July Heat Wave

Heat index of 102 makes for a lazy day in the air conditioning. Short jaunts outside with lots of water. But mostly napping is on the schedule for today. Stay cool out there!

            Sadie-Pet Haven alum, and her sister Edna

           Beckham, 7 year old Pet Haven foster beagle

          Duchess, 1 1/2 year old foster shep/ridgeback mix

Loose dog-part 2

Sadie a basset/husky mix a foster dog from Pet Haven taught me and her foster Cindy a lot about what to do when you dog disappears. Sadie was adopted three times and escaped four times-twice with her last family who still have her. She is safe and sound and in lock down mode. This is what we and her new family did to find her.
1.  Call your vet and surrounding vets and report the dog missing. Call the vet where the last rabies shot was given if different from your vet. This number will be on the dogs tag and might be used when dog is found.
2. Call whatever company the microchip is registered to. Home Again sends out lost pet notices to all surrounding vets in your area.
3. Call the animal control or humane society in the community where you live. Some of these agencies will be very helpful and some will not depending on the size of your town and the resources they have. Ask what they can do to help you and what you need to do to work with them.
4. www.lostandpound.com has a lot of useful info.
5. Print up tons of lost dog flyers with your dog's photo on them. Post these everywhere in your neighborhood. Hand them out to everyone you meet walking by esp. if they have a dog. Police officers and postal carriers are happy to keep an eye out too.
6. Post an ad on Craigslist in the 'Pets' and in the 'Lost and Found' categories. Update these every few days. Beware of crank calls saying they have your dog. Luckily I received two of these after Sadie was found.
7. Put food and water and a favorite toy outside by your house. Placing these under a picnic table makes a safe place for the dog to eat. If you can go high tech install a doggie cam to monitor visits. Sadie's family even had an alarm system they set up across the gate.
8. Contact all of your neighbors so they can watch for signs of your dog returning to your house. The more eyes the better. They may help post flyers.
9.  Walk the neighborhood early in the morning and late at night when there is less activity. Carry a leash and treats. Look for places a dog could be hiding in/under like sheds or decks.
10. When all else fails a live trap can be used safely. We have used Falls Creek Animal Pest Control. 651-235-0829. Beisswengers also rents traps if you feel comfortable doing this yourself. The largest size is for a large raccoon-perfect for Miss Sadie the escape queen.

Just so you know this is what your dog is doing while you are trudging through 12" of snow, or pouring rain, or 100 temps.  Bad dog.

Loose dog tips-part 1

Let's face it. If you have a dog chances are that furry friend has gotten loose at least once. Either by rushing the door when the delivery guy comes-Molly,  jumping over the fence out of the blue-Riley, squeezing past you when you open the gate to take the trash out-Jack, jumping out the passenger door OVER  a stunned passenger-Bailey, or my favorite-the automatic van side door opens on its own for no reason other than to let the dog/s out-Libby, Hank, and Buddy. Yes these situations are all from personal experience. Luckily no dogs were harmed or loose for more than a few minutes.  Here are a few tips I learned from my escapades with fancy free dogs.
1.As hard as it is-and I have not mastered this yet-do not run after the dog. He will think you are playing the chase me game and continue to run. I do however follow the dog to keep him in sight either on foot or in the car. A trainer suggested that you lay down and call the dog's name in a really high pitched silly voice. This actually worked once. Of course handfuls of treats help. But we are not always that prepared.
2. Calling the dog's name in a normal voice brought my own dog back from up the alley. He looked at me like
he never left. Silly boy. Frantically yelling Fido's name will send him flying away. Would you want to come back to a screaming maniac?
3. Calling for your dog can also elicit help from your neighbors. The more eyes you have the more territory you can cover. Your dog could be in their back yard.
4. If you can keep track of your dog wait to approach him until he stops to sniff or lift his leg. Then calmly and quietly get close enough to take hold of his collar. No collar? That is what the scruff of the neck is for-built in handle. Note to self-keep the collar on.

5. When you get the dog back praise him and treat him for returning. He will want to come back next time if his return is rewarded. Again would you want to come back to the screaming meanie?

Sadie from Pet Haven taught me many lessons about what to do when your dog is lost for days. Check back for tips I learned from the Sadie searches. Hopefully some of you will have some to add too.