My dog is missing, and I am sad.

[fuzzypicklehead]

That's it, really. I got home from work today and after a few minutes I noticed my dog hadn't rushed up to greet me. I looked all over the house and then the garden, checked the shedsnothing. Called hubby to make sure he hadn't taken him outhe hadn't. We've asked the neighbors, called the dog warden, called the vets and shelters, searched everywhere and put up posters. Apparently someone saw a lone dog walking down the road near our local shop while we were out searching, but they hadn't seen the posters yet and didn't pick him up. This will be the first night he hasn't been with us since we brought him home as a puppy, and I'm worried sick.

[hellymelly]

I'm bumping for you. Hope he is home again soon.

[SnoopyKnine]

Do contact all shelters and pounds daily. (They only keep the dogs for 7 days so this is vital that you do this daily). They DO NOT automatically scan (yes I know ridiculous). Also contact all vets daily although they usually do scan. Also contact the police they will tell you it is not their business but people often tell the police if they find a dog and they have to log it.

If you post on dog lost a local team of volunteers will post for you and again check if people have posted dogs found.

fingers crossed.

Are you insured? some insurance offers a reward and also helps with cost of posters etc

[hellymelly]

If he isn't back tomorrow then asking all the children you know or see to keep an eye out can be good-small children are usually excellent at spotting things which adults miss.

[Lougle]

I think I've seen your advert -he's a stunning boy. I hope he's returned to you soon.

[fuzzypicklehead]

No news yet, but my childminder has just rung to say another lady down the road was doorknocking yesterday about a missing puppy. I've rung the shelters, but I keep getting automated responses and haven't been able to get through to a real person. I've been printing out posters and I made little flyers for the teachers at preschool to give to the parents at pick-up time. I'm going to try the dog wardens and kennels again.

[GotMyGoat]

If it's thieves - a reward might tempt them on - worrying that someone else has a missing pup. Really hope you find him.

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

A few years ago there was a scam going where I lived which involved people stealing a dog, waiting a few days (so that the owner was understandably frantic) and then contacting the owner claiming that they had bought the dog from an advert in the paper. They would then make out they wanted to do the right thing and return the dog, but they were out of pocket to the tune of £x If it is anything like this, it might comfort you to know that the dogs were well treated and returned in good health. I hope you hear something very soon x

[GotMyGoat]

What a horrible scam :(

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

Yep :( I imagine they made quite a bit of money doing it, and of course it's hard to prove that they're lying.

[hellymelly]

Could you go and talk to the other lady with a missing pup? Might help to establish the likelihood of him having been stolen or simply having got out of the garden.

[fuzzypicklehead]

Yep, as soon as DH is home, I'll go knock on her door. None of the kennels have had any dogs brought in today, and the rescue centre isn't picking up the phone. I'll give the vets another ring and then print off some more posters.

[fuzzypicklehead]

Spoke with the other lady, and she got her dog back yesterday. So we're back to just "missing" instead of "presumed stolen".

[hellymelly]

Oh. Good in one way I suppose, but obviously horrible to think he is straying about somewhere. I am really worrying about him. Wracking my brains for something to help.

[BrigitBigKnickers]

Oh how distressing for you. It's a really horrible feeling not knowing where they are especially overnight.

My first dog ran off after being spooked by an umbrella of all things- he pulled away from me and ran off wearing his lead. He was missing for nearly 48 hours. We did much the same as you- phoned everywhere, put up posters, trailed round the neighbourhood.

Eventually he found his way home (very clever of him as we had only had him for a week!)

Hope you have a similar happy ending. Keeping everything crossed for you x

[Mama1980]

Well that's good in one way I suppose. Is there a wood or forest you walk to often? I read that dogs who wander off often try to head for familiar trees for security/protection I don't know.....i hope you are doing as well as you can. X

[RedwingS]

How awful. I do hope you find him soon.

[Jemma1111]

Could you try your local radio station too to see if they could help ?
I hope he comes home soon and also keeping fingers crossed for you

[fuzzypicklehead]

His most common walk is a round trip to the village shop or the school in the next village, just over a mile and a half away. The road runs on either side of a river, so we've posted flyers on each side. The village is mostly linear, but if he strayed off the main road it's just fields and footpathsso he could potentially walk for miles without being spotted. I don't know which thought worries me morethat he is wandering around lost or that someone has picked him up and decided to keep him.

[RedwingS]

If it's rural, then he could have gone a long way. It might be worth ringing pounds in neighbouring areas, just in case he's gone far? I don't know if it will be helpful, but here's a page about the behaviour of lost dogs, in case it gives ideas about where else to search/put posters.

[fuzzypicklehead]

That is helpful, thanks!

[Jellykat]

Any news fuzzy?

I really hope he is found safe and well x

[hellymelly]

Redwings that is a very helpful page, I will make a note of that. Fuzzy I really hope he is home soon.

[daisyrain]

Still thinking about you x

[happygardening]

About 7 yrs ago my GSP was stolen by gypsies from my garden my neighbours saw him being taken. I contacted every rescue centre in my county and the next. I also notified Battersea dogs home the breed society and the English pointer breed society (in case he was mistaken for one of them) the police were also informed and as I had horses at the time I contacted a couple of farriers I knew and asked them to ask around for 5 dates I did nothing but ring every person who had anything to do with dogs however remote. On the 6 th day I started on vets I started calling every vet in the county after calling 30 the 31st had him 75 miles away. He was chipped but my phone number was incorrect but that didn't actually matter as they'd only had him an hour. He had been found running frantically in a field. Don't give up I've not read the whole thread so am not sure if you've said what breed he is but if he's a popular breed like a jack Russell pictures would definitely help the one positive when I was looking were liver GSPs were pretty unusual one rescue said that increased my chances of finding him if he's an unusual breed go to a breed society. We found that Battersea and other reputable rescue centres did not rehome GSPs but gave then to specific breed rescue. Good luck I know who awful you must be feeling.

[happygardening]

Oh I forgot I also contacted every dog warden in my county and the one next door.