Fireworks - LOST DOG thread now, not chat.

Padstow

Sorry for you sazz but well done zaksmum for spotting it. I hope whoever he belongs to comes forward. There are evil people who put their dog out of the car and drive off. The poor little things run around in the same spot, hoping their owners come back. Well done the person who saved that boy.

I was driving to Yorkshire once with my young daughter and her friend in the car, when we came across a Greyhound dodging the heavy traffic on a dual carriageway. DD begged me to do something.
I had to explain that I couldn't stop the car and try to catch him as I would put myself in danger and possibly drive the dog into traffic. She I know, would also have followed me as she was and is, animal crackers.
I couldn't even ring the police, as the A1 has no markers like a motorway to say where you are. My dd had so rarely cried, it used to worry me that she didn't feel pain on falling over etc. She more than made up for it that day poor darling, and mum couldn't do a thing to make it better.

MatyMoo

Hi Sazzy

Sorry this is off topic.

Saw on Facebook that Bruce gets car sick. I am doing a weekly Puppy Party at our vets with my pup and the staffy pup there is exactly the same. They have suggested that you give the dog breakfast in the car boot for a couple of days with the door open, then do it for another few days with the engine running. Then build up to a trip to the end of the road for a few days.

In less than a week this one can now do a couple of miles no bother.

Thought it might help get rid of one small stress for you

Padstow

As you mentioned your fear of the river sazz, have the lock keepers been informed. Also angling clubs.
I worry that I'm driving you mad, as there's only so much any human being can do.

I do know through this thread that there is little on the net on to how track a missing dog, especially a terrified one. Plenty on putting up notices etc, but where are the so called dog behaviourists?

aliasojo

Padstow wrote: »

Plenty on putting up notices etc, but where are the so called dog behaviourists?

I suspect a scared animal will act in an erratic way and not a 'typical' way. I think it would very much depend on the basic character of the dog as to what it did next.

Not something a behaviourist would be able to call perhaps. Especially if they don't know the dog concerned.

sazzybum

Ali and Pad(and your poor DD)- thank you, that was worrying me actually. I know my old boy-and once he'd calmed down, I KNOW he would have went to the first house he'd seen, if he could. I just don't know where that would have been.

You're right, there is a load of information on a lost dog, but not a terrified one..not one who is running blindly for his life. He used to disappear for half an hour now and again, he'd tootle down to the river, have a swim, and come back-if someone had inadvertantly left the front door open..but the thing is, he always came home. I can only assume this time that he CAN'T come home. And he would have went much further than his usual river jaunt, running the way he was.

He's either been taken in, and can't get away, or....well, I don't want to think about that.

Again, I'm rambling..it's been nearly four weeks, and I honestly can't bear to share what's been going through my head.

Maty- thanks for that, it's something to try with Bruce. He really dislikes it so much.

Padstow

"He's either been taken in, and can't get away, or....well, I don't want to think about that. " Yes,just that.

I don't know how you cope sazz, but with no sightings at all, not one credible sighting, life has to go on. Don't feel guilty as you have done everything, any human being could.

Let us hope.

hethmar

Just to say I am thinking of you xxx

zaksmum

Sazzy, you are bound to start thinking negatively after nearly a month. As Padstow says, the lack of credible sightings is worrying. I'd say there's no way he's out there fending for himself all this time. It's very difficult for a household domesticated dog to become feral, especially an older dog.

So there's still the possibility he's been taken in by someone, or taken to a rescue place outside the area. Sometimes rescue places move dogs to other parts of the country if their own place is full.

There's still hope for a Christmas miracle.

sazzybum

Doing a big push today. Some people have organised a phone round of all churches/homeless places etc. I'm going round all the kennels again-visiting, just in case he's slipped through the net somewhere.

A huge effort this weekend, but after tis- I honestly don't know what to do, or where to turn.

Been 4 weeks today and the weather is really bad now. Everyone has put in so much effort and time, and been so amazingly kind, but although we'll never stop looking-it's not fair to everyone else.

I've asked that the great ideas in this thread be made into a sticky so that if this happens to anyone else, they have a brilliant springboard of ideas and places to go for help. I just would hope it doesn't happen to anyone else though, wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.

rising_from_the_ashes

Aileen .... (((hugs)))

Keeping everything crossed for the "big push" this weekend, really, really hoping it brings some good news.

After all this time, he's either tucked up in someone's house being looked after, been picked up and in kennels (and I do think another visit is worth a try - messages don't get passed on etc) or ........

For me, the not knowing would be unbearable - I so, so hope you get some news soon.

As always, will be sending positive thoughts and thinking about you, Sean and your old boy xxx