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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if anyone can help us find our dog?

111 replies

WilburmissingNF · 12/08/2017 18:54

Our dog (Wilbur, 11 month old English Pointer) has been missing in the New Forest area for coming up to 4 hours. We have scoured the area, called the dog warden (only works Mon-Fri) and local vets again most are closed. Also tried local shelters but these too are closed as it's the weekend. Have called micro chip company but they are also bloody closed.

We are beside ourselves with panic - this is not normal behaviour for our dog and we drove about 20 mins from home so there is little to no chance of him finding his way back. He was wearing his house collar and we completely forgot to put on his walking one which has his tag so no phone number or address on him - we are obviously kicking ourselves.

Just so worried that he has been taken, is injured and facing spending the night in the cold alone, he's a really clingy loving dog. My other half is still out looking for him and I'm trying to think of any way that we can get this out onto social media in case someone has picked him up.

Any ideas would be really appreciated.

OP posts:
EnidButton · 12/08/2017 19:11

Flowers Lots and lots of luck. I really hope he appears soon.

Sonja's idea of a worn item of clothing is a good one. I've heard of that working before.

PeppaPigObsession · 12/08/2017 19:12

No where near where he went missing but do have family in the area so if you post a lost poster on here I'll put it on my own Facebook page so it's seen by then.

Hope he's found soon

WilburmissingNF · 12/08/2017 19:21

Thank you all for the advice, have called NF Dogs and left a voicemail.

Just going to meet DP to take Wilbur's dog blanket and his bowl with some food so we can leave it where we last saw him. I'm going to drive around to see if I can spot him anywhere (only positive is the area around is very flat so should be easy to spot him if he was there) and leave DP in the woods to carry on calling for him until dark.

I have found a Lost and Found New Forest Dog Group on Facebook but wasn't sure of any others - if anyone knows the Bramshaw, Brook, Fordginbridge, Cadman area and can think of a group on Facebook I'd be really grateful.

Hoping and praying that when I come back I will have some good news :(

OP posts:
BubblesPip · 12/08/2017 19:25

Fingers crossed you find him soon! I can't imagine how worried you are m

Poppypooch · 12/08/2017 19:27

I have everything crossed for you, it's awful when they go missing, Sad Facebook is definitely the way to go, I've heard about a lot of dogs reunited this way.

Walkingthedog46 · 12/08/2017 19:27

Which part of the New Forest were you in when he went missing?

LEMtheoriginal · 12/08/2017 19:31

Hoping you find him safe and sound. Does your council have a dog warden? Usually can get the number from their website or main switchboard.

Is his chip registered with petlog? If so their home page has a link for you to report lost dogs.

Local Facebook groups. Search for dog owner groups. Local selling pages. Mums groups ask people to share.

Return to where you last saw him as his/your smell might keep him in the area. Scared dog will hide away so look in likely hiding places.

PUT posters up asap as people will be doing their evening dog walks soon.

Good luck Flowers

MyKingdomForBrie · 12/08/2017 19:33

I second posters, we got a lot of calls from posters. Everything crossed for you.

SoPassRemarkable · 12/08/2017 19:34

Maybe contact local drone groups. Sunday tomorrow so people not at work and maybe fancy a challenge. They can cover a massive area.

choochooo · 12/08/2017 19:34

RSPCA log any found dogs on Pets Located so I would recommend you register your dog as lost on there in case he's picked up and taken to them. But also please contact local dog warden as any strays are their responsibility and so they would have him if he's been found stray.

I'm so sorry you've lost your dog :( it's awful and I really hope he turns up quickly

swinkle · 12/08/2017 19:38

Our dog went missing a few years ago and we contacted the police. They contacted us around a week later saying a dog matching our dogs description was spotted on someone's land a few miles away. We went up, sure enough, there he was! I'd suggest logging it with the police as well as what you've done if you haven't already done so.

Actually, another dog of ours was stolen a few years back - I emailed all vets, animal sanctuaries and the local dog shelter with details asking to be contacted if she turned up with them as she didn't have a chip. Got a call from the dog shelter a few days later, again there she was! It may be worth emailing vets etc you may not have been able to contact immediately by phone so that they have the details and are on the lookout for you. Fingers crossed for you! X

Pancakeflipper · 12/08/2017 19:41

Just wishing you luck. Horrid losing a doggie, hope he's found soon.

Other dog owners are ace at helping in these situations and would want to help.

DragonBone · 12/08/2017 19:41

You need to retrace your footsteps - he's likely not gone far from where he was lost. Leave a dog crate with some food and a blanket with his scent on it near where you last saw him.

milliemolliemou · 12/08/2017 19:44

Post a picture on Facebay Fordingbridge and everywhere else with where you walking.

Where exactly was this? The New Forest is huge ... even in the area you describe eg Cadnam/Fordingbridge/Brook/Bramshaw. Where did you park to walk him?

You could try alerting the New Forest agisters - clearly dogs are not their job but they might like to know a scared hound is out there 02380 282052 or 24 hour line 0300 067 4600. Again leave a clear note of where you were walking or name of car park and a description.

You could also try Forest pubs since a friendly dog is quite likely to go to a place with people and food. Pubs in the area you describe include
The Bell and The Green Dragon (Brook/Bramshaw)
The Fighting Cocks (Godshill)
Sandy Balls Holiday Camp (Godshill)

Too many pubs in Fordingbridge and if he was on the Forest he wouldn't get there.

Hope you've found him. Keep us in touch and try to put a picture up or a colour description. Don't panic.

JollyNot · 12/08/2017 19:49

I'm around 20 miles from NF and have family near Fordingbridge. If you link a FB appeal here, I will share it.

sall74 · 12/08/2017 19:52

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iMatter · 12/08/2017 19:59

Where exactly did he go missing?

I live in one of the areas you list but as others have said it's a wide area.

I really hope you find him - please let me know if I can do anything. I am on FB, Twitter, etc.

SparklyMagpie · 12/08/2017 20:05

Oh no Sad

I hope you manage to find him OP!

Keeping my fingers crossed he is found safe and well !

Wish i was close enough to help but sadly not

Come on Wilbur !! X

Handsoffmysweets · 12/08/2017 20:05

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iMatter · 12/08/2017 20:05

Also have a look on FB at New Forest Dog Owners Group.

That often appears in my news feed with lost and found dogs.

Handsoffmysweets · 12/08/2017 20:07

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1004Rise · 12/08/2017 20:11

You can go online with petlog (assuming all chips are registered with the same company ?) and tag him as missing that then sends an alert to all vets rescue centres etc in the area to let them know he's missing

keepondreaming · 12/08/2017 20:15

You've had some great advice.
All I can echo is social media, every platform you can find.
If you're going back with bowl etc, take the contents of your vacuum cleaner and leave. The smell of home!
Good luck.

ShaneBitchy · 12/08/2017 20:16

Fingers crossed he's home soon, I too would be frantic if it was one of mine Flowers

Brahms3rdracket · 12/08/2017 20:19

Have you contacted the police?

I used to have a very wayward beagle who buggered off on many walks. I really understand your panic OP, but he always managed to find us again, often adopting people who fortunately always brought him home/called.

Assume you've knocked on any nearby doors too?

Good luck

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