In the meantime, you are frantically pacing the fibers from of your carpet and looking out the door every 10 seconds for any signs of Fido - True?
Well, let's get you doing something productive towards getting Fido to come home....
First Question: Do you have an idea where he/she might be? Where was he/she lasted seen? Are there any sources of water and/or food in your general area (or, the area where the dog was last seen)?
While you wait for your K-9 trackers to arrive (assuming you hired them), you can begin by setting up a "SCENT TRAIL".
What is a "Scent Trail"? It is a combination of items which have YOUR SCENT ON THEM (YOU - the dog's owner), as well as, other enticing smells your dog will recognize and appreciate. But, before we get into details, allow me to explain why this is important.
At some point shortly after your dog goes missing, he (or she) is going to freak-out; panic and go into what the experts call "FLIGHT MODE". Once a dog enters 'flight mode', they are not necessarily going to recognize your voice. Besides, your voice is going to sound different in this new wide-open, unfamiliar space - at least to your dog. Once your dog enters 'flight mode', all these strange voices are going to become frightening to him/her, which is why you don't want people calling for your dog. Strange sounds could ultimately drive your dog further away in search of a 'safe place'. Again, just another reason why you don't want to go running through the neighborhood like a banshee.
But, there is ONE SENSE which does fail - and you can come to count on:
YOUR SMELL!
(By the way, this is the reason you don't want to go running all over town - dropping your scent everywhere as you go.)
So grab an old sheet and rub it all over you. I ran around my house and broke out in a sweat just so I could sweat all over the sheet which I had wrapped around my naked body. (Yes, there's an image you should be glad you can not see).
Once you feel confident that the sheet smells like you, then start cutting it up into thin strips. (In my case, after I cut the strips, I stuffed them inside my shirt until I needed them).
Next, get a bunch of cans of really stinky cat food. So I am told, the cheaper the cat food, the more stinky it is. I found some really cheap, stinky cat food at WalMart for $.30 a can....and it really stunk!
Once you have you cat food, you are going to make 'CHUM', which is a mixture of one can of cat food dumped into a jug of regular water. (a gallon or half-gallon jug should work just fine). Again, fill the jug with water, put in a can of stinky cat food and shake it up (with the lid on, of course).
Finally, grab a baggy and put some of your dog's food in it. If your dog eats dry kibbles, that's great. If they eat wet food, then you might want to mix some of their wet food with some dry kibbles (and, prepare yourself for messy hands in this next step)
CREATING THE 'SCENT TRAIL'
Put on your Walking Shoes and grab your 'scent strips' (again, I wore mine), bottle of 'Chum' and baggy of dog food. Basically, we are going to walk a path from your house to the area where your dog was last sighted; especially if this area has a water source close by.
As we walk, we are going to sprinkle the 'Chum' in a line parallel to the line in which you are walking. You can achieve this simply by opening the jug, holding your arm at a 90-degree angle from your body and pouring out a little at a time. Every 2-to-3 paces, you want to stop and drop a dog food kibble. Every 3-to-4 feet, you want to pull out a 'Scent Strip' and drop it. (Now, if your neighbor's yards are all well-manicured, then they may see your 'scent strip', think it's trash, pick it up and throw it away. If this is your neighborhood, then try to locate a location within the landscaping where you can tuck your scent strip out of plain view. If they can not see it, they won't remove it - and, don't worry, your dog will be able to find it. However, if you can't locate a place to 'tuck it', then simply knock on the door, explain your situation and ask. Just remember, once your dog is found, go back and pick up the 'scent strip' or replace it as necessary while keeping the homeowner up-to-date on the pet's status. Oh, and ask them NOT TO TOUCH IT! It needs to have YOUR SCENT - not theirs)
So, in doing this, you are creating three things: The path you are walking, along with your 'scent strips' is creating a path with your scent on it. The dog food kibbles create a line of food, as does the smelly 'Chum'. Now the NOSE knows where to go.....
BUT STOP! BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO CROSS STREETS - especially busy ones - as you are creating your scent trail, be sure NOT to lead your dog right into traffic and have him/her get hit by a car.
This is where you need to think about the path you are going to lead your dog. Yes, you want to make it as easy as possible, but avoid well-walked areas if you can (all those different scents could confuse your pet) and ABSOLUTELY AVOID CROSSING STREETS!
In my case, when Charlie got lost, I actually crawled through a small culvert drainage pipe which ran under the street and allowed the stream to run under the road. Frankly, I was amazed I was able to do it - but, it got my Charlie home safe. However, be careful.
Beyond this, I still recommend contacting Dogs Finding Dogs, the K-9 tracking team. Even if you do NOT live in the Mid-Atlantic region, this organization has affiliates in other parts of the country, as well as, other similar organizations which exist - and, most important, know what they are doing with EXPERIENCE. Some of these organizations even have funding sources if you are considered 'low-income'.
In the meantime, maintain your scent trails; especially after storms. At the very least, you will want to go out once a week to refresh the scent and replenish the kibbles (as other dogs and animals may nibble on your 'treats').
Also, contact your local shelter regularly as your paperwork might get misplaced. Some shelters only hold 'lost dog flyers and notices' for a set period of time. In my case, one shelter only held it 30 days, while others held it indefinitely. Still, you want to go and check the kennels also - just to make sure everyone is paying attention.
Keep your flyers and online notices fresh. Provide them with updates. Follow-up on reported sightings. If your pet is chipped, make sure to update the status on their tracking system and make sure your contact information is up-to-date.
Finally, it does not hurt to get down on your bended knees and say a specific prayer for your lost pet. In my case, I prayed to please keep Charlie safe and allow him to come home safe and sound. The next day, I opened the front door and found Charlie in my front yard - he was safe and he was home.
And, I pray that your beloved pet comes home safe and sound soon also ~
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