Finding Fido
By Megan Blake
Discovering that your dog is missing could be your worst nightmare. Here are some procedures that could help turn a potential worst-case scenario into a happy ending.
PREVENTION
Well-cared for dogs usually run away due to one of three reasons: separation anxiety, poorly defined pack structure, or instinctive tendencies like chasing prey or roaming. “The basic instinct for our pets, like small children, is to explore without knowing the danger of traffic and the numerous potential
hazards outside their cocoon,” says
Stanford D. Milnes, president and CEO of
Secure-A-Pet.
A dog who is not bored and part of a balanced pack is less likely to stray. So decrease the chance of him running off by developing a strong structure in which you are the leader and control the environment. Teach him to accept the routine of his stewards leaving temporarily, and give him an environment that is secure (with tall fences, locked gates with adequate food, water and shelter) and mentally stimulating (filled with toys and maybe a friend). Minimize your dog’s desire to run away by addressing behavioral issues such as separation anxiety.
Train dogs to stay within specified door thresholds and to understand that darting through open doors is not allowed. Require him to seek permission to cross thresholds including gates and garages. Make sure outdoor fencing is secure and high enough. Make fencing dig-proof by extending your current fence into the ground 6 to 10 inches by attaching chain link fencing to the bottom of your fence and burying it straight into the ground. Make sure gates are secure, high enough and locked. If they close over soft ground, make it dig-proof by placing paving stones under the closed gate or by running a metal pipe on the ground below the closed gate, then burying chain link into the ground and attaching it to the pipe.
IF YOUR DOG STRAYS
It is important to act immediately because time could be a matter of life and death, according to Anna Hernandez, New Hope coordinator with L.A. Animal Services. She suggests posting flyers with multiple photos showing different angles of your dog and notifying nearby vets, groomers and pet stores. While posting, personally let the employees and other people present know of your loss to generate concern.
Contact your local animal services department, and send them multiple photos of your dog. Most animal control shelters have websites where you can see the new arrivals. However, it is critical to walk the kennels every day because dogs may look very different from their photos, especially if they have been wandering. There may also be other shelters outside the jurisdiction of your local animal services department, like local rescues or Humane Societies, so ask your department of animal control if they can provide you with the complete local list. “The first 12 hours a pet goes missing is the most crucial time for bringing your pet home,” says Milnes.
There is a time limit for how long shelters will hold a dog while looking for his guardian. If the dog is microchipped, the hold could be extended. After the time limit, he may be adopted, or he may be put down if he is sick or aggressive. So, time is critical. Ask your mail carrier if he has seen your dog. Mail carriers have a unique knowledge of the neighborhood dogs and may have seen him in someone else’s possession. To rule out the worse-case scenario, contact your local sanitation company because they keep a log of all dead animal pick-ups.
There are many websites that can help. The largest public database of lost and found dogs, www.fidofinder.com, offers a free registry service where you can post classified ads, search listings, print posters and receive automated email notifications when matching dogs are added to the website. For a fee, www.amberalertforpets.com will send poster alerts with photos to veterinarians, animal shelters, animal control, media outlets, pet stores and “neighborhood watch” volunteers within a 15 to 100 mile radius of where your pet was lost. Also for a fee, www.findmylostpet.net sends postcard mailings and www.lostmydoggie.com makes phone calls to help find missing pets.
Losing your pet can be a confusing time filled with panic. But if you strategically follow these suggestions, your chances of reuniting with your best friend will be greatly increased.
High Tech Help
» MICROCHIPPING: A computer chip is placed under the skin between his shoulder blades. When scanned by shelters and most veterinarians it will identify you as the guardian.
» WEBSITES: Pre-register your dog with sites such as www.fidofinder.com as a “safe dog.” If lost, his information is in there and you are ready to begin the search instantly.
» ELECTRICAL FENCING: Use an “invisible fence,” which features a collar that sounds a warning alert when a dog approaches the edge of the designated safe area.
» GPS COLLARS: Systems designed to use wireless technologies to provide you with an accurate location of your pet in minutes via an LCD screen on your computer or handheld device.
Megan Blake is a pet lifestyle specialist, columnist, author, and pet expert on Animal Attractions TV. She lives in Malibu, Calif., with her two dogs, two cats and two horses.www.MeganBlake.com
