Monthly Archives: December 2020

Tips for Newly Adopted Dogs or Foster Dogs Who Get Lost From Their New Home

More and more people are choosing to adopt their new best friend from a rescue or shelter. This is a wonderful thing! Many dogs, through no fault of their own, need a new home.  Unfortunately though, many people are unprepared for the challenges of living with a dog who may be shy, fearful or stressed by the changes in their lives.  These dogs are considered “high flight risk” and go missing with alarming frequency from either their new owner or a foster family who may be temporarily caring for them until a permanent home is found.  Many owners bring home their new dog and within a few hours or few days, the dog has slipped out of his collar, out of the yard or out of the house.

By far, the greatest risk to these dogs when they go missing is that they will be hit by a car and killed. It happens far too often and this article was written to give you tips to help you safely capture your new pet.  Although it sounds like a horrifying situation and many people panic, the good news is that with a calm, clear head and a good plan of action these dogs are usually quite predictable in their actions and can be successfully recovered.

Although we never say never,  please consider these tips:

  • These dogs do not generally travel very far – often staying VERY close to the spot where they went missing from.  We find this to be true even if they are unfamiliar with their new location. They generally do not head for an old home or shelter,  or set off on long journeys unless they are chased or pressured.
  • The MOST important thing you can do is to spread the word to everyone that is helping you to NOT call, whistle, approach or pursue your dog. The dog needs to be lured back to the spot it went missing from, as if you were trying to lure a scared cat or tame a wild animal like a squirrel or chipmunk.
  • Using scent articles (the dog’s bed, his kennel or crate, toys, and dirty articles of clothing or bed sheets from the person most bonded with the dog) will help keep the dog in the area. If the dog is not yet bonded with you you may want to ask the shelter or rescue to provide clothing of the kennel attendant or foster parent who cared for him.  If the dog had a kennel mate ask if you can rub an old towel over that dog to use as a scent item also. Place the scent articles somewhere safe (well away from roadways) along with smelly, tasty food and water. When hunters lose a dog while hunting they leave their coat out on the ground at the place they last saw their dog. The dog is often lying on it when the hunter returns the next day.
  • If you see your dog, immediately sit down on the ground and toss a few tasty treats out around you.  It may take a few minutes, or a few hours, but your dog might approach you.  He may circle around and approach you from behind.  Be patient and speak softly or not at all.  Do not be surprised if he does not respond to his name.  Newly adopted stressed dogs do not usually respond to sound or sight. They respond best to the smell of familiarity.
  • Flyer the area heavily and use intersection signs to alert passing motorists about your missing dog.  Again, remember to stress “Do NOT Chase” on your flyers and signs. The greatest risk to a shy lost dog is that he will be chased into traffic and killed.
  • Be patient.  Dogs lost from a new home or foster home may hunker down for a day or two and then creep back out to where they went missing from – lured by the tasty food and scent items you left.

Please read through the rest of our articles on Shy Lost Dog Strategies.  If shelter and rescue staff and volunteers are helping you please ask them to read through our series Harnessing the Energy to give them pointers on how to most effectively use their time. Never give up! Your lost dog is counting on you to bring him safely home.

Six Things to Consider Before Using a Drone in Your Lost Dog Search

There are a few things that we would like you to consider before you rush out to hire a drone operator. 

Is the pilot certified? The drone pilot must have a FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Pt 107).  Do not use an uncertified or amateur drone pilot.

What kind of drone is being used? Cheaper recreational drones might not yield effective results, leading to wasted time, money, and effort.  Using thermal imaging drones for finding a lost dog can be highly effective if the conditions are right.

What are the local and federal regulations?   A pilot can fly over a national park but the pilot cannot be in the park nor can the flight start from the park. Certain airspaces require FAA approval for flying, ensure you confirm with the pilot that they have clearance to fly in your desired location.

Ask questions:  Inquire about capabilities and conditions before hiring a drone pilot. Flight duration, distance, and battery capacity.  What are the costs?  Is it per flight or number of batteries used?  What can the drone do and can’t do?

What are the ideal conditions or situations?  The best conditions to find a pet is a calm cloudy day.  The thermal camera is effective only with a temperature contrast between the pet and the environment. It loses efficacy in bright sunlight or when the environment has been heated by the sun for an extended period. Hiring a pilot under these conditions is likely to be futile and a waste of money. Also describe the type of terrain the dog is missing in. It will help the drone pilot to determine if he/she is able to help.

Make sure you have a plan on how to recover your missing dog if there is a drone sighting.  The majority of the drone pilots are not experienced in recovery of a lost dog.  They can’t do both.  

Carefully consider your budget and your situation before placing all of your eggs in the drone basket.  Spend your money and your efforts where you are the most likely to get the sighting or lead of your missing dog. You can print a lot of flyers, make signs and run newspaper ads for less than you may spend on a drone. 

Hand delivering flyers is the number one way lost dogs are found.   The best chance of success is to have as many sets of eyes looking for your dog over the largest area possible. A drone operator is one set of eyes within a very limited area. 

Remember, your dog is relying on YOU and your good choices to help bring him safely home.

Watch out for scammers!  Do your research!

Thank you Devon T and Mike S!

 

07/31/2024

Three Places You CAN’T Put Your Lost Pet Flyers

Be very careful about posting your lost pet flyers. You may incur hefty fines or at the very least waste valuable time and resources while you are looking for your missing pet. Here are at least 3 places where you cannot post your flyers. When in doubt ask permission before you post!

1. It is illegal to put a flyer into a U.S. post box. You may be fined for every flyer placed inside a mail box. It is also illegal to affix the flyer in any way to a mail box. Use the newspaper box if available or better yet, take the flyer directly to the door and ring the doorbell. This personal approach will ensure that the flyer gets into the house and will give you an opportunity to ask the homeowner directly for their help. They will remember you and will be more likely to call you with a sighting if they have heard your story and see your distress.

2. It is illegal to affix a flyer to any utility pole. Poles are the private property of the utility company, telecommunication company or municipality that owns them. Staples, nails and tape on poles are a danger to the workers who have to climb the poles.

3. Bus shelters are the private property of the bus company. Affixing flyers to the windows of a bus shelter can be a safety hazard and is not permitted.

Be courteous and obey the law when delivering and hanging your flyers. Ask businesses and home owners if you can put flyers on bulletin boards and/or use large intersection signs on their property. Also, do not use tape that will damage property when flyers are removed. Alternatively, use zip ties or plastic packing wrap to attach flyer. Bear in mind though, many municipalities and home owners associations have rules regarding signs and they may not be allowed. They may be taken down and disposed of. Check first BEFORE you go to the expense of making them. Unfortunately, most of these rules have come about because untended lost pet flyers and signs create unsightly litter when they are not removed in a timely fashion. Remove your signs and flyers as soon as your pet is found. Don’t be part of the problem!

Create your FREE flyer from our software partner Pet FBI. See article Create Your Own Flyers to learn more.