When our story last ended, I was on the phone with the Director of Dogs Finding Dogs, a K-9 search group located in the Mid-Atlantic who help locate missing pets. While this very compassionate, understanding woman listened to me re-play every single detail of my missing dog ordeal, she ever-so-politely informed me of one thing, which she made perfectly clear -
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I HAD DONE SO FAR WAS WRONG!
Yes, you read that correctly - just about everything I did was wrong!
And, this is why I needed to bore you with my 'Charlie story' (from Part 1) because everything I did is EXACTLY what MOST people do when their pet goes missing:
GO OUT AND LOOK FOR THEM!
GO OUT AND LOOK FOR THEM!
Each of us throws our dignity out the window and goes bellowing through our communities like little mini-freak shows in search of our beloved pets. Isn't that what we should do?
NO! According to the (real) expects: ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Instead, here is something you SHOULD do (and why):
1. Make up Flyers and plaster them everywhere!
Yes, Plaster them everywhere: Stop Signs and telephone poles, local businesses (especially local coffee houses and convenience stores), online (your Facebook page, local rescue Facebook pages and websites, local shelter’s websites, etc), and take copies of your flyer to your local shelter(s).
Did I make flyers? Yes, but I simply provided far too much detail. Instead, your flyer should simply say: "Missing", an up-to-date clear photo of your dog, describe a couple of key features, mention the location where the animal was lost (or, last seen) and a contact phone number. (See Photo)
Notice what's missing?
Do NOT mention the dog's name! Why? Because dog lovers, professed dog rescuers, random lunatics and others will be running around in the area calling out your dog's name. Once your dog goes into 'flight-mode' (I’ll discuss this in Part 3), he/she probably isn't going to recognize YOUR VOICE let alone all these other crazy people and it is likely to further scare your animal and drive them further into hiding. Sure, some of your friends and neighbors may know the dog’s name, but are likely to respect your wishes when you ask them NOT to call-out for him or her. Simply ask them to keep a look-out for your pet and contact you if they see him/her.
Do NOT provide all markings and details! Instead, hold-back some key details or features. Why? If someone contacts you with a reported sighting, then you can ask them to describe the dog found (or sighted) and have some level of confidence that some scam artist (or worse) isn’t reading the description off of one of your flyers. (Be safe! At times like this, you are vulnerable. So, take some precautions to protect yourself...and your pet). Oh, and please understand, not everyone is out to take advantage of you. Sometimes well-intended people just mean to be helpful. Like one guy who SWORE he had found my dog, Charlie. However, while the dog he described sounded identical, the behavior he described clearly wasn’t my Charlie (and, I drove 2 ½ hours one-way just to confirm it was not my dog).
Do NOT provide all markings and details! Instead, hold-back some key details or features. Why? If someone contacts you with a reported sighting, then you can ask them to describe the dog found (or sighted) and have some level of confidence that some scam artist (or worse) isn’t reading the description off of one of your flyers. (Be safe! At times like this, you are vulnerable. So, take some precautions to protect yourself...and your pet). Oh, and please understand, not everyone is out to take advantage of you. Sometimes well-intended people just mean to be helpful. Like one guy who SWORE he had found my dog, Charlie. However, while the dog he described sounded identical, the behavior he described clearly wasn’t my Charlie (and, I drove 2 ½ hours one-way just to confirm it was not my dog).
Do NOT list a reward unless you are prepared to hire a staff of people to answer your phone which will begin to ring constantly. Additionally, by listing a reward you could put your pet in a position where someone does find him and decides your reward isn’t high enough, especially if it’s a pure-bred dog. By listing a reward, you’ve tipped your hat that you are willing to pay to get your dog back. Now, you could find your dog being held for a handsome ransom. The truth is most people just want to see the lost pet reunited with its loving family; thus don’t expect to be paid. If someone does help and you want to give them a ‘thank you’ card or token of appreciation - that’s fine, but do NOT advertise it.
Another safety issue issue is listing your name, especially if you are a single woman. Once you start plastering flyers and online posts of your flyers everywhere, your personal information is going to get multiplied and seen by many, many people….including some undesirable characters. While you want people to get involved, you also want to limit your exposure to crazies....and, please trust me - “They are out there and they will call”, she said from personal experience.
Another safety issue issue is listing your name, especially if you are a single woman. Once you start plastering flyers and online posts of your flyers everywhere, your personal information is going to get multiplied and seen by many, many people….including some undesirable characters. While you want people to get involved, you also want to limit your exposure to crazies....and, please trust me - “They are out there and they will call”, she said from personal experience.
And, one more very important thing:
Have someone else put up your flyers for you!
Have someone else put up your flyers for you!
As you will see in Part 3 of this series, you (the dog’s owner) do not want to have your scent all over town. Instead, ask a friend or two to help you by hanging flyers. If you happen to run into one of those ‘professed dog rescuers’ that you just know is going to go searching for your dog despite your pleas not to - then, give them a job putting out flyers. At least for awhile, it will keep them busy and doing an activity which is actually IS HELPFUL.
Now, make sure to check out Part 3 of our 3-Part Series to learn what to do to lead Fido back home safely (and on his/her own)!
No comments:
Post a Comment