Your dog is lost! What should you do? Here is a time line for immediate action, what to do after two hours, two days and beyond. Keep this emergency guide on hand, in case your pet is lost. Speed and thoroughness are essential for bringing your dog home safely.
EditSteps
Prevention
- 1Get your dog micro-chipped. If you got your dog from a shelter within the last few years, it is probable that he or she has already been micro-chipped. A microchip is a harmless chip that is inserted into the back of the neck. The chip contains an ID that any vet or shelter can scan for. The ID can then be searched through a database containing your contact information so that a vet or shelter can contact you when they find your dog.
- 2Make sure that your backyard is secure. Fill in any holes in the fence and make sure that your gate latches securely.
- 3Don't let your animal, especially dogs, out of the house unattended. For outdoor cats, make sure that you bring them inside at night, especially in forested or rural areas.
Looking for Your Dog
- 1Don't waste time! Get a couple of people to work in an organized way simultaneously. In the first two hours, ask family and friends to search around town and up to a two-mile radius of the location where the dog was last seen. Create business-card sized flyers to hand out so that your information is readily available and easy to share. Use free services such as PetMetric.com [1] or Oliver Alert on Facebook to help get a virtual search started immediately in your geographical area as well. Tell any children you see that you are looking for a dog and posters will be up tomorrow with your phone number. However, keep in mind that many children have been warned that this is a trick used by potential kidnappers and kids may become frightened.
- 2Bring along your dog's favorite toy, or another noise that makes him come running. Dogs can hear sounds from very far away and may come if they hear a comforting sound! Shaking a treat bag or something else a dog knows means food can help, too.
- 3While you're out searching, have someone else make phone calls to your local Humane Society, animal shelters, rescues, vets, and police departments. Contact your neighbors to be on the lookout. If you're close to a county line, contact similar places in that county, too. If your local TV and radio stations make community announcements, ask them for help. Notify the local pounds and shelters. If someone does find a dog and brings it there, they will know to reach you. If they do say they have a dog that matches, make sure to visit yourself, and don't call off the search until you're sure it's yours. Their description and yours can easily vary.
- 4Create an ad with a recent picture of your dog. If you don't have a photo, and your dog is a purebred, use a picture from a book. Describe the dog so an average person would recognize him if he saw him. Include identifying information about him like his collar, dog tags, tattoo, identifying features like scars or unusual colorations, or microchip ID number.
- Be specific: "LOST: (Dog's Name) a brown dog with white face and paws, SPAYED female; 60#, got loose from yard on Dec. 1, 2005 (Location where lost) near the post office in Our Town, PA around 4 p.m. Wearing a pink collar with rabies tag and license. Is on anti-seizure medication. Family pet. REWARD. Call (610) 555-0000."
- "Family pet" tends to motivate people to look. Advertising it as a "show dog," "breeding dog," "therapy dog," or "search and rescue dog" is not a good idea. Too much disclosure is not always the best policy in these matters.
- A reward tends to motivate people. However, don't state an amount. If you make the reward too large, like $5000, people will wonder about the dog's value and some people may not want to return your pet.
- Always say a female is spayed, whether she is or not. Again, this is to protect the dog from the unscrupulous who might see a breeding opportunity. The same logic applies to a medical problem or genetic defect. People will be less likely to think of breeding a dog that could be perceived as valuable if they think it has a medical problem. That gives an urgency to the ad, too.
- If the dog is friendly, say "Please try and coax her into your garage or fenced yard and call us." If the dog is not friendly or could be a fear biter say, "Don't attempt to corner her. Simply call us with her location ASAP."
- It is a good idea to make a few copies of flyers in different languages, like Spanish or French, especially if you live in an area with people of many different backgrounds.
- Be specific: "LOST: (Dog's Name) a brown dog with white face and paws, SPAYED female; 60#, got loose from yard on Dec. 1, 2005 (Location where lost) near the post office in Our Town, PA around 4 p.m. Wearing a pink collar with rabies tag and license. Is on anti-seizure medication. Family pet. REWARD. Call (610) 555-0000."
- 5Immediately contact all pet services and shelters in your area and ask if they have had any calls about dogs that match your description. Visit the shelter if possible to see if anyone has brought your dog in.
- 6Intensify the search after your dog has been missing for 24 hours. Make at least 200 photocopies of your ad. (Printer ink runs in rain; photocopier toner won't.) Start posting on bulletin boards and in high visibility areas like gas stations and grocery stores in your neighborhood. Tape flyers to phone poles (in many places, it is illegal and unsafe to use staples because it's a danger to pole men). Ask friends and family members to distribute flyers door-to-door. Be sure to put extra fliers around that playground, or notify the owners of that dog park.
- 7Take "found" calls with a grain of salt. At this devastating time, you are vulnerable and there are unethical people who may try to take advantage.
- If someone calls and describes your dog from your ad and says, "I've got your dog here," respond, "Does she have a black mark inside her right leg?" and they say, "She sure does" and your dog doesn't, hang up quickly. You don't want to deal with such people. If they say, "No, she doesn't" and you think it could be your dog, simply say you made a mistake, that's another dog you've seen before.
- If someone tries to blackmail you into a higher reward before returning your dog, try to make sure they have the right dog (or any dog at all) and ask the person to meet you in a public place. Then go with another person to meet them. Don't be taken advantage of. If it is your dog, offer a token reward.
- Recent scams include people calling for out-of-state airfare for your lost dog. They might say your dog has been stolen and dumped far from home and they found him 200 miles away. Don't fall for it.
- If someone calls and describes your dog from your ad and says, "I've got your dog here," respond, "Does she have a black mark inside her right leg?" and they say, "She sure does" and your dog doesn't, hang up quickly. You don't want to deal with such people. If they say, "No, she doesn't" and you think it could be your dog, simply say you made a mistake, that's another dog you've seen before.
- 8After 2 days: Extend your search.
- Go a little farther by vehicle and start spreading the word to your local mailmen, UPS and Fed Ex drivers, joggers, runners, bikers and anyone else walking around the search areas.
- Drop off or fax a copy of your ad to area shelters.
- Expand the radius of your search area by several miles - call shelters even beyond the area you think your dog could have reached.
- Visit the animal shelters and rescue leagues to look for your pet every other day. Don't expect volunteers to recognize one brown dog from another. If the dog is a dirty, matted mess that lost weight, you may have trouble identifying your own pet. Ask if there is a quarantine area or an area where injured animals are kept in case your dog is separated from those shown to the public.
- Check the "found" ads in they newspaper each day your pet is lost.
- Go a little farther by vehicle and start spreading the word to your local mailmen, UPS and Fed Ex drivers, joggers, runners, bikers and anyone else walking around the search areas.
- 9Stay positive. Dogs have been re-united with their owners even after a year or more. Keep going back to the shelters showing pictures of your dog. Who knows, maybe it will find you!
EditTips
- Ask the vet to insert a microchip into the dog. Microchips are an easy and convenient way to make it possible to locate your dog in case he is lost or has been stolen.
- Make sure the tag is easily visible and well written. If it's not well visible, older people who have found your dear Spot won't recognize the name, and think the name is Zot.If there's a spelling mistake, again, your number might not be recognized, your address might not be right either, and the dog's name will go from Stripe to Strip.It can be very confusing.
- Post that you have lost your dog on your local internet, or newspaper.
- Get your dog a collar, with a tag on it that has his name and your address. If you aren't comfortable putting your address on the tag, you can get a phone number put on it instead.
- Ask your friends if they have seen your dog before it disappeared.
- ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS put your dog on a leash while in public, in the park, or on the beach. If you live in a small neighborhood and don't have room on a fence, keep your dog on a leash while taking him outside to do his business. Or, if he isn't comfortable going while on a leash, watch him closely.
- Never never never leave your dog unattended. Even if your backyard has a dog-proof fence, watch him when he is outside doing his business or playing out in the yard. Some dogs do crazy things while they are alone, like trying to jump over or dig under the fence.
EditWarnings
- Never respond to a found pet claim alone. Take a friend and ask to meet in a public place such as the park. Don't say to meet at your house. Then the people who found your dog (who could be very creepy by the way, you never know,) will then know where you live. You don't want that. Like i said, meet in a public place such as a park or a gas station
- Electric fences do not ensure that your dog will not run away. Never leave your dog unattended outside even if you have an electric fence.
EditThings You'll Need
- A good 200 photocopies of the dog's lost poster
- Patience
- Hope
And pray he/she will come back
Pugs are great companions!
Buying a purebred puppy is a commitment for the lifetime of that animal. Follow these simple steps to ensure your happiness and the happiness of your puppy.
Steps
- 1If you have fallen in love with a purebred dog, make sure that the breed is compatible with your lifestyle. Be clear about your motives for wanting a dog - are you looking for a show dog? A protection animal? Or just a family pet?
- 2Learn how a typical dog of your chosen breed behaves and whether that is a fit for your lifestyle. Keep in mind how much room your dog will have, how much exercise you plan on providing daily, grooming needs, and the "drool and hair factor."
- 3Consider adopting a dog from a breed rescue group, rather than buying a dog from a breeder, until there is no more pet overpopulation for that breed.
- 4Join and get information from the prospective breeds breed club. For AKC breeds, the parent clubs can be found at www.akc.org. For other breeds, a simple Google search will find the parent club online. Ask friends if they know of anyone with a dog of the breed you're interested in, and make arrangements to visit them, particularly if you have never seen a particular breed in person.
- 5Seek out a reputable breeder, once you've made your decision, to give you the best chance of a healthy dog with a sound temperament. A puppy's temperament is fully formed at six weeks and is determined solely by genetics and the environment provided by the breeder and the brood bitch. Avoid buying a puppy at your local pet store as they are often bred by puppy mills for quick profit, rather than sound health.
- 6Contact breeders in the parent kennel club. Visit their facilities and meet their dogs. Google them to see if there is any internet discussion. Facilities should be clean and the dogs should behave as you would want your future dog to behave. All dogs should be healthy, clean, and free of parasites. A good breeder will screen breeding stock for common health problems before breeding and will be happy to share that information with you. Research the common health problems of the breed you're interested in and ask your breeder for proof of screening (e.g., OFA certificates, degenerative myelopathy gene test certificates, etc.). A reputable breeder will be able to produce veterinary certifications to show the sire and bitch have been cleared of serious health problems. If the breeder is not forthcoming with information, or your gut tells you something isn't right, trust your instincts. Don't be surprised if a breeder will not allow you to handle puppies or if they require you to wear protective clothing. A good breeder will protect his dogs and puppies from visitors to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases on his property. If you are allowed to visit and there are no precautions taken to protect the puppies,the quality of the breeder should be suspect.
- 7Find a breeder you want, then wait for a litter. A good breeder will likely have requirements for you to have one of their puppies and will have a written sales agreement that clearly spells out the obligations for everyone involved. Reputable breeders will also provide a guarantee that you can return the puppy if your veterinarian discovers a serious health condition within the first few days of your ownership. (Although, keep in mind that the breeder will likely euthanize the puppy.) They will typically suggest books, grooming equipment, etc. for the care of your future pet.
- 8As an alternative to finding the right breeder yourself, you may hire a puppy finder company, who will guarantee that the breeder is ethical and the puppy you get is healthy. This is especially useful if you are buying a breed that is not available in your home country. A puppy finder company will probably also advise you on what breed best suits your lifestyle, which can be very useful if you are uncertain.
- 9An ideal time to pick up your puppy is no earlier than nine weeks. Though extra work for the breeder, this provides the puppy with much needed socialization from litter mates. A puppy picked up too early will likely be fearful of other dogs (and even people) for his/her entire life. The puppy also needs the mother's milk and socialization with the rest of the litter.
- 10Get a complete veterinary exam within 24 hours of picking up your puppy. Start heartworm and tick prevention right away. Start providing your puppy with a quality food. Take time to consider whether you will feed your puppy dry kibble, canned pet food, or a raw diet.
- 11Take your puppy to puppy obedience classes. Ask your vet to suggest a facility. Establish the same expectations for your puppy as you will have from an adult dog.
- 12Enjoy your new family member!
Tips
- As an alternative to buying a purebred puppy, consider adopting an older purebred dog from a rescue organization. See How to Adopt a Purebred Dog. In some cases, you can even find a purebred puppy in need of an adoptive home. GREAT IDEA!
- Good puppies come to those who wait.
- If you can, meet the stud dog and the brood bitch. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If find the parent's temperament bothersome (perhaps they are skittish of new people), then consider finding a different breeder.
- Spending a little extra on a puppy in the beginning can often save thousands in medical expenses and is often a sound investment.
- Deal only with pure breed dog breeders who routinely screen their own dogs for diseases and various conditions that affect the breed. While this is no health guarantee in any way, it does prove that the breeder is doing his best to help you take home the best and healthiest puppy that you can.
- Choosing your perfect purebred puppy and companion does require a great deal of time, effort and energy, but when done properly will be something you won't regret at all in the future.
- Stay away from in breeding- you will find that your dog has many problems such as allergies, and heart failure if you don't.
Warnings
- Never buy dogs from pet stores! A lot of these dogs come from puppy mills, which is basically living hell for dogs, besides the possibility of inbreeding. Research puppy mills for more information. *Beware of pet stores' lies or misinformation.
- Dog "breed hybrids" are mixed breeds and not "Designer Dogs". These dogs are mixed and NOT purebred, so beware, you can't register or show them.
- Never buy a dog because of a trend or as an "emblem".
- If any "breeder" is willing to offer you a "deal", does not have a clean kennel or acts suspicious to you in any way, back out quickly. Trust your instincts.
- If the breeder "imports" their puppies from outside of the US. Great care should be taken to make sure the puppy is healthy and is actually old enough to leave it's mother. Federal Standard (No less than 8 weeks)
- If the breeder insists on meeting you somewhere to deliver the puppy, beware - the likely reason for this is that they do not want you to see their breeding facility.
The New Puppy Checklist
You have a new furry family member. Now what?
If you’re reading this, then you probably just brought a new puppy home, or you’re planning on bringing a new puppy home soon. Either way, congratulations! There’s nothing like a cute, fuzzy new addition to the family.
While it’s important to start right in on the cuddling and training needed by a new puppy, it’s also crucial to get a head start on your puppy’s health. You want to make sure your new friend gets off on the right foot, and this means scheduling your puppy’s first veterinary visit. Depending on your new puppy’s age and expected lifestyle, there are a lot of different things you can expect from your veterinarian. Read on to learn more.
Puppy’s First Visit to the Vet
When you take your puppy to the veterinarian for the first time, your good doctor will probably want to give him or her aphysical exam before anything else. This is really important – your veterinarian can find physical problems with your pooch just by looking him or her over, such as poor gait or skin problems, and get your puppy on a treatment plan right away.
In addition, your veterinarian will want to make sure your puppy is free of a variety of illnesses and conditions, and to do so he or she will perform a variety of tests, including:
- Fecal exam to check for intestinal parasites
- Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function as well as sugar levels
- A complete blood count (CBC) to screen your pet for infection, inflammation, or anemia and other blood-related conditions
- Electrolyte tests to ensure your dog is neither dehydrated nor suffering from an electrolyte imbalance
- Start deworming (through the use of prescription medication) to treat intestinal parasites and prevent heartworm
- Begin protecting your puppy from flea- and tick-borne diseases
If your puppy is older than six months old during this initial visit, he or she will also need to undergo a heartworm test. Because it usually takes 6-7 months for an infected dog to test positive, heartworm wouldn’t necessarily show up in tests on puppies younger than six months of age.
Vaccines
Vaccinations often depend on a variety of factors, including your dog’s age and your geographic location. In general, however, all puppies and dogs should have the following vaccines:
- Distemper, Parvo, Corona, Hepatitis, and Parainfluenza – these are often combined into a single vaccine.
- Rabies, a shot which initially requires annual boosters
When it comes to other vaccines, it really depends on the puppy – his or her lifestyle, your lifestyle, your geographic location, and your puppy’s age all factor in to vaccination. For instance, theBordetella (Kennel Cough) vaccine is highly recommended for all dogs; this is especially true if there’s a possibility that your puppy will be boarded at doggie daycare or have exposure to other dogs regularly. However, if your dog isn’t likely to leave home or interact with other dogs much, it might not be as important. Another recommended vaccine is that forleptosporosis, primarily important for dogs located in areas with lots of wildlife. If your puppy has access to the woods or a large amount of land to roam – hunting dogs fit into this category especially – then it might be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian about the Lepto vaccine.
There are a number of other vaccines that could be recommended by your veterinarian. In addition, some vaccinations require boosters every so often, from once every few weeks (for puppies) to once annually or every couple of years. We understand that this might seem confusing, but it’s really important! The best thing to do is talk with your veterinarian, who will set up a vaccination schedule appropriate for your dog.
Any Questions?
Your puppy’s first veterinary visit is also a great time to discuss other topics with your veterinarian, such as the health benefits of spaying and neutering, diet, house training, socializing, and other ways to keep your puppy a well-behaved and well-adjusted member of your family. Remember this rule of thumb – don’t be afraid to arrive at your veterinarian’s office with a list of all the questions you might have about your new pooch! There are no dumb questions when it comes to keeping your pet healthy and happy.
No comments:
Post a Comment