Juju P.
2 years ago
when you're pet is missing:
Post on social media Next door, pawboost, craigslist. Be careful of scams.... Don't ever give anyone any money for any reason. That's extortion. (illegal). Next if it's a cat or dog search your home, rv's, boats, under decks, inside all of your vehicles, garage, attic, all the rooms, behind washers, dryers, ask your neighbors to do the same. Check immediately with local vet offices and animal control shelters. If you pet is chipped contact the microchip company and report your pet as missing making sure they have your current contact information. Post flyers (Into the wind) All animals if they travel will travel into the wind.
When your dog is lost away from HOME... Hiking, camping, traveling.
Your dog is afraid and lost. If you go out and yell his/ her name he/ she will run and hide. Don't do that.
Go to PLS (Place last seen) walk the area Search for coyote, bear, owl, hawk, racoon, and fox poop and inspect it to see if your dogs fur is inside it. Also look for your dogs poop as well as barfed up chewed up grass. It is not recommended to walk game trails or anywhere for that matter. A lost dog may run across the scent trail many hours or even days later and not know it's point of origin or the direction an owner was traveling. Doing this can and often will lead the dog into potentially worse areas or further away than they've been. Creating a single beacon of scent is key. Never spread scent! The sock is truly one of the best attractants known BUT, must be hung a few feet off the ground so the air can catch it and blow downrange.
When a dog becomes lost they become scared, stressed and upset. They will eat grass to calm their stomachs and then eventually vomit it up. Set up a home away from home. Tent, or plastic lean-too shelter, live trap inside, blanket (dog blanket / bedding) toys, food and your scent . Your scent from a dirty sock. Game camera, shirt, etc.
Once you can establish an area you feel your dog is hiding out in, set a LIVE TRAP. Place plastic or blanket over the trap to protect it and your dog or any other animal you catch inside. Inside the trap place a soiled SOCK. Dog Food and water.
Set up a game camera to see if your dog or other critters are hanging around.
The following advice is controversial, and may not work. (Lay a pee trail. Pee in a spray bottle. Mix urine w water. Doesn't matter the mix ratio. While walking around, lay a pee trail (one squirt every six feet) the size of a dine heading to the trap or nearby home away from home.) Your time may be better spent following other leads or instructions.
If you have a dog friend or dog partner, bring him/her out with you on a 30 foot lead. If you spot your dog, let them go up and say hi and calm your dog down. Once the missing dog recognizes your other dog, slowly reel your dog on a 30 foot lead into you while you are sitting down.
Have some dog treats. Beef jerky works wonders. Then when you can get your lost dog to come to you, put a loop around it's neck with a leash and sit and talk to it. Touch it, massage it, to calm it down. Give it kisses and check for wounds, injuries.
Be patient. If you see your dog don't yell.
Sit down, take a deep breath, and talk or sing normally in a normal tone. You are trying to bring your dog out of shock and into your arms.
