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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:
BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 29/01/2019 21:44

Blanche you have summed it up perfectly.

Linlou82 · 29/01/2019 21:49

WTF rehoming???

Do a favour to your other dog and rehome him to, as you clearly do not see dogs for the family they are.

Maybe if one of your DC goes missing you might look for longer than 1 hour and then look to regime them - absolutely disgusting 🤬😡🤬

Emilydickensonsdogs · 29/01/2019 21:50

We spent a fortune sorting our garden out to make it escape proof, BEFORE we got our dog. Your dog will feel part of your family, it’s really cruel to rehome for such a trivial reason. It’s unlikely he will be easily rehomed. If you truly adore him like you say you do, sort out your garden.

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cowfacemonkey · 29/01/2019 21:55

I read this yesterday and had doubts when OP said she’d looked for an hour. Come on, no one gives up searching for a much loved pet on a freezing winters night after 60 minutes. The update is beyond ridiculous 2/10 OP.

thewinkingprawn · 29/01/2019 22:00

The OP has wound it up and watched it go!

ItsHardToExplain · 29/01/2019 22:03

Plot twist. OP is also a dog that’s now gone missing.

ShatnersBassoon · 29/01/2019 22:06

Weird. Op was literally (figuratively) beside herself at the start of the story. What a difference a day makes.

Frequency · 29/01/2019 22:08

I wouldn't be surprised if it was real. Some people 'love' their log like they love their new purse. They'd be upset if it was gone but they probably wouldn't spend hours physically walking the cold winter night to find it.

I worked in re-homing for a while and OP's attitude is sadly all too common. People often decide they no longer want their 'much loved' pet after the dog warden has picked it up. More often than not they make the 'difficult' decision to rehome approximately ten to twenty seconds after you explain the boarding costs and pick up fee they need to pay to get their dog back.

Linlou82 · 29/01/2019 22:42

Makes me sick - my dog is a massive part of my life I would be inconsolable if he went missing 😭

ilovekale · 29/01/2019 22:52

Blimey what did I just read?!

No wonder he ran...

Brigante9 · 29/01/2019 23:04

Wtaf? I mean, my lot were demons for escaping when they were little. I chicken wired the whole bloody garden, no mean feat, but there was no way I wanted the heartbreak of losing them, so I ended up dragging myself round on half a leg to find the little fuckers, again. I adore them, they got out twice and I was determined to help search, regardless of how difficult it was. I don’t understand the declaration of love from the OP. Is she on glue?!

EnidButton · 29/01/2019 23:08

Yeah, I'm choosing not to believe it tbh.

Original poster
pandoraphile · 29/01/2019 23:52

Rehoming was certainly not my first thought. This is an ongoing problem and tbh rehoming hadn't crossed my mind until today. There's a collection of reasons why I think he would be happy elsewhere and I truly believe that he will be happier where he's going.

It's a devastating decision. But ultimately I cannot keep him safe and I don't want to see him run over.

I was looking into agility classes because I thought he wasn't being stimulated enough. We moved from a house with a huge garden to one that's a lot smaller. We haven't been able to play the games he likes and the two dogs can't run around like they're used to.

Over the last few weeks he's looked miserable and he's started being aggressive to other dogs. We love him dearly but this latest escape is the last straw. He will definitely be happier in his new home. Which is with a friend of a friend btw. He's not going near a council place.

It might seem confusing to people but that's the context. It has been one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I talked it through with various people before I actually decided and in this situation everyone agreed he would be happier where he's going.

We love him dearly and we are acting in his best interests.

OP posts:
Original poster
pandoraphile · 29/01/2019 23:57

Sorry, that should have read "I realised that this was the last straw".

And as for dog proofing the garden, there is nothing further that we can do. We have tried absolutely everything . And the main problem is delivery people leaving the gate ajar.

This is a very sudden decision but I know it's the right one Sad

OP posts:
Frequency · 30/01/2019 00:01

The dog warden lady sounded lovely and she can get going with the re-homing process straight away if I'm sure that's what I want

Why is the dog warden involved in a private rehoming aka rehoming to a friend?

Also, you haven't tried everything. You haven't tried the most obvious solution - supervising the dog outside.

TinselAndKnickers · 30/01/2019 00:08

This is quite frankly a load of bollocks. No, not troll hunting, but very upsetting. You just simply can't be arsed. Sad

BBInGinDrinking · 30/01/2019 00:08

I don't understand the update. The dog was with the dog warden, going to be rehomed, yet now he's going to be rehomed to a friend of a friend?

SearchingForSeaGlass · 30/01/2019 00:09

Lies after lies.
There's nothing more you can do?
Check the gate is closed before letting the dog into the garden.
Supervise the dog when he is in the garden.
After he has done the toilet, bring him back in.
There you go. It's not that difficult.

SearchingForSeaGlass · 30/01/2019 00:10

I actually hope this is made up.

FlyingMonkeys · 30/01/2019 00:13

But you have a 'totally dog proof gate, then an alley, then another gate'. Can your packages just not be left behind the first gate vs getting shot of the dog you've owned for six years? 😕

Celebelly · 30/01/2019 00:13

HmmHmmHmmHmm

FlyingMonkeys · 30/01/2019 00:14

I'm sure the next update will be that OP has sent the dog to live on a farm....

Original poster
pandoraphile · 30/01/2019 00:17

Not made up. Because I spoke to the dog warden lady before I'd explored other options (she rang me).

He doesn't just go outside to go to the toilet, he noses round the garden, wanders about and I don't want to curtail that freedom by insisting he comes straight back in after he's been.

This is a horrible situation for us and I really don't need all the negative comments. I started this thread to ask advice on him being outside and it's taken an unexpected turn.

There's no "poor dog" about it. He's going into a much better environment for him and he will be happier. I'm doing what's best for him, not us.

OP posts:
Original poster
pandoraphile · 30/01/2019 00:22

He's not going to a farm! I think that would be worse in terms of keeping him contained.

Flying - no because the first gate leads straight out on the square. We couldn't have parcels left because it would be obvious so I'm sure someone would pinch them.

Believe me - I would not be doing this if I didn't think it were necessary.

OP posts:
Frequency · 30/01/2019 00:26

I'm doing what's best for him, not us

You're doing what's easiest for you not what is best for the poor dog. What's best for the dog would be for you to supervise him outside. If you don't want to 'curtail his freedom' otherwise known as keep him safe then stay outside longer with him while he mooches. It's really not rocket science, OP. Hundreds of dog owners, myself included, manage it night after night, winter after winter because it is the commitment we made when we took on dogs. Although, personally, I limit mooching to the time it takes me to smoke a fag during winter but make up for it with a stroll around the block before bed.

If you're adamant on rehoming do it via a reputable rehoming service like Dog's Trust or PDSA or a trusted local rescue. Too many animals rehomed to a friend of a friend end up being abused and then dumped. Have a think about whether or not you have the time for the other dog. There is a chance they could be rehomed together which would lessen any distress they would suffer and ensure you have no more worries about leaving dogs unsupervised in an unsecure garden - which, fyi, is against the law.