Lost Dogs:
We have been involved in several missing dog searches in the local area lasting from a few hours to a few months.
So, based on our own experiences, here are some ideas which we hope may be of use.
Please remember that we are always prepared to help in any way that we can - not only with searching and postering, but with technical things like photo uploading/internet sites/communication.
If you have lost a dog:
Immediately inform:
Local dog wardens: Alex and Natasha, Stroud District Council: 01453 754490/91/92 or 754497
Veterinary practices (click for local phone numbers and addresses)
Rescue centres:
Teckels Animal Sanctuary: 01452 740300
RSPCA South Cotswolds Branch: Annie/June 01453 755857
Gloucestershire Animal Welfare Centre and Cheltenham Animal Shelter: 01242 523 521
Local newspapers:
Stroud News and Journal: 01453 762 412
Stroud Life: 01453 763 661
Citizen (Stroud): 01453 763661
Local radio stations:
BBC Radio Gloucestershire: 01452 308585
Stroud FM: 01453 757492
Heart Gloucestershire: 01452 572400
Police: Non-Emergency: 0845 090 1234
Stray dog number: (out of hours) 01452 532467
Consider letting postmen/women, local dog walkers and local dog training classes know too. You could also ask that local walking/ramblers groups be on the look out for sightings.
As soon as possible, register with or contact any of the internet sites that deal with lost pets: (click to access sites)
DogLost 0844 800 3220
As soon as possible, get as many friends, family and volunteers to physically drive or walk the areas where your dog was last seen. Think about arranging a set time e.g. 6am or 6pm when everyone can be out and apportioned an area to check. Don't forget to call us too on 07966 244735.
As soon as possible, prepare a comprehensive poster (this is a template which you can tailor to your specific needs). Include distinguishing features of your dog like colour patches, marks or scars since a tag, collar or harness can be lost. Saturate the immediate area, and further areas as and when you receive new information and sightings. Quickly and concisely informing the public about the situation is one of the best options for getting your dog returned safely. You cannot have too many posters!
Use clear plastic wallets to protect your posters from the weather. To help make them last longer, place the poster inside the wallet upside down, so that when you put your poster up, the wet and condensation doesn't drip onto your printing and destroy it or make it illegible.
Consider placing a poster in the back of your car (but don't obstruct your view).
Email, text or tweet any friends and family, their friends and family and also any other 'doggy' people you know of - a good way of getting the word out is to send a blanket message to everyone you can think of, asking them to forward details of your dog to their contacts too.
In addition to the poster, prepare handouts to pass on to folk as you are searching the area. Take every opportunity to talk to everyone you meet in the vicinity and give them one of the slips. These can also be put on car windscreens too.
Make sure you especially target local dog walking areas and dog walkers' cars/vans with posters and handouts as these folk will regularly be walking with their dogs and therefore are valuable eyes and ears. They will no doubt talk to many other dog walkers too. Also, they will most likely be sympathetic and may volunteer to help you in your search.
Ideally, have an 'office based' person/s to act as coordinator, be available by phone/text/email, and who can relay the latest information to all helpers. They can also prepare and print paperwork and posters, and make essential phone calls.
Regularly check out internet databases of 'found' animals, such as 'Dogs Found' (Dog Lost site).
Consider regular repeat phone calls to all organisations and vets who may have updates. Council environmental workers will check any dogs they find for a microchip, so don't forget to ask the dog warden about this. Go and look at any dogs which match your dog's description yourself.
Consider helpers having high reward tasty treats (like liver/cheese/chicken/sausage) ready to use as an enticement, should they encounter the lost dog.
If you get information about a sighting, remember to get: specific location; date and time of sighting; direction the dog came from and then headed off to and the overall condition of the dog.
When you call for the dog, remember to listen for a moment or two afterwards. Remember too that the dog may have special nick-names which may be used also.
Check all sheds, outhouses and buildings. Ask folk you meet to check their property and gardens thoroughly too.
If you are not the immediate family of the lost dog, then remember that should you find or sight the dog he/she may be very scared and possibly bolt if you approach. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to call the owner to your location and let them approach the dog.
Remember that your well known and much loved companion may be so frightened and traumatised, that in reality they may not even respond or 'recognise' their owner if approached. Be patient and calm in your approach.
Consider using the lost dog's other family dogs to join you in your search of an area, or other dogs they may know and play with can accompany the other helpers in the search. A recognised bark or scent could just be the thing which keeps a scared or lost dog in the area.
Dawn searches are ideal as it is generally quieter and safer for moving around. Dependent upon weather conditions, your scent and family dogs scent will generally remain lower to the ground for longer. Dusk is good too.
Don't become despondent walking the same areas time and time again. Remember that the more time spent looking for your lost dog, and the more eyes you have looking means that you optimize your chances of getting your dog back. Despite thinking that they could have ranged for many miles, an escapee or lost dog can remain quite local. Until you have further sightings or information, saturate the immediate area with people, posters and also your own scent; wipe hands on walls and surfaces and we have also heard that sometimes you could consider discreetly depositing your urine around the area. You could also leave around items of your clothing and the bedding or covers of the lost dog.
Always have available a basic canine medical kit, a fully charged mobile phone and a torch as you may need to respond to sightings at any time of the day or night. Other aids to consider are binoculars (a lot of land can be sweeped from the top of Selsley or Rodborough Commons) , walki-talkies (more immediate than mobiles), remote cameras, night vision scopes and humane dog traps (these last 3 items can sometimes be borrowed or hired).
Look for tracks (especially after snow or rain) which might be particular to your dog, for example one of our dogs has a severed tendon in her right front foot which gives a very distinctive print.
If not done initially, consider a reward for information leading to getting your dog returned. This may be alive or dead.
Consider updating the poster with new information; this could be in the form of a completely new poster or simply an updated 'sash' across older posters.
If you get your dog back:
It may be advisable to get them checked out by a vet, even if they are not obviously injured.
Please remember to retrieve all posters when appropriate to do.
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We send our love and sincere thanks to all who helped us in the safe return of our much loved Andalucian Podenca Paz who was lost for 4 days during Christmas 2005.
Special thanks especially go to our good friends Jason, Gaby and Margaret Stocken who helped us immeasurably and to whom we are eternally grateful.
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