Your dog is lost: good reflexes
Have you lost your dog? How to react in this case? It is urgent to act when a dog is lost. Here are the good reflexes to have to put all the chances on your side to find your dog.
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Have you lost your dog? Did he escape you? Did he run away? This situation is really not pleasant to live with. It's even total panic. Just thinking about it makes me lose my temper... When I was little, my parents' dog ran away very regularly. It was anxiety every time. I spent hours calling him throughout the village while cycling through the alleys with tears in my eyes. Until the day there was one runaway too many... I've been through this so much that with Musher, I'm ultra careful. I hope you never go through this.
However, if such an event occurs, knowing how to react is extremely important. Whether your dog has run away or is actually lost, it is important to react quickly. I have listed for you what actions to take to find your dog and good addresses to contact.
The I-cad reflex
As you know, identification of your dog is mandatory. And this action takes on its full meaning in the event of loss or theft of your animal. Of great importance, it increases the chances of finding it if it gets lost. Today it is done by an electronic chip implanted by a veterinarian. Some dogs are still identified by tattoo. Better to know.
The first reflex to have is to report the loss of your dog toI-Cad. The I-Cad is a giant database bringing together all the identification files of domestic carnivores in France. For this approach, the identification number must be entered. It is present on your dog's identification card, issued by the I-Cad. If you do not have it available, your veterinarian can give you the number because he records it when he sees your dog.
By declaring that your dog is lost, the information is transmitted to all professionals working with these files: veterinarians, associations, shelters, pounds, but also the police and gendarmerie. So if your dog is brought to one of these organizations, they will be immediately notified that he is lost and can contact you.
Make sure your owner contact details are up to date in the I-Cad files! It would be a shame if we found your dog but couldn't reach you because you recently changed your phone number... This is what happened to one of our Wouafer's. For Armelle and her dog, the story ends happily. A year later, after giving up his search, his in-laws received the magic call because the shelter had found this number in the dog's file...
Steps to follow to find a lost dog
Whether your dog is identified or not, you have several actions to take:
- establish a search scope to target your actions, then gradually expand them if they are not successful. A dog can travel several kilometers per day!
- During your field search, help your dog find you by placing a sweater with a familiar smell in a place where it has been seen so that he can find his way back for example. Call him during research or make your favorite game squeak so that he comes out of his hiding place if he has not gone very far.
- call the vets present in this area, as well as the pounds, associations animal protection, town halls, etc. Asking each of these organizations to relay your message on their social networks if they have them, these are powerful levers;
- put up posters with a clear, recent photo of your dog, as well as your contact details. Laminate them if possible so that they remain readable for longer;
- ring directly to your neighbors to ask them if they have seen your dog. This can save you valuable time;
- post announcements on Facebook groups dedicated to connecting people who find animals and those who are looking for them. These groups generally concern a department. So consider posting in your department, but also in nearby departments where your dog could go. Here are two widely used networks: Filalapat and Pet Alert. Some lost animal publications or their promotion may be chargeable;
- consult theFilalapat free app, set up by the Ministry of Agriculture, which makes it possible to report and locate lost, seen or found animals. It also allows you to be alerted if an ad matching your dog's criteria is published.
Additional actions to find a lost dog
If the searches last more than a day, do not hesitate to use your entire acquired network to organize a hunt. The goal is to scan a large area with several people. You can ask for the experience of associations and people who help you.
You can also apply the advice for a stolen dog (except for the complaint obviously), in the event that someone with bad intentions has recovered your protected one. Look on ad sites between individuals and write down anything that may be related to your dog's escape : the places and times he was seen, what he was doing, if there were people around him, etc.
It is all of these repeated actions that increase the chances of success of your research. Persevere and surround yourself with optimistic and motivating people. Some lost dogs are found after a few hours, others after years. Stay hopeful <3
When I was little, when my dog ran away, he ended up hiding in unlikely places. I found him in sewers, in water pipes under the road, in a barn... Keep your eyes peeled during your search because a A scared dog can hide in unlikely places.
I hesitated to put a GPS on the collar from Musher, but she doesn't go far for a walk. However, it can be useful for more independent dogs!
When you find your dog, remember to notify I-Cad, or identify him as quickly as possible. Legally, an unidentified dog, therefore neither chipped nor tattooed, does not belong to anyone. If a person chooses to adopt it and identify it with their name, no law will authorize you to recover it. You will therefore have to use your strength of persuasion to convince her to give it back to you.
For once, I hope you never have to use these tips! If this is still the case, I sincerely hope that you find your dog, because nothing is ever lost in advance and everything is possible! The example of Armelle and Thor gives hope.