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Original poster

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:
SparklyMagpie · 29/01/2019 12:48

Whaaat? So you've found him and now are rehoming him?! Shock tbh though I didn't think you did enough to find him when you first posted

Poor dog

sleeplessinsomewhereelse · 29/01/2019 12:49

What? No

That's a crap outcome. Rehome?

Fazackerley · 29/01/2019 12:49

Oh Sad

One of ours jumps the fence to get out. We just don't let him out. He's walked at least twice a day instead.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 29/01/2019 12:49

Soup please check your ddog +longline.... A neighbour of my dd had a gorgeous Lurcher who escaped and ended up asleep on a neighbour's bed. Mortified she put him on a long line.
Came home and he had jumped the fence attached to it.
Hanged himself.
I sobbed.
Bloody tragedy.

SoupDragon · 29/01/2019 12:50

He's fine on it!

Celebelly · 29/01/2019 12:51

@SparklyMagpie I thought the same as you Sad

Sparklingbrook · 29/01/2019 12:52

Oh April poor dog. Sad

Floralnomad · 29/01/2019 12:52

april anyone with an ounce of sense would not attach any kind of long line to a collar .

SparklyMagpie · 29/01/2019 12:53

@Celebelly glad it wasn't just me. Years ago when my cat went missing ( who sadly we found out had been hit and didn't make it :( ) I spent every single minute out searching for him for nearly a week in the rain and in the dark

Never could i just walk for an hour and then go home

SoupDragon · 29/01/2019 12:54

🙄

My garden is huge. He can't reach the edges.

Lindy2 · 29/01/2019 12:54

How can you have been so worried but then decide not to keep your poor dog once he's found.
Either work out how he is getting out and then better dog proof your garden, or only have him in the garden when you are properly watching him. Surely most pet dogs stay inside a lot of the time (especially in winter) when they are not out on a walk with their owner.
How long was he spending alone in your garden?

Fazackerley · 29/01/2019 12:55

I used to long line mine but he wriggles out of his collar Hmm good job he's cute.

SparklyMagpie · 29/01/2019 12:55

Also you're other dog when you was saying was looking sad and bewildered, get used to that soul destroying look when you get rid of his friend :(

Whisky2014 · 29/01/2019 12:56

Well, if someone leaves the gate open that means it's not dog proof! Bit pathetic to rehome the dog because someone left th gate open. Maybe he needs longer walks?

CreakyBlinder · 29/01/2019 12:57

Whaaaat? Can't you just keep him supervised when the gate's open?

Very strange update to a lost dog thread!

Celebelly · 29/01/2019 12:57

@SparklyMagpie I would be bloody beside myself if my dog went missing and wouldn't stop looking and phoning and doing everything until she was home. I lost her for 20 mins as a puppy and I was in bits. My DP was on his way back from work to come help me look when I found her as I rang him in hysterics, and I just held onto her and sobbed when I found her under my car in the car park of the forest! I couldn't ever have just given up and waited till later Sad

Sorry about your cat Thanks

bobstersmum · 29/01/2019 12:57

I have a feeling the dog was left out purposely.

cricketmum84 · 29/01/2019 12:59

And this is why some people should be banned from having pets Angry

Searched for him for an hour, doesn't bother updating chip details (yeah yeah whatever) and then just hand him over to the fucking pound Cos you can't be arsed supervising him in the garden.

Fucking disgraceful.

remainymcremainface · 29/01/2019 13:00

Another poster that thinks you should supervise in the garden. Any reason you can't?

After 4 years of a dog I could just Chuck our for a wee I now have a second that I need to go out in the garden with. Sure it's a pain in the arse at 6:30 on a freezing January morning but when you take on a commitment it won't all be cuddles and Greetings card moments...

JacksonPillock · 29/01/2019 13:07

That was the weirdest plot twist ever. YOU FOUND HIM! Yay! You must be so happy! Oh, you don't want him back. Wait.. what?

BooksAreMyOnlyFriends · 29/01/2019 13:08

Op please take time to think about this. You might just be traumatised about what's happened and making a snap decision with thinking deeply.

When our cat went missing it was so awful. I remember thinking, if we don't get him back we will never get another pet. I couldn't handle the upset. We did get him back and my first thoughts weren't joy, I was relieved he was ok but very cross and upset with him as he just sauntered in without a care in the world while we'd had weeks of sleepless nights, searching and upset. I soon forgave him though.

I know you're going to get a grilling here as rehoming pets does not go well on mumsnet. Just think very deeply about the next step for your dog.

RikGrimesIsMyFavourite · 29/01/2019 13:08

How selfish of you. Your dog deserves better.

Let's just hope he finds a better home rather than being put down, however he probably won't because wherever he goes to will probably tell potential owners he's prone to escape! Charities/vets do that as otherwise the animal just ends up being brought back a few weeks later.

Crunchymum · 29/01/2019 13:10

Fucking hell OP.

Are you for real?

Juells · 29/01/2019 13:12

Very strange update to a lost dog thread!

Indeed. Get people all worried and invested then... 💣

Mix56 · 29/01/2019 13:16

My dogs can climb any fence they choose.

Is your dog castrated ? Could he be running off due to other dogs locally on heat ?
What type of dog is it ? could you have a high line when he is outside in the garden alone ?
Could you put a spring thong to stop the postman leaving the gate open
Could you ask him to close the gate ? Put up a sign.