Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - Finally a breather! After more than a month alone in the wilderness of Yellowstone National Park, once-lost dog Luna was finally reunited with her family. The rescuers were racing against time.

According to the national park, the 10‑year‑old Jack Russell Terrier was safely found on Wednesday.

A spokesperson confirmed to the New York Post: “The dog that was loose in the Canyon Village area has been captured and is alive and well."

After her rescue, Katie Boucher, chair of the animal‑welfare organization Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center, is said to have taken Luna to a veterinarian. No further details about her condition have been released.

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The rescue operation was fraught with challenges, as the team was racing against time with winter fast approaching.

Snow had already begun to fall in the park, and temperatures kept dropping. Had the rescuers not found Luna within the next few days, the search would have had to be called off.

Additional constraints further hampered the rescuers, who were prohibited from using certain methods during their search in the national park.

For example, they could not use food to lure Luna into a humane trap, as that might attract bears, wolves, coyotes, and pumas, increasing the danger to the missing dog. Instead, the team used the scent of Luna’s family to draw her into one of the traps.

Jack‑Russell Terrier Luna disappeared on September 10 while her family was visiting Yellowstone National Park from California. As the owners explored the Norris Geyser Basin, where dogs are not allowed, the 10‑year‑old dog remained in a cabin at the campground.

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Although the family had placed a “do not disturb” sign on the door, cleaning staff reportedly entered the cabin—and Luna slipped away.

Several direct capture attempts also failed at first. The family stayed in the park for another week before finally returning to California. The rescuers then resumed the search, culminating in the happy ending everyone had hoped for.