Lost Dog Information...

• Grill stinky food often **more than once**

• Place dog's favorite items (bed, food, favorite toy) preferably in a garage with the door slightly open

• Hang your dirty laundry around the perimeter of your yard in the shape of a wagon wheel with your home being the hub (think all roads lead home)

• Drip liquid smoke around your property leading to the door you use the most often (drip it in the shape of a wagon wheel with your home being the hub)

• If you decide to work with Jeff's Way Home place a favorite toy/blanket (your dogs scent only) in a Ziploc bag and freeze it *IMMEDIATELY*-in case we would use the scent dog  (without preserving the scent right away it is only good for about a day)

• Walk up and down the road from where the dog went missing and near sightings

• Change your voicemail to say- "If you are calling about lost (dogs name & description) please leave a message and your phone number. I will return your call soon, thank you for your help." 

• Keep a map of sightings and road signs to help you keep track of your missing pup- Jeff's Way Home can do this for you

• If you have an invisible fence turn it off immediately- most companies do not have a pain free return (those that do can't guarantee it)

• Contact non-emergency sheriff/police, call your microchip company, your vet, area vets, local humane societies, contact Lost Dogs of Wisconsin/Pet FBI, contact Paw boost, Next Door app, Ring app, Pet Amber Alert, Petco Love Lost, Lost My Doggie, Center for Lost Pets, Pet Key, and Paw Maw. (Some of these websites will forward information to local dog related facilities) 

• Contact local trash/recycling pick up, postal services/package delivery, and local railroad companies- ask them to keep an eye out for your pup

• Contact local food delivery (Domino's, Jimmy Johns, etc.) and ask them (if you provide the flyers) if they are willing to hand out a flyer at every stop

Unfortunately you are likely to receive scam calls, emails, sightings or messages. When it is possible, report the scammer! There are many different types of scams that you may come across. You should always ask for a photo of the dog (check to make sure it isn't one you have posted) and any identifiable features. Check the grammar, spelling, and punctuation of the messages or emails, while this isn't the only thing to look for oftentimes scammers have incorrect grammar, spelling, or punctuation.

• Messages & Emails: "ive found your dog" when you then ask for a photo they will respond with "to confirm you are real let me send you a code" THIS IS A SCAM!!

• Messages & Emails: "I have your dog, we have been feeding it so I will need you to pay me via Paypal, Cash app, etc. before you can get your dog back." THIS IS A SCAM!!

• Messages & Emails- Potential Rescues: "Contact _________ rescue on Instagram/Facebook." or "_______ rescue, they can help you find your pet ASAP. They are highly specialized in recovery of lost pets. They helped find my pup when he was stolen." THIS IS A SCAM!!

• Messages & Emails: Some will pretend to be a vet clinic, shelter, or rescue. "We found your dog and it was hit by a car and has received extensive medical attention which you will need to pay for upon reclaim." Look up the vet clinic, shelter, or rescue they are claiming to be apart of and call them to confirm whether or not this is true. THIS IS LIKELY A SCAM!!

• Calls & Sightings: "I saw your dog on the corner of ---- and ----, good luck." If this is 20 miles from the last sighting(s) which was recent, then it is likely to be a scam BUT it is worth looking into. Sometimes the scammers are children or adults, are the words slurred or not making sense? THIS IS LIKELY A SCAM!!

• Photos: You may be sent a photo of your dog that you took but with a different background, this is AI created. An individual may use this photo to try and convince you that they have your dog. Make sure they take a photo of the dog and it is not similar to one you took or have. THIS IS LIKELY A SCAM!!

• Photos: You may be sent a photo of your dog that looks very similar but it isn't quite right, this is a photo completely created by AI. THIS IS A SCAM!!

*Do NOT publicly post sighting locations, this will lead to good meaning people calling, chasing, looking, and following your dog.*

• get low to the ground and position your body to the side, do not directly face the dog

• do not call out to the dog, do not approach quickly, and do not make eye contact

• IF you are far away from the dog but close enough to get a good picture do it! Updating pictures on flyers can be very useful

• speak softly using favorite words (leash, treat, grandma, etc.)

• sing softly such as lullabies- this also helps you keep steady breathing so your dog can't sense how nervous you are

• always have treats and a leash while looking- make sure you have good stinky treats, something very irresistible (bacon, chicken, or steak)

• get a team together to help you put out flyers and search 

• create a slip lead- take the clasp end of a leash and put it through the handle (picture above, shows where to place treats too)

*Dogs are going to always take the easiest path, keep that in mind while looking.*

• fields & field lanes

• ditch/ side of the road & culverts

• marshes, streams, lakes, & other water ways

• campgrounds & parks

• sport fields

• abandoned places

• barns & sheds

• railroad tracks

• woods

• behind gas stations, restaurants, bars, & dumpsters

• areas where outdoor animals are being fed

*If you have another dog walk it in the area(s) your pup went missing from or was last seen multiple times.*

• record all sightings on google maps (also record where you have put flyers & road signs)- if you work with Jeff's Way Home we will do this for you

• ask questions

-Where & when did you see this dog?

-Can you give me a description of the dog you saw?

-What was the dog doing & what direction was it headed?

• Checkout the sighting ASAP, make sure you have stinky treats & a leash - *if you are working with Jeff's Way Home make sure you contact us ASAP so we can map the sighting and meet you at the location

Check out the links below to create your own flyers for your missing pup! They should prompt you to make a copy. Once you make your own copy you can edit them for your own dog.

• Update anything you posted your lost pup to

• Get your pup vetted ASAP

• Make sure to slowly feed regular portions to avoid an upset stomach

• Call the local shelter & non emergency police to let them know your pup is safe

• Consider double leashing your dog along with getting a GPS tracker

• Get a new collar/harness (if they slipped off while missing) & make sure they are properly fitted before use (martingales are great for flight risks)

• Check any fence (invisible too) and make repairs/updates

• Read about flight risks under our prevention section, it will give you tips to help keep your pup from getting lost again!! You can find many different items linked such as collars, leashes, gates, signs, harnesses, trackers, and more!

Don’t worry if your pup sleeps for a few days and eats only a little bit. Whether they ran miles or a few blocks, gone for hours or months they are going to be exhausted. If your pup was missing for a while they could be completely different- almost wild, and probably very timid. It will take time for your pup to adjust to your daily routine again and just know that it will be a flight risk for quite awhile. 

*While trackers aren't 100% accurate, they can give you a general area of where the dog is. Some of these trackers do not require a subscription while others do.*

Not all trackers are 100% accurate, however they can give you a "close to" location.