Melbourne, VIC Lost Female Dog, Bella Is Missing

Facebook Community Response

1 month ago

How was the dog lost?

Lorraine M.

1 month ago

Distribute posters around your neighbourhood as some people don't use Facebook. Also contact your local Animal Aid

Debbie M.

1 month ago

Dogs in Flight Mode (Also Known as Survival Mode): What It Is and How to Help When a dog goes missing and days pass without a single sighting, the worry can feel overwhelming. You might wonder: Why hasn’t anyone seen them? Why won’t they come when called? How can a beloved dog vanish into thin air? The answer often lies in something called flight mode—also known as survival mode—a powerful, involuntary response that helps dogs survive perceived danger. Understanding this state is essential if you want to bring a lost dog home safely. 🧠 What Is Flight Mode (aka Survival Mode)? Flight mode, sometimes referred to as survival mode, is not DISOBEDIENCE. It’s NOT POOR TRAINING It’s not that your dog doesn’t love you. It’s a neurobiological reaction to stress and fear, deeply wired into a dog’s nervous system. When a dog experiences something frightening—like storms, fireworks, being looked after , an accident, being rehomed, or even just getting lost—they may go into a state of extreme survival instinct. In this state, their body and brain prepare for one thing only: escape. They’re not “choosing” to run—they physically and mentally can’t do anything else. ⚡ What Happens Inside the Dog’s Brain? When fear kicks in, the amygdala (the brain’s fear centre) takes over. Within seconds: * Adrenaline surges, pushing blood to the muscles and speeding up breathing and heart rate. * Cortisol floods the system, keeping them in a hyper-alert state. * The part of the brain that handles logic, memory, and recognition gets suppressed. This means: * Your dog might not recognise your voice or even your face. * They likely won’t respond to their name, whistles, or familiar commands. * Instead of running to safety, they run from everything—even you. Even confident, well-trained dogs can enter flight/survival mode under stress. It’s instinct, not choice. 🚫 What Not to Do As humans, our first instinct is to call out, search the area, or try to chase a dog we’ve spotted. But for a dog in flight (or survival) mode, those actions feel like pressure or even threat. Avoid: * ❌ Shouting or calling (can sound like anger to a frightened dog) * ❌ Chasing or approaching directly (triggers escape reflex) * ❌ Bringing crowds of people to help search These can make the dog flee farther or into dangerous areas. ✅ What You Should Do If you believe a dog is in flight/survival mode, take a calm and strategic approach: 1. Stop having people actively search unless advised – Reduce human activity in the area. Don’t have anyone come to search. 2. Create a scent base – Leave unwashed clothing or bedding where the dog was last seen, collect some of your wee and pour it around this spot or onto some wood. 3. Set up a quiet feeding station – Offer food and water in a low-traffic spot. If you see them don’t call out or move just stop, sit down turn side on or have your back to them & avoid eye contact. 4. Use trail cameras – These help track the dog’s movements without human interference. 5. Log all sightings immediately – Include time, location, direction of travel, and behaviour. 6. Stay consistent – Changing tactics too often can disrupt progress. Small amount of food out late evening and checked early morning, ( don’t put a lot out as you want them to keep coming back instead of being full and staying away ) Patience is key. If sighted - stop where you are and sit down, do not call out or approach, don’t call their name,instead say good girl/boy …. ( what ever their name is). Say words or phrases you use at home that gets them excited or happy and avoid direct eye contact. ⏳ How Long Can It Last? Some dogs calm down within hours. Others, especially rescues or dogs with trauma histories, can remain in flight/survival mode for days or even weeks. Over time, most dogs begin to relax when: * They’re no longer being pursued * A consistent food source appears * They feel safe and undisturbed * Familiar scents start to reappear That’s when recovery becomes possible—through either a slow reintroduction or a humane trap.

Debbie M.

1 month ago

Important. Put out piles of carers worn clothes near sightings in a sheltered spot where last seen. Advice from Victoria Lost Pets Register. You can message them on FB to list *search with fragrant hot food · Leave out some unwashed clothes or the dogs bedding, hang it on the clothesline so that the scent will travel in the breeze and hopefully smell their way home. *Door knock the area your dog went missing from. ( Put a poster on your front fence even if it is a hand written one with your mobile number on it in case someone comes door knocking while you are out looking.) · Is there a vacant house in the neighbourhood where they may have been popped in the yard to keep them safe, but nobody would realise that they are there? * · If your dog has potential to get onto farm land, contact farmers ASAP with your phone number so they contact you if they see them rather than exercising their rights · If your dog is a small pup, then please check hidey holes, especially under recliners, in bushes, pools and ponds, make sure they aren’t shut in cupboards or curled up unaware under a bed or in a box or basket. · If your dog is elderly, there is always a chance that they can have a degree of dementia and can get themselves stuck in corners, behind bushes, curtains and furniture, they can also wander off and not remember where they are. · Check with local and surrounding councils, leave your details and fill out a missing report, leave a flyer with a photo with them if possible, have a look in person as a description over the phone isn't always guarenteed. * If your dog is long haired, it can get caught on fences and in bushes, so check those places thoroughly. (Leave a microchip number with them in case something isn't working and they can't bring up details, anywhere they are likely to be scanned) · Check with the Lost Dogs Home, RSPCA, Rescues, Shelters and other pounds, if you are not sure of your areas pound council would be able to advise you on this. · Leave your details with vet clinics as someone may bring your dog in for a microchip scan or injured. · Put an ad on Gumtree in the “Lost and found pets” section as not everyone is on Facebook, also keep an eye on their ads · Put an ad in your local newspaper, it can be done on the phone, in person or online via their website as not everyone is on Facebook, also keep an eye on their ads. · Put an ad on the radio, this can be done via the radio station website or a phone call. · Print out flyers, we are able to make you a flyer if you need one, and deliver them around the neighbourhood where your dog went missing from · Put up posters in local areas where your dog went missing from such as shopping centres and corner stores. · have your dogs microchip flagged as missing, or call the microchip register if the number shows no results. · Put a poster on your front fence as some people will walk a found dog around the area they find it in.

Debbie M.

1 month ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Debbie M.

1 month ago

📷 View photo on Facebook

Debbie M.

1 month ago

Scent scent scent Scent is everything in helping a lost dog find its way home . Please hang out owners and dogs used and worn clothing , towels , socks and sheets out front in the hopes your furbaby picks it up and finds its way home . Lights on and gate open . Not everyone is on Facebook so start door knocking , print off flyers and letterbox drop in and around your area or the area where your furbaby went missing . Print off flyers and post in areas where they will be seen , intersections , supermarkets , local Shops , dog parks , bus stops . It’s about getting word out and everyone helping . If the dog is spotted approach with caution , don’t chase it as it could run off (flight mode) . Take a photo and let the owner know asap !! Remember scent scent scent ! All the best x

Debbie M.

1 month ago