This article, serves as a guide to all dog-owners that wish not
to experience the agony and distress of having to deal with the
fact that their dog is gone missing. Just read carefully the
tips that follow, keeping in mind that your best friend needs
an owner who is capable of being proactive as well as
encouraging it to catch, fetch, pull, tag and chew. The most
important thing to remember is that if your dog gets lost,
chances are that someone, somewhere, has seen it. Do not get
discouraged and do not panic. Be aware and it is likely that
you will be reunited with your beloved companion again, if you
follow the instructions listed below and keep yourself
organized and prepared at all times.
- Keep an action checklist in a visible location, along with
the current phone numbers of emergency contacts, like
individuals and organizations you will need to call in case of
an emergency. Also keep a copy in your vehicle for when you are
traveling.
- Of extreme importance is to keep with this list of contacts a
current local street map. It can greatly assist your search in
case you need to coordinate a search unit.
- Check frequently your dog to see that he wears his collar.
Have a tag attached to the collar with the dog's name and your
current home and/or cell phone number. Additionally, always
have a current rabies tag and pet license tag attached to your
dog's collar. You can find it again sooner by using the
engraved tag numbers.
- However, dogs can loose their collars on the streets. For
real security, consider putting a microchip implant to your dog
and register the chip's number with one of the available
registries of your area. If your dog gets stolen or lost and
gets dumped or found it can be identified through its microchip
ID number. Permanent identification, in the form
of a microchip or tattoo, is also useful in case you ever have
to prove that this dog is indeed yours and you are the
one they should return it to.
- Prior to having to deal with any unfortunate event, register
your dog to the available services of your area. In most cases
registration can be completed online and you will save precious
time if something actually happens.
- Ensure you have recent and reliable color photos of your dog
that show clearly all your dogs' characteristics, so that you
can make a big publicity fuss and make it extremely difficult
for thieves to try to keep your dog. Taking pictures annually
(maybe something to do on the dog's birthday), is a must. You
need to photograph your dog's head and body from different
angles (top, front, head shot, side-on, standing, etc.). Focus
especially on any special markings your dog might carry.
- Write a simple and clear description of your dog and have it
stored in your computer's memory — along with the most recent set of
photographs — in order to create posters/flyers and publish its
disappearance.
- Search in advance and save the web pages of your local animal
control authorities for immediate retrieval. This can assist
you to immediately publicize its disappearance online through
the multiple online services.
- Maintain your garden fence to keep it dog-proof and check
frequently the locks on your doors and windows in order to be
sure that your dog is safely confined when you leave it alone
in the house.
- Guard your dog in your garden and runs. Never allow your dog
to roam free in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Leash it at all
times. If a dog gets loose in an unfamiliar area its chances of
ever finding its way home are particularly small.
- Do not leave your dog tied up outside shops, gyms,
classrooms, offices, etc., and do not leave your dog unattended
inside your vehicle.
- Be wary of strangers expressing an interest in your dog.
Watch out for suspicious characters. You do not have to become
overprotective, but at least you have to be aware of the risks.
Remember that your dog is your responsibility. Do not leave it
to be taken care from friendly strangers.
- If you think you are being followed, do not go straight back
home. Try visiting a friend's or neighbor's house, who does not
own a dog. Stay at your friend's or neighbor's house for at
least half an hour so as to give to the stalker the impression
that the house you entered is where the dog actually lives.
|
<<<Back to Rescue>>>
