An announcement recently went out. A Colorado couple lost their dog while they were vacationing, had to abandon the search and return home to work. Meanwhile, local people spread the news via Facebook with a photo of the beloved pet. It's hard to know what exactly to do if you lose your dog while on vacation.
This brought me back to the time we were traveling across Texas, hydroplaned on a stretch of wet road, rolled over into a ditch and survived. But that was not the whole story! I was taken to the hospital, tested and released. We stayed in a local motel, rented a car and recovered. Each day we returned to the crash site looking for our energetic Beagle, Huey. If anyone could survive, it would be Huey! Sure enough, on the third day we heard a whimper and saw a black, white and tan animal in the bushes. Out limped Huey! We immediately took him to a local country vet who, without x-ray or any other modern equipment, determined that Huey's leg was not broken... just dislocated. He bandaged up the leg and we took our lucky dog to the motel to recover with us. It was a great ending to a scary event.
How Do You Prepare Your Pet for a Trip?
Assess your pet's capability to adjust to new situations. If you feel a trip would be unduly stressful for your dog or if you feel your dog might run away, consider boarding with a reputable kennel. Better safe than sorry.
There are important things you can do to prepare for a trip. Make sure your pet is micro-chipped and registered. Make sure your dog has a well-fitting (securely tight) collar with rabies tag and identification tags. Lastly, take along some digital photos of your pet on your phone just in case.
Plan for Containment: Dogs are not safe if they don't know how to return home. Do not let your pet loose in a place where the pet is not familiar. If your dog is crate trained, be sure and use the crate for riding in the car or for in the motel. Consider a well-fitting halter as well as a collar. Dogs have a way of pulling out of a collar if they get scared.
Keep a Routine: Take the dogs favorite blanket, toy and food. Keep a routine of walking, feeding and sleeping so that the pet is comfortable.
How Do You Find a Lost Dog in Unfamiliar Territory?
Call the local Humane Society and Animal Shelter: Ensure that the shelter has a photo, description and chip information. Check back daily with them to see if your pet has been picked up.
Notify: If it is a small town, where you lost your pet, the police might be willing to keep an eye out. Phone Animal Control and local veteranians.
If your dog or puppy is micro-chipped notify the microchip registry.
Media: Some radio stations have a segment for lost and found pets and some newspapers may be willing to run a small article. Use social media (Facebook and Twitter) to spread the word. Post a photo of your pet on Facebook and ask people to send the information to their friends in the area.
Walk the Neighborhood: Put up flyers, hand out "reward notices," and let people know what your pet looks like and how to contact you should they see the dog.
Walk around your neighborhood calling your dog's name. Talk to walkers, joggers and children as they often see things along their route.
Be Persistent: Remember, my dog wasn't located until the third day after the accident.
Board or Travel?
If you are traveling for an extended period of time, it makes more sense to develop a travel plan and bring your pet. For short trips, especially if you will be busy, it makes sense to board your pet at a familiar kennel.
I have the extra issue of owning a shelter dog who, reportedly, enjoyed running free. While she is obedient under supervision, taking her on a trip may be a risk that other pet owners do not have.
Other Ideas
Pet Tracker Device
RoamEO Pet Monitor System
Reader Input
Jill Lane, owner of famed dog reporter, Jack had the following to say:
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