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Could my dog have survived outside overnight??

259 replies

pandoraphile · 28/01/2019 14:37

I am literally beside myself. A delivery man left the gate open last night and he managed to get out. I didn't notice for about 20mins and by the time I got outside there was no sign of him. I spent an hour looking and calling for him - nothing. I thought he'd turn up overnight but no.

Straight away this morning I got calling around friends, the local vets, the kennels where they take 'stray' dogs - nothing. We live in a small village and everyone knows who he is and where he lives. No one has seen him and no one has reported a traffic incident with a dog. He's chipped and all of my details are up to date so if he'd been picked up I would have assumed I would be contacted by now? I even took my other dog out of our usual walk in case she could scent him but she didn't.

I'm desperately worried and the more I think about it, the more I'm concerned about him being in the cold overnight. It was sub-zero temperatures here last night. He's a six year old hardy terrier so not a delicate dog. But he lives indoors so he certainly won't be used to those sorts of temperatures. I really, really don't know what to do from here. I haven't stuck posters up yet but I've been into the local shops (three) and asked them to keep an eye out and spread the word.

Is there any chance that he would be ok overnight?? Or am I looking at the worst? :(

OP posts:
pandoraphile · 28/01/2019 14:38

** FOR our usual walk that should say.

OP posts:
Oddsocksandmeatballs · 28/01/2019 14:40

Have you registered him on DogLost?

Yes, every chance he will have survived overnight, I hope you have him home soon.

Oddsocksandmeatballs · 28/01/2019 14:41

Call local vets. Report to the dog warden.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

TheQueef · 28/01/2019 14:43

Have you tried the police?
My elderly poodle fucked off Xmas eve morning at 5am. Obviously I panicked (he was blind) and searched everything and everywhere.
He had gotten into a car that was delivering presents on our road, they didn't notice for twenty miles (when he started farting) they called and reported him found.
Angels.

rytonsister · 28/01/2019 14:43

do you have a facebook village page? get his pic on it and publicise he is missing.
there are always lost and found dogs pages locally too...
id say he could have absolutely survived the night - what breed is he?
hope you find him id be distraught - i padlock my gate so no one can leave it open (or get in for that matter!) good luck.

startingtolooklikemother · 28/01/2019 14:44

I'm really sorry this must be absolutely awful for you. Most terriers could survive a nuclear attack they are so tough but they have the advantage of being clever to.
I do hope your dog turns up soon and sending you very un MN hugs 🤗

Peridot1 · 28/01/2019 14:44

Yes get it up on Facebook. I always share dog lost FB appeals.

Witchofzog · 28/01/2019 14:44

My friends dog, also a hardy terrier type dog went missing on the snow on the moors. She was distraught. We all thought the worst. 3 days later she shows up, pleased as punch and NOT worry.

Doglost were a godsend during this time and they had volunteers looking from day 1. I am sure your dog will be fine.

ChrisPrattsFace · 28/01/2019 14:45

Of course he will have survived overnight - assuming no injuries or illness.
Spread his picture as far as you can, leave clothes outside and on your walk that he may seek comfort in. I hope he returns soon!

Witchofzog · 28/01/2019 14:46

*Not sorry . She bloody wasn't sorry at all

Seeline · 28/01/2019 14:46

Could he have got in the delivery van?

Winegumaddict · 28/01/2019 14:46

I really hope you find them soon. Yes a dog would be fine overnight especially a terrier they are really hardy. Fingers crossed for you.

ILoveMaxiBondi · 28/01/2019 14:48

Plaster his photo all over FB OP. ALL the buying and selling and community pages. Keep bumping them every few hours. Make sure all local vets have his description and your number.

spiderlight · 28/01/2019 14:50

Doglost will get the word out. You might have a local lost dogs FB page as well, which will help spread the word. It must be terribly worrying for you and I really hope he's found soon.

LadyandGent · 28/01/2019 14:50

He'll hopefully have found shelter somewhere.

BBInGinDrinking · 28/01/2019 14:52

It depends on where you are - when you say sub zero, how sub? But yes, generally speaking, he would survive, especially given his age and breed, and assuming in good health.

Sorry to hear this, OP. Could he have got in the delivery van? Get the posters up, and get it on the system of your local police. Any dog thefts locally? I'm not a Twitter or Facebook fan generally, but they can be very useful in these situations if you can spread the word and his picture that way. If you've got a village school, I'd hot foot it down there with a photo and spread the word at pick up time too. Have a word with the postman, milkman, local farmers and so on. Given the time lapse, could he have reached outlying farms, nearby villages, town or city?

Good luck - I hope you get him home soon and safe.

Pieceofpurplesky · 28/01/2019 14:58

I read somewhere that walking your usual route and then stopping to cook sausages on a portable bbq helps. I am not sure how true that is (a local woman runs a list and found dog site and swears by it - she has some good success).
I hope You find him

Clawdy · 28/01/2019 14:59

He will definitely survive the cold. Our poor old dog, when I was little, was often out all night, even in freezing temperatures, if he didn't return home by the time Dad was locking up at night. Not sure how, but he survived to a ripe old age.

Bastardanxiety · 28/01/2019 14:59

Keeping everything crossed that he comes home soon, OP Flowers

Eliza9917 · 28/01/2019 15:09

Do you know the delivery driver? They wouldn't have stolen your dog?

Another place to try is your local groomer, they should be able to distribute his photo in all the English grooming groups.

1Wildheartsease · 28/01/2019 15:09

So hope that you find him.

UrsulaPandress · 28/01/2019 15:10

There was a 17 year old dog on one of our local FB pages who went missing and was found stuck in a reservoir after many hours, and she is fine.

Share the hell out of it on FB.

Good luck.

Eliza9917 · 28/01/2019 15:13

Sorry, all grooming groups. 'English Groomers Group' on FB is my go to group.

Nesssie · 28/01/2019 15:15

Absolutely. My friends miniature chihuahua survived out during the snow last year.

Call council to report missing
Register on DogsLost to get the word out
Leave his bedding outside in your garden and gate open.
Disposable BBQ and cook some sausages, or cook some and put them outside.
Choose a spot that you regularly go to and put down a blanket/jumper etc that smells of him/you.

Gooseygoosey12345 · 28/01/2019 15:15

He'll have been fine with the temperature. Have you called the warden and been to the pound? Our local one said they didn't have my dog (even though he was chipped 😡) and had him down as a Labrador when he was a very true to type spaniel!! Definitely worth a visit as he won't be in the rescues until at least 7 days in the pound