If you have lost your dog, the first 24 to 48 hours are crucial. You must act immediately to get the word out about your missing dog. If you think your dog is stolen, you need to call the police/RCMP and the Provincial Vet Office at 204-945-8000 immediately.
6 Things to do if you lost your dog.
- Put a sign in your yard that you lost your dog. Someone might be walking or driving around with the dog looking for the owner.
- Contact Winnipeg Animal Service at 311 or 204-986-2155 and press 0 for operator. Also call Winnipeg Humane Society at 204-982-2025 and Pembina Vet at 204-452-9427 or a vet in your area. Someone might have brought your dog to any one of these places. It is also very important that you go down to Winnipeg Animal Service and Winnipeg Humane Society to see first hand if your dog is there. Sometimes the description they get over the phone would not connect with the dog they have on their site.
- Put an ad on Kijiji (“lost and found” and “dogs other” category). When posting in the second category in Kijiji you will have to use different wording in order for Kijiji to accept the second ad. Also post on Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert Facebook page. You need to LIKE the page in order to post. If your dog is not found within a couple of weeks, continue reposting your lost dog until your dog is found. Place a “Lost” ad in the Free Press, it’s free for 4 days.
- Get word out by using flyers or business card size posters (2×3.5). If you need help doing up the posters, go to Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert’s facebook page and ask for help. Someone there will be happy to help you with the posters.
It is easy to print business cards. Use the business card templates under “Envelopes and Labels” in your word program. Simply use regular 8.5×11 color copier paper or white paper if you do not have coloured. Add a picture of your dog, the dogs name and your name and contact number, print and cut out the cards with scissors.
Going door to door in your area and talk to people, letting them know that your dog is missing. Hand out the business cards you did up so they have your contact info handy. If no one has seen your dog, expand your search area. Put flyers up were there are lots of people traffic (store, parking lots, parks). Even post one in your car but not on your back window. If you have access to rainproof markers, draw a sign on your side window stating “Lost Dog” and a brief description of the dog and a phone number. - Put food, water, its bed/crate and/or one of your clothing out where the dog was last spotted. Do NOT wash the dogs bedding while your dog is missing. Just in case a tracking dog is needed, we will need your dogs bedding for the tracking dog to use as a scent.
- Instruct everyone that is helping you to look for your dog to not call the dog or chase after it. This might cause the dog to run further away. Instruct them to drop to the ground and not look at the dog. Throw a piece of yummy treat towards the dog, but do not make eye contact. With them down on the ground and not looking at the dog, the dog will most likely not feel threatened. You would have a better chance of the dog coming to you this way.When you find your dog, please remove all posters that you have put up.
Remember, if you think your dog was stolen call:
Rural areas, call your local RCMP. Let them know why you think your dog was stolen. If you notice a strange vehicle pausing by your lane, call that in to the RCMP as well. It might not be just you noticing this strange vehicle hanging around and if more than one call goes into their department they will be more aware of what might be going on. RCPM Detachment List of numbers.
City areas, please call your local Police.Please be mindful of people’s property, do not trespass.
Winnipeg Lost Dog Alert will not be liable for any damages you may have caused.Never go out alone…. think safety first!
If your dog is still missing, repost the picture of your dog and all information about your dog. Continue to repost until your dog is found.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL………. NEVER EVER GIVE UP!!