Devoted Couple Rescues Lost Pets in Santa Fe

Michelle and Paul Lord of Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery have dedicated their retirement to reuniting missing animals with their families

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:16am

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An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph of a person walking a large white dog down a residential street, with the scene obscured by soft, warm pools of light and color, conveying a sense of compassion and community.The Lords' compassionate efforts to reunite lost pets with their families have brought hope and joy to the Santa Fe community.Santa Fe Today

For over 15 years, Michelle and Paul Lord have tirelessly worked to rescue lost pets in the Santa Fe area through their organization Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery. Despite health challenges, the couple has gone to extraordinary lengths to find and return animals like Suki, Zeus, and Natalie to their grateful owners, earning them praise from the local community.

Why it matters

The Lords' compassion and commitment to animal welfare have made a significant impact in Santa Fe, where they have helped hundreds of families reunite with their lost pets. Their work highlights the importance of community-driven rescue efforts and the difference that dedicated individuals can make in addressing a critical issue like pet homelessness.

The details

Michelle and Paul Lord founded Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery after Michelle's first experience helping a trapper rescue a dumped dog over 15 years ago. Since then, they have responded to countless calls for help, using their expertise in trapping, networking, and persistence to locate missing pets. Their efforts have included setting up scent trails, posting flyers, and coordinating search parties, often going above and beyond to ensure the safe return of animals like the Great Pyrenees Suki, the Cane Corso Zeus, and the Miniature Pinscher Natalie.

  • In August 2023, the Lords rescued Suki, a Great Pyrenees who had been abandoned for six weeks.
  • In the summer of 2024, the Lords spent weeks searching for Zeus, a Cane Corso who had been lost after a car accident, before finally trapping him and reuniting him with his owner.
  • In the summer of 2025, the Lords spent 42 days searching for Natalie, a Miniature Pinscher who had gone missing on the second anniversary of her family losing a son, before finally locating and trapping her.

The players

Michelle Lord

Co-founder of Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery, a retired teacher and makeup artist who has dedicated her retirement to rescuing lost pets in the Santa Fe area.

Paul Lord

Co-founder of Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery, a former Army, Army National Guard, and Homeland Security member who assists his wife Michelle in their animal rescue efforts.

Suki

A Great Pyrenees dog rescued by the Lords after being abandoned for six weeks, who now works as a dog doula at a local hospice and respite house.

Zeus

A Cane Corso dog rescued by the Lords after being lost for weeks following a car accident, who has since recovered and is living happily with his owner.

Natalie

A Miniature Pinscher dog rescued by the Lords after going missing for 42 days, who has since been reunited with her grateful owners.

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What they’re saying

“Michelle never gave up, never, never, and that really kept us going. It was truly remarkable. I want people to know what extraordinary people Michelle and Paul Lord are. It was their faith in finding Natalie that kept us going through the entire 42 days.”

— Maureen Murphy, Natalie's owner

“They are two of the finest, most selfless people. They were invested from the moment that they came on the scene.”

— Nick Smith, Zeus's owner

“In all my years in rescue, I have never witnessed anyone like the Lords. They are the most compassionate, hardworking trappers. They work through everything: snow storms, sickness—completely devoted to finding the animal.”

— Maureen O'Brien, Fellow rescuer

What’s next

The Lords continue to operate Wandering Paws Lost Pet Recovery, responding to calls for help and working tirelessly to reunite lost pets with their families in the Santa Fe area. They are also planning to hold their annual 'Santa Paws & Suki Deer' event at the Española Humane Society this December, delivering warm meals and toys to the shelter animals.

The takeaway

The story of Michelle and Paul Lord's dedication to animal rescue in Santa Fe highlights the profound impact that compassionate individuals can have on their local community. Their unwavering commitment to finding lost pets and supporting distraught owners has earned them widespread praise and demonstrated the power of grassroots, community-driven efforts to address important social issues.