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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:
Mix56 · 29/01/2019 13:16

spring "thing "

ILoveMaxiBondi · 29/01/2019 13:17

What? I don’t understand. He escaped because a delivery driver left the gate open and no-one was watching him. I’m guessing that means he’s just left out in the garden all the time then, if he keeps escaping. There’s a ridiculously easy fix for that. It’s so obvious OP I can’t imagine why you didn’t think of it yourself. Keep him in the house!!

Ambs81 · 29/01/2019 13:18

Treat a dog properly and they won't want to escape!

Someone left the side gate open and my dog didnt venture passed the drive, why would an adult dog leave somewhere safe, warm, where they get found and long walks?

OP you need help, what a ridiculous reason for giving up a dog - obviously more too . this than you've disclosed!

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diddl · 29/01/2019 13:18

"though I didn't think you did enough to find him when you first posted "

Yup-nothing done until the next day?

And why was he even out in the garden "last night" if it was so bloody cold?

Please rehome him, Op.

krustykittens · 29/01/2019 13:19

Err, I have a working dog with strong prey drive, he will run off chasing something quite happily, which is why my gates are locked, so no one can let him out. Tends to come back to the house when bored, though.

Lorddenning1 · 29/01/2019 13:20

What the fuck, this thread escalated quickly,,,,

Juells · 29/01/2019 13:20

OP you need help

No, her animals need help, and she needs to not have 'pets' that aren't actually pets.

Fairenuff · 29/01/2019 13:20

Well, looks like OP will be doing a runner too.

missperegrinespeculiar · 29/01/2019 13:21

oh no OP! we had an escape artist Collie, had many a sleepless night, but we didn't re-home! we just accepted she had to be supervised at all times and she stayed with us until she died of old age, a very happy girl!

It can be done!

Juells · 29/01/2019 13:22

It can be done!

if someone is willing to make the effort

babysharkah · 29/01/2019 13:22

Why on earth are you considering rehoming? Just make sure the gate is shut before you let him out.

How utterly bizarre.

krustykittens · 29/01/2019 13:23

Both my dogs are escape artists, very small, nimble, flat coated dogs so they can squeeze through small gaps. It hasn't taken much to dog proof the garden to stop them legging it into the open countryside around us, just time and effort. Hmm

JacksonPillock · 29/01/2019 13:23

Well, looks like OP will be doing a runner too

Yeah, funny that.

DarlingNikita · 29/01/2019 13:24

WTF? That's the lamest excuse for rehoming I've ever heard.

Alwaysaware · 29/01/2019 13:25

Fucking appalling

Fashionista101 · 29/01/2019 13:26

How utterly lazy, why pretend to actually give a shit?

Mix56 · 29/01/2019 13:27

Ambs why would an adult dog leave somewhere safe, warm, where they get found and long walks?
Oh come on, The dog maMy hunting dog on heat
The dog may chase a cat
The dog (like mine), loves water & wants a swim
The dog (like mine) is a hunting dog, & even though he lives on a farm & runs literally miles everyday, loves hunting, snuffling, rabbit chasing..... & is never tired

Mix56 · 29/01/2019 13:27

typo stuff sorry

Dyingforchocolate · 29/01/2019 13:29

How bizarre, read to the end to be all happy that you got your dog back, but you don't actually want him back Confused

I have an escape artist terrier too, I watch her in the garden and don't leave her unsupervised, because she somehow managed to escape no matter how much we dog proof the garden!

PutyourtoponTrevor · 29/01/2019 13:35

Some people just do not deserve dogs

December2018 · 29/01/2019 13:39

Sorry but to be brutally honest it sounded like you didn't really give a shit when you said you looked for him for an hour!
I'd have been out all bloody night looking for one of mine, especially with you being so "worried" about him surviving the cold!

I do hope he finds a home with a family that treasures him and can be bothered to dog proof the house/garden

Sorry to be so blunt but this seriously pisses me off!

WTBE · 29/01/2019 13:40

Maybe there needs to be a search party for the OP 👀

Aprilshowersarecomingsoon · 29/01/2019 13:44

Maybe the op needs to go to Batty - sea dogs home?

obviouslymarvellous · 29/01/2019 13:47

Absolutely fucking disgusting! Ooh I'm so beside myself - looks for a bit, goes to bed whatever! Ooh dog warden has him - I will rehome him! Angryffs how awful - if the gate was left open not his fault and it took you 20 mins to realise. Christ op get a grip and train yourself and your dog! You can't have an escape artiste of a dog and then leave him to his own devices. I'm so pissed off at you rehoming him!

EnglishBreakfastTea · 29/01/2019 13:47

This has made me so cross. You don't deserve the love of that poor dog. If your first instinct isn't to try literally everything to dog proof your garden then you should not be a pet owner. This is coming from the owner of an escape artist spaniel - there is always something that can be done