What would you do if your dog got lost?

[Julie]

This is something none of us would like to think of.... but in all reality it could really happen to any of us. Even with very responsible owners it could happen.

So anyway, after my friend, a responsible dog owner lost both of her dogs, and has only found one of them..
We have alot of hope she will find the other too....

But anyway, she did the right things... Made posters immediately...stopped and talked to anyone along the roads...left posters at all nearby stores.... On car windows, gave the state road crews posters, gave the trashmen posters, had a big picture ad published in the newspaper the following day... left posters at the grade school.. Went to every farmer in her area... spent almost three days, driving and looking, and walking and calling...etc. And this isn't to mention the normal things like calling AC, calling all vets in a wide area, And so much more......

She did receive several "leads" with her posters, and one of the dogs did make it home on his own...
But anyway this thread isn't about her... but it really made me think, so I decided I would make a poster that I could edit and print later if in the dreaded need ever arose.
Because if my dogs are lost, I'm not going to want to waste time actually making a poster...
I hope I never need them, but I made one for Charlie/Rocket, and one for Shiloh. The reason for this is charlie and rocket are always together, but shiloh is always seperate from the other dogs. Regardless...they can be easily edited later....

I think everyone with a dog and a computer should have a backup "lost poster" !

Here is the one of Charlie and Rocket...

 

[Angel Chicken]

After Jess lost Zy last year, I did the same, and made myself a poster for Kona.

It isn't quite as fancy as yours, but it is basically the same, with phone number of my parents, my place, Rob's work, his bosses number (his boss told us to do this, as he is a dog person too). Descriptions and full body pics, along with pics of certian features they could look for/at if they saw/have her.

 

[Toller_08]

I have an already made "lost poster" for my dogs, just waiting to be copied if ever they happen to get out and are lost. I did this after a dog at another board I frequent was lost last September. Fortunately my dogs have never escaped, but like you said, you just never know. It could happen to anyone.

 

[bubbatd]

#1 ... I make sure that all dogs had tags . Since I don't have a cell phone , I have daughter's # on tags , so if I'm out looking I don't miss a call . Oliie has a MC . Collar comes off at night , but on first thing in the morning . I have more problems with finding owners !!

 

[Denaluvscorgis]

That's a really good idea Julie, because you really never know what can happen.

 

[ToscasMom]

I have Tosca chipped and she has four ID tags on her, her Avid chip tag, her license, her ID tag and her rabies tag. So the scarey thing to me is if she did get lost and nobody called, I would be pretty freaked, thinking maybe either they would be keeping her or she has come to no good . That's a horrible nightmare. I never thought of making a poster and I thank you for that idea. I will get right on it.

 

[Julie]

#1 ... I make sure that all dogs had tags . Since I don't have a cell phone , I have daughter's # on tags , so if I'm out looking I don't miss a call . Oliie has a MC . Collar comes off at night , but on first thing in the morning . I have more problems with finding owners !!

My dogs also have tags.... the slip thru the collar tags. But alot of people wouldn't care to check out dog tags (not talking about me) unless they know they are lost. I have searched the internet about "lost dogs", most sites say the first thing that should be done, is post flyers everywhere within a 5 mile radius of where they got lost. I just think it is a good idea to get the word out quickly!
I also think a MC around here would not be much help, as people wouldn't put out the effort to have a dog checked, if they could find a place to have them checked.

 

[bubbatd]

^^^ Good points ! I've just never know anyone who would'nt report or check a stray dog. I was off to a hair cut today and saw a stray next door as I backed up . A lovely pointer with collar and tags . I backed up and turned around to check on him , knowing I'd be late for my appt . Luckily at the same time a lady passed my road then braked and turned into my street . I could tell she was looking for her dog . All was well . He had slipped out the door and she couldn't go after him until she strapped her 6 wk old baby in her carseat . She was glad I cared and I was happy she found her dog so quickly .

 

[Cassiepeia]

My boy has gone missing once and aside from nearly having a breakdown, I combed the streets all night, and all the next morning, talking to everyone I met, knocking on doors and I rang the local vet. I did make up a poster and was on my way down to the local shops to post it on their notice board, but I found him in someone's yard on the way (thank the gods!).

The problem with ID tags, is that if someone likes your dog and decides they want to keep it (it happens all the time) they'll just remove them and the collar. Jesse needs twice daily medication for his heart problem, plus a few other things. My worst fear was that he'd die without them.

So my biggest piece of advice is...regardless of whether it's true for your dog or not...get a tag engraved to say that your dog NEEDS medication and the person is more likely to either dump them with a vet or shelter, or try and return it. Most people don't want that hassle.

Cass.

 

[BostonBanker]

This past winter, when I was helping try to find a lost dog, we had a radio station that agreed to ask people to keep an eye out during heavy driving hours. We actually got several sightings that way. Granted, this dog was lost at one of the busiest intersections around, so it may not work so well in the country, but it's another idea.

 

[squirtsmom]

jGood advice. I try and keep them safe, but they can be tricky.

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

I have all my dogs microchipped, so I would first , after hours and hours of searching, notify local vets, and the A/C that my dogs are missing, and that they are microchipped so be on the look out. Also would make up fliers and put them almost everywhere I could think of ie. grocery stores, gas stations, and then I would go door to door. I once picked up 2 grown Rottweilers and a standard Schz. on the street, and was able to reunite them with thier owners because the owners had posted a flier in a gas station. This would of course all be done after hrs and hrs of combing the streets. I honestly dont think I could stop very easily if one of my dogs went missing.

 

[puppychick]

That's a cute poster and a really good idea. If I lost may dog I would put up poster and even maybe post it on the internet. I hope your friend finds there dog and when they do post on here. Good Luck!

 

[Peaches 'n Cream]

I would look all over the place for her...until Im finally exhausted. In my panic I would do so much to get her back! It is VERY true you dont appreciate what you have until you loose it. Thats a lesson I will never forget...

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

what a good idea! After a recent "escapee" episode at my house, and my panic that ensued--I think I will take this idea and run with it! Luckily all is well right now--and some additional training should help--but nothing is 100%.

 

[skyeboxer]

That's a good idea Julie and Cassiepeia's comment too. The only animal I have ever lost was a blue budgie that somehow escaped from the birdcage that Piolin has been in for a year and a half. I was very upset about that but nowhere near as devastated as I would be if Skye went on the lam.

 

[Sweet72947]

My dogs have tags and are microchipped. Plus I don't think they would run away. On two occasions (two or three years ago) Daisy has slipped her collar and taken off after skunks and deer, and has always come right back. She has a good recall, except where deer and skunks are concerned. ( I now walk her on a different collar that she can't slip).

Benji has an awesome recall ---for a terrier. (It saved his life once, before we owned him. He was about to run out on the highway and the shop owner who looked after him called him back before he could become a splat on the road.)

I know that there's always the possiblity for the unforeseen to happen, but I don't have any real worries about my dogs running off. They know they have a good thing going.