Not too long ago I wrote about Sammie and Millie being adopted into the same home after becoming friends while spending time in the Vicky’s Pet Connection program. Last week we got word that Sammie ran away from home!
Sammie was in her new home for about a week and a half adjusting to life there with Millie. She also had heartworm treatment on Monday and Tuesday. She was to be resting for 4-6 weeks. But Wednesday morning Millie was out for a walk with one of her parents. When they returned Sammie was gone.
At first it was unclear what had happened. The house was empty. Sammie wasn’t around. But there weren’t any broken windows or screens or unlatched doors or gates. After some more detailed investigating it was determined that Sammie popped out a screen and was able to squeeze through. The screen went back into place, although loose, so it didn’t look like anything was wrong at first.
The couple spent much of the day Wednesday looking for Sammie. After Andrew got home from work we even went out driving around their neighborhood to look for Sammie. We had a bunch of things working against us. Sammie is a naturally shy dog. So we didn’t know if she’d seek out the help of strangers if she got tired or hungry. Her new home is in a rural area with dirt roads, farm fields, and woods. She could have been wandering or hiding anywhere. There aren’t many houses in the area so it would be easy for her to go unnoticed as she wandered around. We didn’t know how recently having heartworm treatment would affect Sammie’s body.
After driving around for 20 minutes or so we were not able to find Sammie. We went and ran some errands and looked again on our way home. We still did not find her. The couple continued to work on what they could in order to find Sammie.
When she got out of the house Sammie did have on a collar and tags. So if anyone were to come across her she had identification. The couple also put “lost dog” fliers in their neighbors’ newspaper boxes. All of the houses in the small development pick up mail and paper from a central location.
Nancy, one of the VPC founders, advised the couple to start with a one mile radius from their house to look for Sammie. Hang up posters, talk to people, and put information in mailboxes. After that mile was covered they should move to a two mile radius. Then keep moving outward, assuming that the longer Sammie was out on her own the farther away she could travel.
Local vets were called in the event she was found and brought there. One of the VPC volunteers planned on stopping by the county shelter in the event that she was turned in there. The couple also called the shelter and humane society to check if she had been brought in.
Morning turned to afternoon, which turned to evening, and then night. I wondered about what happened or could happen to Sammie. I knew that Sammie had to have a hand in her being found. She had to be brave enough to get near people or be in a place where someone would see her. She had to help in her own rescue or the chances of her being found would be slim.
Everyone concerned about Sammie went to bed Wednesday night without any sightings or information on where she might be. The wait continued. But thankfully Sammie’s story had a happy ending.
Sammie returned home on her own around 2AM Thursday morning. One of her owners heard a noise and thought that Millie was wandering around the house so he got up to check things out. He happened to look outside and saw Sammie on the porch! She had come home on her own!! She was wet, a little stinky, tired, and hungry, but otherwise okay and happy to see someone she recognized.
Although Sammie hadn’t been in her home for very long she was able to find her way back after her adventure. We’ll never know where Sammie went and how she made it back home. We’ll also never know why she wanted to get out in the first place. Presumably it was because she wanted to find Millie and was upset that she got left alone in the house. Now that Sammie is back home she’s able to continue her rest after heartworm treatment and the couple that adopted her is relieved.
What can be done to help prevent a dog from running away from home? What proactive measures can be taken to help a lost dog be found? Some simple steps can help deter a dog from running away or aid in getting a dog back if he or she is lost.
In Sammie’s case her owners thought that she was safe in the house and could not escape. Sammie fooled them and was able to get out. But I bet the couple has taken measures to make sure screens are secure in their home. If you have a fenced in yard make sure there are no places where your dog can get under the fence. If your dog is a climber and has figured out a way to get over the fence, perhaps a higher fence is needed. Many dogs are persistent in getting what they want, especially when it comes to escaping.
Dogs should never be left unsupervised even in a fenced in yard. If bored even a “good dog” can decide to dig under a fence or climb over it in order to escape. A squirrel or rabbit might be seen giving the dog enough motivation to try to get out of the fenced in area even if in the past there has been no indication of wanting to run free.
Doors and gates should also be locked in order to help contain dogs. The kennel at Vicky’s house has doors with handles that you push down in order to open the doors. Vicky thought that these would be easier to open if carrying a load of puppies, dog food, or other items in and out. She quickly found out that this kind of handle is easy for dogs to jump on and open with a paw. She has to lock the doors from her kennel to the dog runs to ensure that the dogs will stay outside after numerous canine “break-ins”.
Knowing your dog’s personality will also help determine how much precaution is necessary to keep him or her from running away. If you have trained your dog and know that he or she can be trusted outside a fenced in area without a leash you can feel a little more confident. But keep in mind that even a well-behaved dog could bolt giving chase to a squirrel or rabbit. Andrew and I know our dogs’ personalities and how they’ll react in various situations. But we still watch them when they are in situations where they could run while outside of a fenced in area.
Most dog owners know if their dog is a bolter or explorer. Some dog breeds are more prone to one or the other. While many dogs that leave home will eventually find their way back you there are lots of things that could happen while he or she is wandering around. It’s not worth the risk.
The easiest way to be proactive and prepared if your dog gets lost is to always keep a collar with tags on your dog. Tags should include a county license and even a nametag with a contact phone number. If your dog is picked up and taken to a shelter identification will help reunite you with your lost pet. If your dog is wearing personal contact information for you and is found it’s easy for someone to contact you directly.
I also recommend a microchip, which are becoming more popular. This is a little chip about the size of a grain of rice is inserted between the shoulder blades of a dog (and cats too!) using a needle. The process is harmless and most dogs don’t even react when during the insertion. If any stray animal is picked up by a shelter or brought to a vet it is scanned for a microchip. Many police departments also have microchip scanners as well. Each chip has a unique number, which is registered to the owner of the dog. You can register your microchip so that you will be contacted directly. Otherwise the chip is associated with the shelter or vet where it was administered and that institution will contact you if your dog is found.
Sammie’s story ended on a positive note. But many dogs get lost and are never found. Some get so lost that even following a scent does not help them find their way back. Others get injured or killed while they’re away from home. It’s easy to be proactive in keeping your dog safe and secure in your home and out with you.
Why Dogs? 