Could my dog have survived outside overnight??

[pandoraphile]

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? :(

Unless you have a helicopter I imagine most people have a road near their house.

I'm now wondering if the original question "could my dog have survived outside overnight?" was asked for the wrong reasons ☹️

KittensAndCake yes indeedy. :(

Kittens I thought this at the very beginning as it was a strange question to ask really.

Seriously, I just don't buy what you're saying. You sound very insincere when you say you're not the kind of person to just rehome.

One of our ddogs is an absolute lunatic and our fences weren't in good condition and were wearing away a bit, especially towards the bottom of the garden. She once did escape into next doors garden, when she discovered a weakness we hadn't seen. Luckily we managed to get her back straight away, but it was our fault we hadn't noticed and we felt bloody awful! So what did we do? Re home her of course!!! No, sorry, actually what we did was watch her like her hawk, baracade the weak bit, until the following weekend when we re fenced and completely secured the garden.

This is not an extreme, no solution situation, OP. It really does just take a bit of effort. If you were just really concerned about their safety, you'd do it yourself, rather than give them away to someone else who might have the same issues.

The OP is a dick. It's not a personal attack, it's a fact. Poor dog. It'll be better off away from you though, poor littley

It is now a few years since I lost my girl.

She was rescued and we had all sorts of hurdles to overcome. We did this with love, laughter, a lot of money and a few tears over the years.

She was my world and I did everything to make her safe, happy and secure.

She repaid me in joy.

I miss her every day.

This story saddens me greatly.

Disgraceful behaviour and a perfect example of someone who shouldn't be allowed to have dogs. When you take on pets you are committing to taking the steps required to ensure they are safe and well cared for. That doesn't include getting rid just because it disrupts your very important parcel deliveries.

OP - I absolutely agree with you. You are doing the right thing in re-homing him.
While you're at it, do all your pets a favour and rehome them too, and don't get any more. Feeble short lived attempts to find your dog, and refusal to properly dog proof your home to solve this. Your pets are entitled to better than this. Take a long hard look at yourself OP.