MISSING ....MISSING ....MISSING .....

 

I am writing this because a friend's little wheaten coloured Norfolk Terrier, named Maisie, went missing 10 days ago in the Bishop's Stortford/Ickenham area in woodland.

I know this is a gloomy scenario but here's what to do if your dog goes missing.

Losing your beloved dog has got to be the most distressing and stressful event in anyone's lives. To give you the best chance of finding your dog should he or she go astray, act fast - and that's easier said than done but try not to panic!

1. If you had your dog microchipped contact your microchip company and inform them your dog is missing - make sure all your contact details are up to date.
2. Spend at least 15-30 minutes calling and whistling for your dog - and try to sound cheerful. Circle the location in which the dog was last seen, but try not to leave the immediate area at first.  If you meet childre ask them to look out for your dog. Make your circles wider and wider before you eventually do leave, making sure you ask everyone you pass if they've seen your pet. Give those who seem helpful and trustworthy your number or your vet's number. In rural environments check rabbit/badger holes/sets and ask farmers and game keepers to keep an eye out and also if you can check barns and outhouses.
3. If you have pet insurance then contact the insuance company as they can provide financial assistance and advice on advertising for your dog’s return.
4. Print out eye catching leaflets and posters with relevant information about your dog, including the name and physical description. Contact information should include your name, telephone number and email address. If possible, include a photograph then photocopy a huge batch and hand them out to local shops. Post and distribute flyers wherever your dog was last seen, as well as throughout your home neighbourhood and to any welfare services you contact.
5. Call all local veterinary practices and all animal rescue centres giving a description of your dog, and then visit them with a flyer including a recent photo. Again microchipping means if they find your dog they will instantly contact you. If your dog is  found and is injured they will probably be taken to a  vet's practice nearest to where the dog is found.  
6. Canvas the neighbourhood in which your dog was lost, moving from door to door with information. It's not unusual for dogs afraid of thunder, or loud bangs for example, to escape their homes or gardens and settle calmly in the garden or garage of a neighbour.
7. Walk or cycle up and down the roads nearest the area your dog was last seen. People strolling or cycling nearby are another helpful resource for spotting your animal. Arm yourself with a pocketful of the dog's favourite treat.
8. Put the flyer in your local newsagent, village notice board or post office (or shops close to where the dog went missing.
9. Contact the local council, dog warden, police and animal control authorities with a description and the time and area in which your dog was lost. They will be the ones who will be contacted if your pet has been in a car accident, for example, or if your dog is reported as a stray.
10. Take advantage of the lost and found ads in your local newspaper. Place a 'lost dog' ad as soon as possible, and be sure to check the column daily for any that have been found. If you have been walking some distance from your home, find the most appropriate local paper (the local shop or post office may help you with this). 
11. Some national databases for lost pets are available on the internet. ( See below)
12. You can offer a reward for any information leading to your dog's safe return. Even indirect information from someone who spotted a dog with your pet's colouring can be very helpful. However, be cautious as less scrupulous people may pretend to have seen your dog. Consider this option carefully but keep pursuing other options first. 

13.    Publicise it on Facebook and Twitter to as many people you know because they may suddenly hear of or see someone they know with a new pet that fits the description of your pet.

14. Go to pubs around the area and leave your leaflets and posters. Often someone will offer a dog for sale and it could be yours.

Many lost pets are also taken to local shelters. Pet shops and grooming parlours in your area can often be of some help. When you get in touch with any organisation, make sure you have the following details to hand: colour, age, size, temperament, identification on the dog (collar, tag, microchip, where the dog was lost), and your details.

Tip:  Always carry a photograph of you and your dog together so that you can prove ownership should your dog get found.

Register with the following organisations.

http://www.animalsearchuk.co.uk/ Free service for finding pets throughout the UK.

http://www.nationalpetregister.org/

The Blue Cross
Website: www.bluecross.org.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 1993 822651

RSPCA

Website: www.rspca.org.uk
Phone: 0870 55 55 999 If you live in the Greater London area, try

Battersea Dogs Home Lost Dogs Lineon 0901 477 8477 (calls are charged at 60p per minute). They will enter your details into a central search system and see if any matches fit your description. 

And if your dog is a pure breed, get in touch with the Kennel Club as well.
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/

Don't give up hope because miracles do happen and you never know, one day your pet will be found and you can be reunited.  

Dawn ("")

IS YOUR DOG A CON ARTIST? 

Dogs are natural born liars and con artists - as sweet and adorable as they are - they know exactly how to “milk” emotion out of us and take advantage of our love for them.

It always makes me chuckle when people say that dogs are “honest.” Dogs have a sense of humour and sometimes they play “mental games with us just for fun.” And yes! they are the biggest con artists in the world.

For example, a dog will act dramatically when you attempt to trim their toenails, right? Scream and howl and carry on like we are killing them- they ARE phobic about their feet- and as soon as an owner attempts to trim their nails, their blood pressure skyrockets so their nails will bleed a little- and that’s all it takes for the owner to give up. So the dog wins in this situation. You have just taught him that if he cries and carries on, you will stop whatever you are doing because it “hurts”. 

I have looked after many dogs who have plotted and schemed simply to  be given  treats. Or to pretend to be fast asleep, then suddenly leap up and rush to the front door. When you open the door to check, you can almost hear them saying “Gottcha! Ha ha!. (If people and animals were really at the door, they wouldn’t run away but would instead make a lot of noise.) They, of course, slip out of the door for a sniff around in the front garden.

One of the dogs that stayed with us, used to regularly bring her empty dish to you and drop it  hard onto your feet (ouch! it hurt), and look at you expectantly. When you lifted it and have limped back to the kitchen she would be wagging her tail as if to say “That was sooo funny”.

 We had another dog who would eat its food and then five minutes later, push the empty dish across the floor and look at you as if to say "I promise you, you didn't feed me." 

You can say to a dog “What do you want? “ and it will run to its dish as if to imply that you hadn’t fed it.  I call it the Oliver Twist syndrome.

Dogs can also tease back. A friend teased a dog and startled it awake by saying “Boo” into the dog’s ear.  A little while later he was snoozing in the armchair, the dog crept up behind the chair and barked loudly so that he was jerked out of his sleep, then it slunk down and hid.

The favourite way of getting treats is to rush out as though they are going to have a pee, circle around a bush or pot plant, and then rush in and wait. In our house, the pretenders are made to go out and do it for real.

How many times have you been conned into giving your dog treats between meals?  They look downcast, head pointing nosewards to the floor and not reacting until you ask "Wassup? with this dog?  Is it not feeling well?"   The moment you ask the dog "Are you OK?" it gives a half hearted tail wag, then a  sad look several times at the treats container.  As if to say "You know what I want?" You, of course, fall for this and hand out a treat.

Dogs also have a sense of humour. There is a red setter in the park who, every day races ahead of his owner, hides himself behind a tree and then jumps out barking loudly. When his owner plays along by pretending to be frightened, the dog wags his tail and whole body furiously as if to say "Gotcha again!" 

They tell bigger lies when they are spoilt. One visiting dog hurt his leg quite badly and after a visit to the vet for treatment and a bandage, he made great mileage by struggling to walk. I lifted him onto the sofa and brought his food and drink to him and lifted him off the sofa to go outside to the toilet. This went on for about 3 days until my husband  informed me that his leg was fine from the day after he hurt it. He was conning me and when I nipped out for shopping or in the bath,  he would race around the house and garden playing, only to get back into position when he heard me coming.  When he goes for his morning walk and people ask "How is your little paw, he looks soulful, lifts his paw and limps until we are out of sight. 

Dogs are the best at conning their owners into doing anything they want but we wouldn't be without them, would we? 

Remember owning a dog is about having fun - with them, so enjoy!!

And to end this week's blog, here's more from the adorable Jesse Jack Russell.

Dawn ("..")