LOST STOLEN OR FOUND DOGS DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO ?

alfmar · Last edited by alfmar on Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:03 am; edited 3 times in total

If your dog has gone missing or been stolen………… do you know what to do?…….and even if you do know what you should be doing can you think straight enough to do it?
If the unthinkable happens then I hope this post will guide you in the right direction.

You are going to need help and lots of it! please register your dog with www.doglost.co.uk 0844 800 3220 they have helpers nationwide who will pull out all the stops to help you get your dog home.

Firstly contact dog wardens, vets and local rescue centres…local council stray dogs holding kennel give them all a detailed description of your dog with any distinguishing marks/scars.., If you can go down there each day to check for your dog that is the best thing as they only have to hold a dog for 7 days before it can legally be rehomed or in some cases destroyed. It is also worth contacting the local police as if someone has found your dog they may well have contacted them.
Get postering now…..as quickly and as many as you can physically manage.

if your dog is tattooed or microchipped, then of course state so in your posters, but remember to phone the tattoo and microchip people... get them to look up your details and confirm they have the best and most current contact numbers for you. And a backup if possible.

POSTER POSTER POSTER!!!…I cannot emphasize how important this is, from the posters you will get sightings and lots of extra pairs of eyes looking out for your dog… put the posters in waterproof jackets so they last much longer.
Poster bus stops, train stations, supermarket/retail park car parks, pet shops petrol stations, lay by snack vans, service stations, bins, poo bins, shopping centres, take away outlets, pubs, lamposts, café‘s, leisure centre‘s,…….basically anywhere people go you need to poster like mad so nobody misses them… ask in as many places as you can if they will display a poster for you.
Tell postman and binmen and give them a poster so they have your phone no handy… look up and call all local dog walkers and email them a poster if possible. in fact tell every single person you meet while searching as the more people know the much better chance of getting your dog back quickly.
Contact the local newspaper and radio stations… take out an advert with a photo in the papers pets section lost and found.
If you believe your dog has been stolen then it is very important you contact the police for a crime reference number…. And the postering publicity should have the aim of not only getting your dog home but making it too hot to handle.
Never worry about telling the same rescue/vets/dog warden more than once……it’s better they hear about your missing dog a hundred times than not at all……… visit as many places in person as you possibly can and have posters/flyers and plenty of brown sticky tape with you at all times.
Email your dogs poster to your entire address book and ask them to forward it on to theirs.
Now a little more info about www.doglost.co.uk and the amazing job they do.
Doglost is a volunteer organisation that is run solely by volunteer coordinators and registered helpers throughout the united kingdom.

DogLost.co.uk was set up by Tim Bristow and Jayne Hayes following the theft of their miniature French bulldog.
They were amazed that there was no system of communicating quickly and concisely the details of their dog to all the necessary organisations.
Having gone through a traumatic 6 weeks Tim and Jayne received a tip-off and Tim was able to snatch Hermy back! sustaining injuries in the process!
Tim and Jayne were amazed by the help offered to them by other dog owners and surprised by how many other people had missing dogs. They realised that their was a need for a website to be set up to put fellow dog owners in touch with each other and the relevant organisations. After consultation with dog wardens, rescue centres, other dog sites and victims of dog theft they have recently upgraded the site to include a forum page for communication, an advanced search facility for quicker navigation of site and have introduced remote user access for dog wardens and rescue centres to add details of found dogs direct to the site.

VOLUNTEER
HELPERS REQUIRED
All you need to do to help reunite missing dogs with their owners is to go onto www.doglost.co.uk to check on Lost and Found dogs in your area. Register and Log in which will enable you to:
print posters which you can display and distribute in your area
put messages on the dog's page with any information, ideas or support you can give,
follow the dog’s progress, reports of any sightings, etc. and keep an eye open for the dog.
You can also help owners by going out to look for their dog if you are able
If there are sightings of a dog, you may be given advice regarding helping with a feeding station to keep him in an area so that he can be caught and reunited with his family
However much or little you can do, your help will always be appreciated.
Thank you.

The doglost website was hacked into during 2008 and they are in the process of re building it.
DOGLOST NEW WEBSITE APPEAL
To keep the site going the current web site was launched but after many comments we appreciated that there were certain aspects which were greatly missed by you all. A new site is now being built, based closely on the old one, but re-developing DogLost's unique features will cost thousands, so we do need help with this expense.
We are therefore launching a fresh appeal to get this underway.
TWO NEW WAYS TO HELP
RECYCLE YOUR OLD MOBILE PHONE
Follow this simple link through to our page and see what your phone is worth to us. We hope that you will be able to donate as much as possible towards the new site.
http://www.doglost.valuerecycling.com/
RAINBOW LOTTERY
Your chance to win up to £10,000 while you help us raise funds:
http://www.theweatherlottery.com/categories/players/scheme.php?s cheme=doglo

AngelaC · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:04 pm Post subject:

Great thread Dawn, could this perhaps be pinned? Hopefully no LFers will lose their dogs but it might be useful for anyone who does and googles and finds this forum? Smile

alfmar · Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject:

thanks angela....... i was really hoping to get it made a sticky for reference Smile

alfmar · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 2:12 pm Post subject:

any chance on a sticky for this? Wink

Karen_theArtist · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

Have 'Stickied' Wink

Scubabe · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

Dawn, I have reported this post for you so the Mod Squad will all get an email about it, so I am sure someone will sticky it for you soon.

Another thing I would add to the advice above - if you have lost your dog, and it is tattooed or microchipped, then of course state so in your posters, but remember to phone the tattoo and microchip people... get them to look up your details and confirm they have the best and most current contact numbers for you. And a backup if possible.

It's so easy to move home and forget to update the records at the microchip or tattoo registry!

Jammy17 · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject:

This is so helpful, my little Houdinis have escaped a few times and I would never have thought of some of the above.

What a great website.

alfmar · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:59 am Post subject:

alfmar · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

blimey what's going on today..... Sad

so many missing/lost
thought i'd pop this up again in case it can help someone

littlelab · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Brilliant post Very Happy