You’ve had a long and busy day at work and all you can think about is going for a long and peaceful walk with your best friend. You walk through the front door, listening out for the familiar clip, clip, clip of her nails on the tiles but the house is silent. You go from room to room, calling her name but she’s not there. Your heart sinks. What do you do now?
One of the worst things that can happen to a dog guardian is when their canine companion goes missing. While we do our best to keep our pups safe, mistakes and accidents happen, and you may one day find yourself in a situation where your best bud has gone missing. This can be a very distressing thing to happen, so we have put together a quick list of what to do if your dog goes missing.
When deciding where to search, consider where your dog went missing. Was it from your home, or from the dog park? Did someone leave the gate open, or did she escape the car while you were at the vet? Have you recently moved into a new home? Have you considered your pup may have been stolen? Thinking about these possibilities will help you develop a plan to find your lost dog.
The most important thing to do in a distressing situation like this is to keep calm. By keeping calm, you can hold a clear mind and act decisively. Secondly, and almost as important, is to act quickly. As the saying goes ‘time is of the essence.’ The sooner you can get out and start searching, the better your chances of finding your lost pup. If you can, get a search party together and try to cover as much space and distance as possible. Grab a piece of clothing that you have recently worn and a tub of your best bud’s favourite (preferably smelly) treats. These items can be useful if you need to encourage your frightened pup to come to you. The best way to search for your dog is to slowly drive your car around the neighbourhood, loudly but calmly calling your dog’s name.
There are many animal networking groups available on various social media platforms, some of them dedicated specifically to networking and finding lost dogs. Find a clear and recent photo of your pup, preferably showing their whole body and distinguishable marks and colourations, and share the photo and your pup’s information on these networking groups. Remember to include the area in which she went missing, as well as your name and contact details. If you suspect your dog has been stolen, it is essential to open a case at your local SAPS immediately.
On your search, take a recent photo of your pup with you and
ask neighbours, pedestrians, gardeners, domestic workers, or security companies
in the area if they have seen her. If you can, put together a flyer or pamphlet
with your dog’s picture and all your details and hand these out at shops, pet
supply stores, petrol garages, and local businesses. Some shopping centres will
allow you to put pamphlets up on their notice boards. Paste posters up on
robots at traffic intersections. If allowed, get on to your local community
messaging groups and ask the members to look out for your lost dog. The wider
you spread the word, the greater the chance that someone notices your pup and
lets you know they’ve found her. You may find someone in the neighbourhood has
picked her up and taken her home for safekeeping, so it is essential that you
get the word out.
Visit local animal shelters and veterinary clinics
There are many caring people out there, and you may find that someone has found your pup wandering in the streets and picked her up. Often, the first place someone will take a lost dog is their local vet or animal shelter. It is recommended that you visit vets and shelters personally so that you can identify your pup if she is there. Again, take a recent photo of her with you, or the pamphlet of her details. Certain vets and animal shelters will allow you to put pamphlets up on their notice boards. Have your dog’s microchip number available, as vets and SPCAs will always check lost dogs that have been brought in for microchips.
Most shelters are very busy and overburdened and may not have the staff or resources to actively check in their kennels for your lost pup. Also, it can be difficult to accurately describe your pup’s breed, size, or colour over the phone, so it is always good to go and look for yourself. Visit your local SPCA every day until you find your pup. Many vets will surrender lost dogs to the SPCA 24 hours after they have been brought in, so it is important to check in at the SPCA as often as you can. Click here for a list of all the SPCAs in the country.
Healthy Hound Missing Pet Search and Rescue is an animal search and rescue unit based in Gauteng and is available to help you find your missing dog. These highly trained handlers and their dogs are specialists in their field and will work closely with you until you find your pup. Here is a link to their services https://www.facebook.com/healthyhoundsa/.
If you are so inclined, consider chatting to an animal communicator. While you may be sceptical, there have been many success stories of animal communicators being able to identify the location of a lost pet.
If possible and legal, ask someone to use their drone to help you search over large distances for your missing pup. Drones can be very useful especially in areas with large open spaces, veld, mountains, or places difficult to access by vehicle or on foot.
It can be devastating to lose your pup. The following steps can help you prevent your dog from going missing and can also help you find your dog if this does happen.
Never stop searching for your lost pup. I have heard stories of dogs that have been found many months after they’ve gone missing. Remember, getting lost will be very scary for your dog, and you may find she doesn’t respond to you, even if she sees or hears you. This is quite normal, as she may be under severe stress. Always stay calm and be patient when looking for your dog, especially if you spot her. Screaming, waving, or shouting at or for her may actually scare her away. Some people suggest conducting your searches in the evening, early in the morning, or at night, when it is quieter, and your dog may feel safer coming out. If you do come across your lost pup and she isn’t responding to you (some frightened dogs may even run away from their well-meaning guardians), put out food and water for her, as well as an item of clothing you have worn recently and something of hers, such as her favourite toy, or bed. Give your pup time to calm down. This may take hours or even days. Engage with animal shelters and rescue organisations. Some of them have traps that they will allow you to use to safely and humanely trap your scared dog if she is too stressed to allow you to approach.
Losing your furry family member can be an incredibly distressing event. Do your best to prevent any possibility of your pup going missing, but if this happens, keep these tips on hand to ensure you find your canine companion as soon as possible.
As always, if you need any help or advice with anything dog-related, get in touch with us. We’re here to help!
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