After 20 days missing, we came home to find Dolly on our doorstep. We are not sure what happened, burlt she had an ordeal. She was dehydrated, lethargic and hungry. She may not have eaten in days/ weeks. We are nursing her back to health. So happy to have her home. Your site and helpful tips were a godsend! Thank you
Losing a lost pet had impacts I could never have imagined. I actually listed our home with a real estate agent, telling my partner I couldnt live there anymore. Every walk around the property and in the neighbourhood, were filled with memories of my companion. She was with me always. I was totally bereft.
Thank goodness, people told me not to give up hope! The local NZ post delivery lady ( who I stopped) told me she had her dog taken for 2 weeks. The local hunters helped pressure the dog thief to return her dog. She was reunited.
My dog was reunited with me after 20 days. Someone returned her. Maybe it was the pressure of the community- who knows? She was dehydrated, starved and tired- but is totally on the mend. Im grateful for my community who all looked out for her. There is nothing but love for the many helpers out there.
Heres a list of things to do that someone shared wuth me and may help you:
1. Lodge a missing dog report with Council/Pound, and ensure dog's microchip is current (up to date), has your address and phone number, this will prove dog belongs to owner.
2. Flag microchip as missing or stolen. REGISTER microchip on the Companion Animals Register to ensure that you are notified if the chip is scanned.
3. If your dog has gone missing and thought to be on farmland, please contact farmers in the area to let them know your dog may be on their land. If your dog is stock proof please add that information to your post. Also let the local hunters know [ they love their dogs and will help]. Contact Don Schwass, the dog tracker from Nelson. His toolbox of search ideas is tried, tested and works.
4. Please be proactive in your search. Not everyone has Facebook, please don't rely on Facebook to find your dog. Trade me Lost and Found, Neighbourly is another way of advertising your lost pets. Flyers in the area is a really good way of getting your lost dog's face out in the public. Use neon pink to draw attention to the photo. Your dog needs your help.
5. Door knock, look up drives, over fences, be nosy. Track down the NZ Post delivery person and ask for their help. Contact local dog walkers and runners.
6. Hang some unwashed clothing on your washing line, or if lost in a different area, leave some clothing and water for dog to scent back to.
7. Double check your property and surrounding areas in case dog is stuck. Check under buildings, waterways, drains, holes, ledges, under hedges.
8. Please keep checking the Pound (please ensure you physically go and check), Rescue Groups, SPCA, Vets. Please ensure you have lodged a missing dog report with photo to Council/Pound, SPCA and local Rescue Groups. Contact Council/Pound and ask if they have collected any deceased dogs in your area.
9. Safeguard those that have dogs at home by registering and micro chipping your dog/s. Register microchip with your Council on National Dog Database (NDD), and register microchip on New Zealand Companion Animal Register (NZCAR). There is no point in micro chipping your dog if the microchip is not registered. If dogs are taken out of the area it is important that the microchips are registered on National Databases.
10. Share your Post from this Page to your News Feed. Flood Face Book. Please go and physically check pounds yourself during visiting hours, not all advertise impounded dogs, please ensure you have lodged a missing dog report with a photo to all surrounding Pounds, your dog may end up in a pound in a different area. Email Pounds if further afield.
11. Putting flyers around your neighbourhood is another way of advertising your lost pet, put them up in high foot traffic areas, e.g. dairy, supermarket, petrol station, lamp posts as well as neighbours' letter boxes.
12. Share your Post from this Page to your Timeline, ensure Post is set to Public. Please don't give up looking for your pet. Please keep checking the Page for sightings and Found dogs.
13. Dont give up hope. The dog loving community is awesome.
