23/04/2024
🐶 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🐶
Today is National Lost Dog Awareness Day and although this day was created in America by Lost Dogs of America, it's well worth highlighting this day in the UK to help raise awareness about lost dogs here too and share information about what we can all do to help reunite them with their families.
Losing a pet is an unbearable thought yet, sadly, it does happen. There are things you can do to ensure a greater chance of a quick reunion should this happen though:
𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜
It is compulsory in the UK to microchip your dog. An up-to-date microchip can help facilitate a quick reunion. Make sure your dog is microchipped and that you keep your contact details up-to-date, especially if you move house or change your telephone number.
𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜 𝙃𝙖𝙨 𝘼𝙣 𝙄𝘿 𝙏𝙖𝙜
This is a legal requirement when your dog is in a public place. Your name and address must be on it and we'd also advise a mobile number is also included.
𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡
Teach your dog a reliable recall for when you are out walking and never let them off the lead if you are unsure whether they will come back to you. If in doubt, use a long line or training lead, especially if you are in an unfamiliar area where your dog may get lost more easily.
𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙊𝙛 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙨
Take clear photographs of your dog from various angles, and update them regularly. Make a note of any distinguishing features.
Take lots of photographs of yourself with your dog to help you prove ownership if needed.
𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨
Take care when choosing someone to care for your dog if you are going away or need a dog walker whilst you are at work. Use a reputable company and choose someone who has qualifications and experience. Check references and licences (where appropriate) for people who provide dog walking, day care or holiday services.
𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙄𝙨 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙
Make sure your garden is safe, secure and fully enclosed.
🔎 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗔 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗴 🔎
If you find a lost dog and are able to encourage them towards you and keep them safe, take them to a local vet for their microchip to be scanned.
If you are unable to capture them, take pictures as best as you can and report your sighting to the local Dog Warden then share information about them on social media and local lost dog groups.
😢 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗚𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 😢
𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙖
Start with the immediate area where your dog was last seen. Call your dog’s name and some tasty treats and listen for barking, whining or any movement. Get friends and family to help with the search.
𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨
Let your neighbours know that your dog is missing and ask them to keep an eye out. If they went missing locally, some dogs may find their own way home.
𝘾𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
Create and display posters with a clear photo of your dog, their name and your contact details. Put these in high-traffic areas around your neighbourhood or where your dog went missing and in local parks, vets and pet shops etc.
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙩𝙨, 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙚𝙨 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣
Call all local vets, the dog warden and RSPCA branches and other animal welfare organisations to see if your dog has been handed in. Send them posters of your dog to display.
𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝘿𝙤𝙜
Register them with a company such as PetsReunited, DogLost.co.uk or the National Pets Register..
𝙐𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖
Social media can be a quick and effective platform to spread the word that your dog is missing. Include photos and information on how people can contact you with any sightings etc.
𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙏𝙤 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚
Visit places where dog walkers go such as local parks and public places and talk to people. Ask them to keep an eye open for your dog.
𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮
This is so they can flag your dog as missing. It will also alert them to anyone trying to re-register the same microchip number.
𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝘼 𝙍𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙
Offering a reward for the safe return of your dog can help encourage people to join in the search and report sightings. It's worth checking your pet insurance policy too as some cover the cost of a reward.
𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙨
Drone companies such as Drone To Home and pet trackers who specialise in finding lost dogs are well worth considering.
Help to spread awareness of National Lost Dog Awareness Day by sharing this post. The more we can do to reduce the risk of our dogs going missing and increase the chances of reunions for those that are missing the better!
©️ Amanda Childs
Happy Buddies Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Services and Puppy School
Amanda Childs Pet Bereavement Counsellor
