bloodhound for lost pet tracking on the East Coast. Hails from Illinois.
Specialty: everything, human or animal.
Hobbies: couch surfing, crooning, and torturing Bayou.
Bayou
4-year-old black lab, male, scent-discriminant trailing dog. Trained by Tin Star K9, Bayou has many successful tracks under his harness and several walk-up finds. Hails from Illinois.
Specialty: everything, human or animal.
Hobbies: anything with a ball, water sports.