This is Izzy. She was lost while her family was camping in Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. After several days missing, the owners went back to the campground and set up their tent and left food, water and familiar scented articles inside, as well as Izzy’s bed. Izzy was sleeping inside the next morning and was safely caught.
It is not uncommon for a dog to go missing from a location other than home. These situations can include but are not limited to dogs who go missing from a:
- Vacation or camping trip
- Pet sitter
- Vet clinic
- Groomer
- Animal Shelter
- Foster home
- Rescue transport
- Car Accident
This sounds horrifying, but with a good plan of action these dogs are usually quite predictable in their actions and can be successfully recovered.
We’d like to share with you what we have learned. 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. They generally do not head for home or set off on long journeys (unless they are chased).
- The MOST important thing you can do is to spread the word to everyone who 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, 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. Place them 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.
- 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 somewhere other than 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. Never give up! Your lost dog is counting on you to bring him safely home. If you haven’t already done so create your free flyer and social media links from our partner Pet FBI at www.petfbi.org One of our volunteers will post it to the appropriate state state or provincial Facebook page.
Our tips, ideas and articles are based on information gathered from thousands of successful lost dog recoveries. Any advice or suggestions made by Lost Dogs of Wisconsin/Lost Dogs Illinois is not paid-for professional advice and should be taken at owner’s discretion.
1-12-2021