top of page

Missing Dog Action List

EMERGENCY

DO NOT WAIT TO SEE IF “ROVER” RETURNS ON HIS/HER OWN!!!

Dogs become frightened and disoriented when lost and, depending upon the breed, may travel FAR and FAST. Vizslas for example can run > 40 mph for great distances! 

 

Once away from their home turf, lost dogs can develop a form of stress disorder and many CANNOT find their way home. Dog thieves (known as "flippers") can grab a dog and have it in the next state—or across the country or cross borders into the next-- within hours. 

 

 

ASSEMBLE A TEAM:

  • Gather as many helpful friends, family members & neighbors as you possibly can.

  • DELEGATE, DELEGATE, DELEGATE: Have these personal friends begin to call in others to do tasks such as help search, make, pick up, post, hand out flyers, etc.

  • Enlist help from COMMUNITY SERVICE CLUBS such as Elks, Church/Synagogue, Rotary, Girl/Boy Scouts, Equestrian Clubs or Teams (often at local Universities or horse boarding facilities).

  • DRONE CLUBS: the newest “thing”; many of these hobbyists have drones with infrared detectors which can spot a dog in a wide open search area that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

  • DESIGNATE:  A Co-Captain/Point of Contact, to help take pressure from YOU.

  • That “Captain” should assign jobs to everyone, taken from the list below.

 

MOBILE PHONE:

  • Reserve your phone and a back-up phone for 24/7 Dog Recovery calls and texts ONLY

  • Calls to be answered within moments-minutes.

 

 

WEBSITE:: DOG RECOVERY PLAN:  Quickly review what to do and what NOT to do

 

 

AT PLACE DOG WENT MISSING LEAVE:

  • A collection of some of “Rover’s” bedding

  • Highly scented food (minced hot dog, deli meat) & water

  • Shelter (wooden box or a dog crate),

  • Smelly clothes belonging to owner(s) (including a washcloth saturated with owner's urine—really (!). This will act as a “scent beacon” and safe place to help possibly lure “Rover” back in.

 

POSTERS & FLYERS:  (engage your volunteers to help distribute/post)

  • BE SURE THAT BOTH 24/7 PHONE NUMBERS ARE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED AT THE TOP

  • THE DATE/TIME OF LOSS

  • THE CITY/STATE AND NEAREST ADDRESS OR INTERSECTION (or nearest major feature, if in a rural area).

  • If a reward is offered, this should be at the TOP OF THE PAGE.

  • Include a GOOD, RECENT, CLEAR photo of your pet (download a similar one from the internet if you don't have one).

  • State the Breed/type, gender, whether or not spayed/neutered,

  • whether or not microchipped

  • whether or not wearing collar or tags (describe) at the time of loss.

 

FLYERS SHOULD BE MADE UP OF WATERPROOF/WINDPROOF/TEAR-RESISTANT PAPER FOR POSTING

  • (most commercial printers including Staples, Kinko's, etc. can do these).

  • This special paper (rather than laminate) may be used to lower costs.

  • Use color, but need not be on the special paper (hint--plastic "sheet protectors" don't work terribly well, as they allow moisture in and the ink on flyers to "bleed"). But in a pinch, use them upside-down to protect flyers posted on fence posts, etc. from moisture while better ones are made.

 

OFFERING A REWARD

  • can motivate some people (who otherwise wouldn't care) to keep a lookout, and noting “no questions asked” may help to bring people forward. In the case of dog theft/"flipping" this may be your pet's only ticket home.

 

SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY

  • add the following phrase to your flyer/ads: "Perro perdido, grande recompensa, sin hacer preguntas" (LOST dog large reward, no questions asked").

  • Adjust for other common languages regionally spoken, as appropriate.

 

WEBSITE: Connecticut Animal Recovery Group

  • will make a poster FOR you FOR FREE if you cannot do so yourself:

 

LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT

  • If the purchase price of your dog was in excess of $1000.00, theft is a FELO

  • Police/Sheriffs may be willing to take a police report and help you in any case.

  • CALL AND ASK!!

 

Absolutely DO NOT: on any information you put forth.

  • publicly disclose microchip number

  • identifying marks (birthmarks, scars, etc.)

 

RETAIN evidence of ownership with you:

  • photos of you with your dog/family

  • microchip registration

  • Veterinary Records and keep this with you

  • In the event that your pet is found but ownership is contested, this is the proof that you will need that "Rover" is in fact yours. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS!!

  • Spread the word quickly and efficiently in this way

  • others will share your post to all of the right people and places.

  • Consider creating a Facebook Page dedicated solely to "BRING ROVER HOME", rather than using your personal one. In any case:

FACEBOOK POSTS should look like your flyers. Make them EASY TO READ

  • Consider adding a trusted person or two to act as additional Page Administrators

  •  Messages can be read/responded to/ updates posted RAPIDLY 

  • Turn the "Share" feature on your post to "Public"

  • SHARE FB posts/PAGE with all local friends

  • SHARE FB Page with for all types of agencies/groups as suggested in links here and on “Resources by State”.

  • ***Don't forget to include posts to Breed Rescue Groups, all local or National Breed Interest groups, kennel clubs, doggy social, or Missing Pet Groups such as FindToto, etc.

  • Exceptionally helpful on FB are:

  • Dogington Post (largest following)

  • ReLove Animals (Group most aware of Puppy Mills/theft rings). 

 

Monitor your PM Inbox(es) carefully and frequently. Folks with helpful suggestions might be reluctant to call, but may put them in comments or may message them to you instead of calling***

 

 

MASTER LIST of FACEBOOK PAGES FOR LOST & FOUND PETS

http://chewonthis.maddiesfund.org/2015/04/master-list-of-facebook-pages-for-lost-and-found-pets/

 

 

IF PURE BRED VIZSLA??

 

NEIGHBORHOOD SOCIAL NETWORKS:

  • NEXTDOOR.COM :: Post Lost Flyer/Notice

  •  post NextDoor.com for all areas adjoining your neighborhood/point of loss.

  • Ask regional friends to do the same for their neighborhoods.

 

CONTACT AND VISIT LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS ASAP

  • Leave flyers

  • Ensure that you or someone close to you can accurately identify/is known to your pet

  • ​

*** VISIT EACH SHELTER OFTEN! Don’t just check online or via phone calls:***

  • Even when shelters have conscientious staff,

  • your pet may not be listed as you would think it would be described.

  • It is common that breed/breed mix, color, weight, age, and even GENDER are listed incorrectly at shelters!!

  • Remember that a pet on its own for even a few days may travel great distances, may appear dirty or thin, and may not look or behave as it normally does.

  • And while microchips have proven to be lifesavers, please don’t depend on shelter staff to scan for a microchip. Chips migrate and can be sometimes missed.

  • It’s truly vital that shelters be checked IN PERSON by you or by people who know your pet very well.

  • Check all shelters within at least a 30 mile radius in person on a daily basis.

  • Ask to see animals in the MEDICAL area also--not usually available for public view but where injured "strays" are located. 

 

LOCAL VETERNARIANS

  • Drop off missing pet FLYER.

  • If possible, contact ALL Vets within a 2-4 hour driving distance;

    • call and ask to speak to the vet and/or the office manager before PM-ing, mailing, emailing, or Faxing your ‘lost’ poster--

    • then ask them to keep a lookout over the next days/weeks.

    • "PetsMarts" and similar chains have Vet practices, so include them as well. 

 

CRAIGSLIST

  • Run your own and monitor all ‘LOST’ ads on

  • You will need to ‘renew’ it on a regular basis.

  • Search postings as far around the point of loss as you can in "For Sale" ads for dogs similar to yours (dog flipping).

  • Look At: Lost Vizsla", list as/look for "Red Dog" “Red Hound”, “Red Pointer”, then add "Vizsla Breed" to description. 

 

LOCAL NEWSPRESS

  •  keep running them; many local papers offer free ‘lost’ ads,  you will also need to ‘renew’ it on a regular basis. LOOK AT Craigslist Rather than listing/looking for as "Lost Vizsla", list as/look for "Red Dog" “Red Hound”, “Red Pointer”, then add "Vizsla Breed" to description. 

 

CIRCULATING "MISSING" FLYERS

  • If your personal Team cannot do it,

  • hire or recruit neighborhood volunteers to HAND-CIRCULATE flyers to each and every address within five miles of your residence;

  • perhaps farther on rural roads. ((Leaving in mailboxes is against Federal Law (USPS);

  • volunteers must hand-deliver or leave on doorstep/handle. Many isolated communities are still reliant on "paper communication" rather than social media or any other form.

 

AREA AND REGIONAL DRIVERS ADN PEDESTRIANS:

Request to display your poster in their break rooms/on their FB pages

  • Contact local trash and recycling companies,

  • USPS/FedEx/UPS/other courier services offices,

  • tow truck services, local and state Transportation Authorities

  • police/sheriffs, fire stations

  • public and private schools  request that you be allowed to display your poster in their break rooms/on their FB pages.

  • Hand them to area drivers if they can accept them.

These folks may well be on infrequently traveled routes, during off hours—and kids are highly attuned to all that goes on around them (especially if a reward is involved!).

 

 

CONSIDER A LOST PET RECOVERY SERVICE

  • to rapidly help make posters, advertise your search

  • help deduce where your dog might be and possibly,

  • to bring in a canine tracking team to find “Rover"

 

***TOP CHOICE***

 

LOST PET PROFESIONALS

 

  • An outstanding, expert, ethical, resourceful, & highly skilled  organization with whom many of our Vizsla Rescue groups have collaborated on several Lost Dog Searches (we are in no way affiliated, employed by, nor have any profitable interest in this business--just know that they are excellent!)

  • At the least, LPP can devise/order effective (water-resistant) advertisement/flyers, have them made up rapidly ANYWHERE.

  • They will also instruct your Team of family/Friends/Helpers on where best to post them. Because of their experience (and given that their staff are Private Investigators licensed in multiple states), they can determine your dog's probable "path of travel" based on breed and personal characteristics

  • Will devise a GPS coordinate Search Grid.

  • If affordable for you, they can ALSO deploy their Search Dog Tracking Team to your location (cost varies by location & by whether they happen to have a Team already on-site in a nearby location or adjoining State).

  • Should there be high likelihood that your dog was stolen, they also know their way around this "world".

 

 

 PET TRACKERS If located in Northeastern United States ONLY=

REGISTERED PUREBRED/NOT VIZSLA?

 

OTHER RESOURCES AND IDEAS:

 

Above all, please keep your search efforts strong – don’t give up!

Pets have been reunited with their families after many days, weeks, and even YEARS – Keep searching, keep hoping, and ask LOTS of others for help in keeping the word out there!!!

 

WHEN FOUND:

 

  • Please remember to remove your flyers, posts, 

  • Notify and thank all of your helpers, Vets, Shelters, Rescue Groups, etc.

  • If at all possible, it is thoughtful to post an "outcome" Flyer & follow-up story on all Facebook Groups, as you may have no idea how many eyes and ears and hearts have been “there”, somehow involved in your search, every step of the way.

 

 

***HAPPY ENDINGS***

 

  • Vizsla puppy stolen on West Coast, flipped in Midwest, and transported across the U.S. almost to Canada. READ THE STORY

       http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/pets-and-animals/2015/01/03/penny-     

       lost-vizsla-dog-home/21223603/

 

  • Missing Great Dane reunited with family after TWO YEARS due to microchip: 

      READ THE STORY https://www.facebook.com   

       /story.php?story_fbid=1697629010526782&id=100008390979441&

       from_close_friend=1

 

 

 

With profound gratitude and respect to our friends and Rescue Colleagues who contributed to and helped to develop this list, representing easily >200 years of combined experienced in Vizsla and All-Breed Dog Rescue:

 

Stacey Auer, Amy Balogh, Katharine Clark, Mimi Applegate Elder, Debra Evalds, Teila Gilchrist, Kat Harrington, Becky Hill, Kate Berta Kilgore,

 Marsha Lemley, Patti Marconi Hawk, Cindy McGee, Ann Prevost, Bren Reed, Staci Rivas, and Melody Starr.

 

 

bottom of page