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Contact Karin for help...
...here
is additional information you may find to be of help. The many MYTHS about the many METHODS... Some
work... and some just don't. When a dog
goes missing, most panicked pet owners hit the streets questioning everyone (good); drive aimlessly for hours, (not so good);
run to the computer to print out fliers, (in the right framework - OK); and then put an ad in the newspaper, (only works in
one scenario). In the correct situation, each
of these activities can be effective but... when used in the wrong scenario and situation, they can be not only counter productive
but sometimes detrimental to the dog's recovery and in some instances...
even dangerous to the dog's life. By working thousands of missing dog cases
I have learned...
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...48... After the all important
48 hours missing has passed, it is rarely effective to drive around looking for your dog. Time and energy is best put into
activities that are specific to what your dog is experiencing. |
Certain breeds are more likely to rescued by good Samaritans
as are dogs of certain sizes and colors. Most likely dog to be helped
by a citizen... small white dogs. (really)
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The least likely dog to be
rescued
by citizen... a medium size or large black dog.
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A large reward can be helpful in some situations but
can be very dangerous to a dog's life if used in certain missing situations. Large rewards should not be employed if the dog
is a STARS dog.
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myth... "My dog will be found if I bring in search dogs."
This is perhaps the biggest myth
to overcome. First because "search dogs" are not trained to find missing dogs and second, because the individual
on the opposite end of the leash must know what they are doing. FACT: Most of the individuals now advertising trained search dogs... have NEVER been in
search and rescue nor... have they ever
trained or worked behind a real search dog! We have guidelines you can follow if you are considering hiring a tracking dog
team. See Investigative Field techniques once inside the Recovery System.
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The truth about fliers... Handing
out fliers or placing them in mailboxes, will not be effective in most missing dog situations.
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Posting fliers in plastic page protectors can make the
photos hard to see.
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Professional looking posters based on psychological
incentive are best Posters and fliers with handwriting or when done in marking
pen deliver less results than professional looking computer generated graphics. Handmade posters can actually cause the city
to tear down announcements they feel look offensive and trashy
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On bringing fliers to veterinary offices... Did you know in most states, a veterinarian has a client~patient responsibility to the individual bringing in an
animal for services or treatment. Unless the client alerts the vet that they found the dog, in many states a vet could lose
his or her medical license for telling a pet owner with a missing dog that an animal brought in for services by someone else,
might be the missing dog on their flier.
NOTE: If a dog goes missing at night...
Contacting Emergency Veterinary hospitals in the first 48 hours is a suggested activity. |
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On Media coverage...
Media publicity can have very little effect if the story is not angled properly. Information should be dispelled
through the newscast to induce viewers to think in a certain way. The story for roaming dog is very different from one where
the dog is believed to have been recovered by citizen
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Stolen dog cases should be handled by licensed experts
or law enforcement. When well meaning volunteers or friends get involved in stolen dog case the results are almost always
disastrous. Licensed investigators or law enforcement are required in these situations. How to proceed when a dog has been stolen is detailed inside the system. |
The classifieds... Newspaper ads in the classifieds work in a very limited number of scenarios. To be effective an ad needs to be angled
based on the comparison of the escape scenario and the dogs behavior profile.
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On micro chips
Micro chipping is a great tool for identifying a dog.
They are not however
location devices.
The Micro chip reader for the microchip company must be waved over the dog for the dog's identity
to be discovered and the dog's current information must be registered with the chip company.
MOST vets due not
register chips. YOU need to do this yourself.
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Fluorescent poster board Fliers on 8 1/2" X 11" paper and posters on full size fluorescent poster boards are the most likely Lost
announcements to be taken down by citizens and city maintenance crews. |
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The duct tape nightmare... Duct taping poster board or other such material to light poles is time consuming, unattractive
and not effective. They always fall off the pole if the city does not take them
down first because they are trashy looking. There are effective
alternatives to duct tape.
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72 hours... ...most roaming dogs will not respond to their owners calls after missing 72 hours.
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ALL ads and printed materials must have a full body photo
of your dog on them! No exceptions. When a pet owner does not have this type of photo we use carefully selected depictions.
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They really want to help...
In most cases, callers and witnesses want to help your dog get home and they would
love to be the one to make that dream come true.
Confirming that the caller actually saw your dog is imperative to your
search. Altering the strategy for an entire search based on a false sighting is perilous. Tools designed to confirm sightings
are critical to your search efforts. Remember
... you ask the questions of the witness. Do not present them with a photo of your dog or try to explain how your dog looks.
This approach can lead to false sightings.
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Location,
location, location... Placement of public awareness tools is paramount to a search.
Do not place strategically designed tools near other signs or the number of viewers reached be will decreased. |
More... is not better... Posters with too much information actually are less likely to be remembered and can jeopardize
your search efforts and results. |
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Ask
yourself: "Is this
action effective for my dog's situation?"
Doing a hodge podge of activities and everything you read
on the Internet, burns out most pet owners and discourages them so they do not want to continue the search for their dog. |
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A pet owner's search needs to be strategic, timely and effective.
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