WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR DOG
 

       Prevention:
 

1. Teach your dog not to bolt out of open doors, gates or the car by making him sit and wait before going out any door

2. Introduce your dog to his neighborhood by taking him on walks (on lead) in all directions from your house and back so he is familiar with the territory and knows how to get home.

3. Emphasize to children to keep the gate shut, if necessary put a chain on the gate.
 

4. Have good identification on your dog

           a. An I.D. tag with your home/office/ and family members phone number            b. Container with paper inside, there is room for more information with these.  If traveling you can include the address and number of the   place you will be staying.

           c. A tattoo on the dog provides permanent send definite proof of ownership and is also a deterrent to thieves who try to kidnap dogs.
 

           d. Microchip your dog.  It is available from many Veterinarians and dog organizations
 

If the Dog is Missing:
 

  1.. Start walking or riding in an ever-widening circle from your home CALLING the dog--don't go quietly, A dog who is lost may be  frightened and go into hiding.  You could walk or ride pest him and not even know that he is there.
 

2. Ask children in the neighborhood to help you. -Children send dogs seem to find one another. Check school grounds and playgrounds.                                                 
 

3  Put notices on the bulletin boards in neighborhood stores or on telephone poles in the area.
 

4. Call the animal shelters- _not only the ones closest to you but all of them and keep calling.  The good Samaritan who rescues your dog from the highway will probably take it to the shelter closest  to his home
 

5. If dog is gone for more than one day--VISIT the shelters.  Some  of the volunteers at the shelters aren't familiar with all the breeds and your dog may be there and you could be told that he isn't there.  Also there is sometimes a lack of follow-up between the person who calls to say he has lost a dog and the person who calls to say he has found a dog.
 

6. Advertise in local newspapers and offer a reward.  However, If someone answers the ad be sure not to go alone.  Some unscrupulous people will answer the ad in the hope of enticing you to their area and robbing you of the reward.
 

7. Don't give up.  Dogs have been found weeks after they were lost.