Information to Help
Hi, my name is Loretta. I am sorry that you have "temporarily" lost your pet. My heart is with you. I too lost my beloved Heidi 2 years ago, and my close friend got me started on Sheltie forum. Everyone here helped me through a difficult time. I have never found my Heidi but I am very active in searching for lost dogs. I guess you can say that with the loss of Heidi, my calling is to help others. When I lost Heidi, I could not eat or sleep, and I cried almost all the time. All my tears would not help return Heidi, but I did learn that YOU must be active in the search. You must contact the local police, and animal controll officer and make a report. Also contact Local animal shelters (visit the shelters daily, and you must look for the dog yourself at the shelter..(you are the only one that really knows what your dog looks like! some people at the shelter don't always know what a sheltie looks like...really, trust me), vets, groomers , pets stores, post office, grocery stores,etc. You need to make BOLD Posters to place in areas that people will see them. Contact local papers and place a missing ad, see if anyone at the paper will do an interest story on your search for your dog. You will need to make up fliers with the information and pass them to everyone...I mean everyone. Talk to everyone you see, tell them your story, hit home (their hearts) make them understand the pain, and get them to help with the search. Contact local rescue groups to ask for help. Get your family involved: making posters, printing fliers. To give you some comfort your dog is no longer "Your dog" that you know, shortly after your dog left, it is now in a survivial mode. Your dog will follow its insincts to find a warm place to sleep, and food, and water supply. Your dog can travel approx 3 miles daily but in a circle. Start at the place of
loss. put out feeding stations, check and restock daily, make a note of which areas are being eaten. Place farmiliar items out ( clothing, toys, crate) near the area the dog got out. Check daily. Scent items need to be changed every 24hr. Dogs will usually travel dust to dawn, in the safety of dark, and settle in a "greenarea" after several days. Greenareas are quite, safe area with food/water not far. When you get calls regarding sightings mark the information down, then go on google earth, and print out an over head map of the area, and mark the sightings on it. This will help with tracking the dog, finding the greenarea, and placement of feeding stations(put out wet can dog food, wet cat dog food, and dry puppy food. The can food is stinky and dogs love that, and the puppy food is higher in protein/fat). I read some responses about traps..I would advise against traps at this time, shelties spook easily, and you want your dog to calm down, settle into an area, then you can attempt to trap them. If you start to soon with the trap, your dog will get spooked, and will never go near a trap again. Please be patient, I know that will be the hardest thing you will have to do, but trust me, do it slow, do it right, and you will get your dog back. I have more information, but this will start you off. I will contact my Pet Detective (he does noting more than track and return lost pets to owners) and give him your information, and advise you of anything else. Please Do Not give up!!!! Everyone in Sheltie nation is praying on the safe return of your dog. I will be closely monitoring the situation. Feel free to contact me with questions. I have learned that the intranet not always give you correct or helpful information on lost pet recovery....I found out the hard way....please follow these instruction...they will help.
