Need suggestions for what else I can do - FOUND!!

L

lasheltie

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Ok, I have hated to post it but I have a missing sheltie. You can't believe how I am beating myself up over this because I know better but did the classic dumb thing with a rescue & now she's gone. Any suggestions would be great because I am out of ideas & frantic. She is about 6 years old, rescued from a bad breeder & very shy. She isn't microchipped or spayed yet because we only had her 2 days & her appointment was set up but not here yet. Her info is here- www.helpinglostpets.com/petdetail/?id=47304

On 2-27 I had just finished walking the 3 shelties for the night. The newest skittish rescue was in as well as London but Bailey still was out. The new girl would not come close to me so I had her inside off the leash but in the same room while waiting to get Bailey in. I opened the door slightly for Bailey to come in & stood in the doorway blocking it. As Bailey came in the new girl dashed between my legs & out she ran.

I had only had her 2 days so she was unfamiliar with this area or me. When I ran outside to try to get her she had disappeared. I searched most of the night & have been searching daily in the rural area where we live. All my neighbors know & I have a sign at the stop sign on our short dead end road. I also have a flyer on my mailbox so the mailman, paper delivery person & garbage people can see it.
Here is what else I've done so far-
gone to nearby streets & knocked on doors to spread the word
called my UPS driver & told her
emailed the local churches near me to ask them to share it with their members.
made flyers & put at stop signs of nearby roads & major intersections.
called closest vet
notified animal control & humane society
notified sheriff's department & put it on their internal message board for employees
registered on every lost pet website I could find
posted on craigslist
told everyone in my area that I meet
put flyer at local restaurant where lots of people eat & other local businesses
put it on different Facebook pages locally
had a local radio station broadcast a message about her.

I am out of ideas right now & no one has called with any info. Someone did message my daughter & say a lady was going down their road on 3-1 asking about the owner of a mini collie she found. It isn't far from where I live but the person didn't know our dog was missing so got no contact info. Another person said they saw a sheltie on another nearby road but when they tried to catch her she ran into a field & was lost.

If anyone has better ideas please let me know. I can't set a trap because I have no idea where she might be right now. Someone might have her because the lady was driving around talking about a mini collie she found. No one else out here has reported a missing dog like that.
 
So sorry !!! I have never delt with this myself but clients call into our vet erinary hospital reporting their dogs are missing. Most are found within 3-5 miles of their home by a neighbor and we are called b/c of rabies tags on dog. Any tags by any chance ?- if so call the facility that vac. to see if anyone has reported finding a dog with this tag.. We have found that it is a good idea to go in person to the animal shelters in your area- one client's dog was actually there but the staff didn't didn't match the owner's description with the dog...If you have time I would put flyers door to door in neighborhoods within a 5 mile radius of your home. There was a loose sheltie in my own rural neighborhood and many people came to my door thinking it was our dog(wasn't) and I went looking for this dog several times,and never did find it, but many of my neighboors did spot the dog so keep in touch with your neighbors.Go to the street where the lady was with the sheltie she found and leave flyers. Notify all vet offices in the area 50-100 mile radius especially if interstate hiways in your area. Don't beat yourself up, you are helping this dog and took her form a bad situation. Praying that you will find her safe and sound- maybe she already has a new home !!!
 
I'm so sorry to hear this...what a tough situation for you. You do so much for rescue dogs and such good work. This could happen to anyone...they are masters at slipping out of doors!

The only thing I can think of other than what you've done and what mellie suggested is perhaps a newspaper ad. Maybe even a photo ad if you have a picture of her, in a local paper. Sometimes people will see these that don't read the flyers etc.

Good luck!! I hope she turns up safe soon. :fl Sending you hugs. :hugs
 
Thanks for the kind words & ideas. I do have a couple of pictures of her & will see if I can get them in the paper. Also a local church is having a fish fry dinner Friday night & the local feed store is doing customer appreciation day on Saturday. I plan to put flyers at both places since a lot of people will be going to both. Someone has to know about her. It's just finding the right someone.

Ann, London & Bailey are a delight. They have settled in really well & love their "cookie" treats. Wherever they are in the yard I only have to shake the container & they come running. Wish my missing sheltie was food motivated.

I will keep you posted. Going on the hunt again today.
 
When you do contact vets, humane societies, animal controls, etc, ask them if they have a Facebook page. If they do, request a courtesy post on their page including a picture of your dog and your basic contact info. Last year a lost cat made its way to my garage, and several of the local vets posted his info on their Facebook pages (I didn't have to even ask!). While I never located his owner, I did get an awful lot of responses from the Facebook pages alone.

Also put up notices in every market/store that has a bulletin board. Most of the groceries and pharmacies in my area have such boards, and allow postings of lost/found pets with the approval of the store manager. Also post notices in local schools (pre K through high school, community college, and college/univ).

Many newspapers will print lost/found pet ads for free.

Call your local TV stations. You've got a great story - rescue dog finds a forever home and needs to be reunited with her home. I have seen lost/found pet segments or mentions on the news in my area and I have to believe other stations have similar options available to you. If nothing else you've reached another population.

And as someone else said, broaden your search area. 50-100miles is not at all excessive. You can do a lot of the initial contacts from your computer via email (send first email, then send second email with attachments) and/or by telephone.

I hope you find her. Keep us updated!
 
Large brightly colored posters with her picture and one in your front yard and put a sign in your cars. I hope you find her soon-- just walk the streets and get help going door to door.
 
Praying for her safety and her quick return.

ps Praying for you as well, having to go through all of this.
 
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How awful for you. Tin nearly did the same thing on Saturday and only because of quick thinking on my brother-in-law's part stopped him from getting out. He had NEVER challenged that door before!

When we were looking for a dog under similar circumstances, our group made smaller flyers and handed them to any businesses that do delivery, ie: pizza etc. They also gave a bunch to the local police station to be handed to the patrol officers so that they had a picture and contact info. It was actually a police officer that spotted her and called so we could narrow the search area. On the poster it said "Please Do Not Attempt to Catch this Shy Dog". Her foster mom went out in the early hours, while it was still dark, and that was when she was able to get the dog. She had to sit in the cold, wet grass because the dog was terrified and finally the dog came to her, moving along on her belly. I sure hope you have a successful outcome and you both will be in my thoughts and prayers.
 
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