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.

[fuzzypicklehead]

Still nothing yet. DH has been knocking on doors and we're treating him as stolen now rather than lost.

[herbertjane]

[AlmostAHipster]

I'm so sorry - I can't begin to imagine how devastating this must be.

[hellymelly]

hazeldog how dreadful for you. You must be heartbroken. Fuzzy, why do you think he has been stolen rather than lost? Is there anything to suggest that? (not critical, just curious). Has anyone locally seen anything suspicious?

[hellymelly]

I keep checking the thread- I am hoping that you find him very soon.

[AlmostAHipster]

Any news?

[fuzzypicklehead]

No news yet. The reason we're treating him as stolen now is that even if he originally wandered off on his own (which would be a first) it's unlikely that he would stray very far. He's tiny and doesn't chase wildlife or panic-bolt, and he knows the village reasonably well.

But he is very cute, friendly, and appealing. The feedback we've gotten from the kennels and rescues is that he's the kind of dog that someone would pick up and want to keep. We think that's what has happened, and that someone is deliberately not handing him in. So we're postering and advertising in the local paper, emphasizing the fact that two little girls are desperate to get their pets back--we want to make him too easily recognizable for someone to hang on to him, and maybe trigger an attack of conscience. Fingers crossed.

[AlmostAHipster]

I really hope your campaign works. Thinking of you x

[Jellykat]

Fingers crossed fuzzy, have been reading your updates every day, and i really hope someone spots him soon x

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

I rreally hope you get some news soon fuzzy x

[RedwingS]

Good luck fuzzy, I hope it works.

[EasyToEatTiger]

Just posted the link from DogLost to Facebook. What a gorgeous looking dog. I do hope you find him soon.

[slinkyboo]

I couldn't not post. How awful. Sending positive thoughts. I/m sure you have already done this, but photos and a big poster up in the local supermarkets would be a good idea.

[spiderlight]

Tweeted and FBed. You might also want to post here. I hope he's safely home soon :(

[hellymelly]

I'm surprised you haven't had more reports of him being seen, even in the hours before he was spotted at 6p.m. the evening he went missing. I would have thought a few more people would have noticed him that day, as he's so sweet and would have looked out of place all alone. Makes sense that someone could well have taken him in early that evening and still has him. So appealing to someone's better nature is a very good idea. I am really hoping you get some news soon, your dds must be so upset.

[fuzzypicklehead]

I know, it's surprising that no one saw him walking down the road! I've had phone calls and emails back from all of the dog wardens in the region, to say that they haven't seen him but have his info on file. I tried to convince one of the local paper to do a proper article with a photo but she wouldn't go for it. But with any luck, the other may pick it up.

It doesn't get any easier. Actually, this has been the shittiest week in recent memory. I'm not coping terribly well.

[hellymelly]

The local paper might be keener if you really stress the traumatised children angle, and they get a pic of your dds looking sad. Crap but true. I feel so sorry for you all. My doggie died at Easter, but I can imagine how I would have felt if he'd been missing and I didn't know how to find him. I think it would have sent me slightly deranged tbh! I really thought you would find your dog pretty quickly and I'm shocked he is still missing.
I hope this isn't too upsetting to read, but the only thing you haven't mentioned is roads, I hate to say this, but if a pet is run over and killed, then the bin men will pick the body up, so it is a good idea to ask them, as if nothing else it will rule it out. My friend found out what had happened to her lost cat by asking the bin men, they had picked her up a couple of roads away days before. Horrible, but better to know. And if they haven't seen a body then you can be pretty sure he hasn't been run over. Although as the days are so long at the moment I would think he would have been seen if that had happened anyway.

[fuzzypicklehead]

We thought of the roads and have been doing the rounds, but we also gave the bin men a flyer and asked them to look out for them. I really do feel that someone has him and just isn't handing him in, and that's what is messing with me. If someone is asshole enough to hang on to what is clearly someone's pet, that's the last person I would want my dog to be around! I did play up the distraught children angle for the paper, but the main local one said no because they had already refused for another woman who was missing a spaniel and couldn't consent for ours. We're hopeful that the other local paper will pick it up, though.

[Jellykat]

Oh fuzzy, hopefully it's not an asshole whose got him, but a lonely old person whose spoiling him rotten and cuddling him lots. Small comfort i know, but am just desperately trying to paint a cosier picture for you

Like helly, my lovely dog was pts 10 days ago, and i miss him desperately.. i can only imagine what you must be feeling not knowing, and i'm hoping so badly that your boy turns up!

Good thinking re. the bin men, as a long shot have you contacted the rescue centres in your surrounding counties? just thinking if someone had maybe picked him up in a vehicle on their way home from somewhere?

[fuzzypicklehead]

Yep, we've pestered everyone about him. It's a week today that he's been missing. But local papers are out today with notices in them, so maybe we'll be lucky.

[hellymelly]

I really hope so, I hope he is soon home safe and sound.

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

I keep clicking on this hoping he'll have been found. Come home soon, fuzzydog x

[paradisechick]

Hi I just want to say do not give up hope. Our dog was away ten days before he was returned. You're doing everything right. You need to raise the profile of your dog. Someone had our dog. He'd picked him up not long after he'd escaped and kept him for ten days before getting in touch. I think it was only because his neighbour was asking questions, after seeing the posters and adverts, that he came clean.

[EasyToEatTiger]

Just put it back on Facebook and Twitter. Hope you get news soon.

[50ShadesOfSaggy]

I have been helping track down a friends lost dog this week. I posted on:
www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/find-lost-pets
Gumtree.
net mums pets and general chat
Mumsnet chat, AIBU, doghouse and local
www.animalwardens.co.uk
pets4homes
Gumtree 
Preloved
Facebook
Twitter.
Any other website I'm a member of.
I emailed as many local businesses as I could.
Friend was advised to call pounds, rescue centres and police stations daily.
Also to make contact daily with the local rubbish depts and street cleansing departments.
Place missing ads on as many sale websites as possible, and contact breed rescues.
You need to make your dog as unsaleable as possible.