Do you know how to find a lost dog? Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Canada Day — these are all dates when dogs go missing because they’ve been freaked out by fireworks.
Here are some tips for you and your Morkie, on how to find a lost dog.
DON'T PANIC BUT DO ACT QUICKLY
Best idea - don't let your Morkie get lost
Your family isn’t the same if your Morkie gets lost!
Holidays, vacations and celebrations are all times when your Morkie has a good chance to run away. People are coming and going, the door or gate can be left open and there’s lots of commotion.
Sometimes the best defence is a good offence, so if things might get a little crazy with family and friends, why not put your Morkie in a quite room to himself. Leave the radio on to dull your noise and leave him some toys, food and water (and if he’s trained to go indoors, a pee pad)
Don’t forget to check on him now and then – which certainly beats looking for him!
Poster Tips
Instead of saying “Lost Dog” put Lost Morkie or Lost Yorkie-Mix
Naming a specific breed gives the reader a better idea of what he’s looking for; and will likely stick in his mind longer. Experts say that adding things like, “we miss him a lot” doesn’t help so save the space and use it to get the simple message out there: Lost Morkie, brief description, reward and phone number.
Tag Tip
Do NOT Place Your Dog’s Name On His Tags
Placing your Morkie’s name on his identification tag can help a dognapper to lure him from you. Dognapping is a serious problem in many areas so don’t help these criminals by leaving your Morkie’s name on his I.D. Tag.
Make sure your Morkie’s collar fits properly. It should be large enough to allow two fingers to slip in between it and the dog’s neck, but not so large that it can slip off over his head. If you prefer using a harness to walk your dog, by all means do so, but let him wear a leather collar with identification as well.
Microchipping is another way to protect your Morkie’s way home. Read more here.
How to find a lost dog? With a great dog tag!
The Smarter Dog Tag
PetHub, a company that makes digital pet ID tags, provides some eye-opening statistics about lost pets:
- 1 in 3 pets will become lost in their lifetime
- Less than 2 percent of lost cats and only 15 to 20 percent of lost dogs make it back home to their families (per the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy)
- Most pets who do get home are wearing an ID tag or are microchipped or tattooed
- 80 percent of pet parents believe pet ID tags are crucially important, but only 33 percent report that their pet always wears one (per the ASPCA)
GPS Tracking Devices
GPS trackers are ideal if your Morkie is a habitual runaway.
Along with some intensive training to curb this behaviour, a GPS device can add an other degree of security.
Another option is RFID devices like htis Tile unit. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) pet tags and collars are basically microchips your pet wears rather than has implanted. They’re the same little devices you can put in your wallet or on your phone, to pinpoint it if it goes missing.
Get the word out
- put a “Lost ” ad in your local newspaper the very first morning your dog is gone. (usually free)
- put posters up in your area
- get on social media INCLUDING SPECIFIC LOST AND FOUND GROUPS in your area
VISIT!
Visit all local dog pounds and animal shelters, don’t rely on their information.
Go through the facilities and look at all dogs and cats, DAILY.
Call around
- Call all your neighbours personally.
- call the local humane society or pound, vet clinic including emergency clinics outside your immediate area
- call local police
- call local kennels, groomers
- dog training clubs
Reach out to a pro
Connect with people at websites like HelpingLostPets who can help you find your lost pet. There’s no cost.
They warn, don’t pay someone to help you find your dog, you’ll be cheated or taken advantage of
Walk your neighbourhood
- enlist family and friends to canvas the neighborhood, in all directions, on the roads and as the crow flies.
- expand outside where you think your Morkie could go.
- a frightened dog will travel farther than you think.
Don't give up
Pets have been reunited with their families YEARS later, so don’t give up. Here’s a pup who showed up 10 years later!
With thanks to Petfinder.com
