Find Lost Dog
What to do if your dog goes missing
This has to be one of the most horrible feelings in the world. You come home from work and your dog is gone. You wonder: How long has he been gone? Which direction would he have gone? Did someone steal him? Is he safe?
First and foremost, have your dog chipped AND make sure your information is kept up to date especially if you move to a different town or state. ALWAYS have a collar and identification tags on your dog. This includes the license, rabies, and a name tag with your dogs name and your current phone number listed on it. Both of my dogs have Pet Collar with Customized Embroidery
It is also a good idea to add on the collar if your dog needs medication on a daily basis. (“Diabetic needs daily meds”). This way if someone finds your dog you have a better chance of getting him back instead of them keeping him.
If your dog is picked up by Animal Control, the first thing they do is scan the dogs’ neck. If an ID number is found, Animal Control will contact you so you can get your best friend back. If there is no chip they put the dog up for adoption only for a certain number of days.
Contact Animal Control and advise your dog is missing. They can help patrol your area and aid in searching for your dog. (However, they will not look on a full time basis) Call your veterinarian and advise them too. Make up signs with a current photo of your dog and put them up everywhere: The dog pound (keep in mind you may have more than one dog pound in your area so check all of them on a daily basis and post your signs in each one), your vets’ office, other vets’ offices in your neighborhood, telephone poles at street intersections and throughout your neighborhood, schools (kids are outside all the time), parks, all over your neighborhood, the grocery stores in your area. (That is how I found my dog) Make sure you ask management of any store if you can put your sign up in their store front. Offer a reward. (I have to advise that in my own personal experience, I have had crank phone calls regarding rewards that I offered.)
Scan your neighborhood. Go the same direction that you take your dog for a walk. Dogs that run away generally go the route they are familiar with. Call his name frequently and have dog cookies with you.
Notify your neighbors that your dog is missing. If you have a lake or a pond in your area, your dog may be found there as he will be thirsty.
Walk your entire neighborhood. You will be able to see and hear your dog better if you are not in a car. Knock on doors and hand out your fliers.
In the evening hours is when most dogs do find their way back home because they are hungry. Have a bowl of food outside, most likely they will stay and not wander off again as they will be exhausted from their adventure.
Don’t give up hope. My Jack Russell was missing for 7 days in the summer heat of Arizona (it can be 120 degrees in the shade) and my neighborhood was full of coyotes. On the 7th day of her being missing, I went to the grocery store and asked the man outside selling newspapers if he had seen my dog and showed him the sign I posted. I wasn’t home 20 minutes when the phone rang and it was the person who had picked up my dog and was taking care of her. The newspaper man was asking everyone coming in and out of the store if they had seen my dog.
My mistake…….I took off her collar to give her a bath and didn’t put it back on right away. I was so grateful to that newspaper man I went back and gave him a big hug and $20.
Sometimes pets run away if they have separation anxiety. If you have to leave your dog for the first time to go on a trip, make sure you have a friend or family member sit your dog. If you know your dog has separation anxiety and you are going to introduce a new person such as pet sitter, have this person come over for a few days to take your dog on a walk, pay with him and give him treats. This way your dog will begin to trust this new stranger.
If your dog is a digger like my Jack Russell, make sure you secure the bottom of your fence to prevent them from digging out. Or have a tall enough fence so they can’t jump over. You will notice certain places where your dog will dig. If your dog is a climber, have the top of your fence slanted in towards your yard. This will help prevent them from climbing over the fence.
If you have a male dog that is not neutered, they will attempt to escape your yard if they detect a bitch in heat (or season). It’s their natural instinct.
You will get your dog back. It will take a lot of work and patience and a lot of walking and posting of fliers. Be proactive and ask everyone you meet. Yes, it’s ok to cry.
After I lost one dog, I recommend a PetSafe GPS Dog Locator. 