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YOUR PET IS
MISSING
Many things can happen to your missing pet. Your pet may;
*Track your scent and find its way back home.
*Get scared and hide. We often find them hiding in wooded brushy
areas, garages, under decks, inside homes in attics, basements,
cabinets, crawlspaces, or inside RV’s.
*Befriend a small child or other pet owner and follow them home, to
their
work, or to their school.
*Pick up a scent they are interested in, such as the scent of food
or the
opposite sex, and investigate it. Yes, even if they are neutered or
spayed.
Often headed into the wind to investigate their new discoveries.
*Fall victim to injury, illness, or death. A predator may attack
them.
Get hit by a car, shot by a landowner, or fall into the wrong
person’s hands
that will try to keep them, harm them, or sell them.
SEARCHING FOR YOUR PET.
(Please print this section out and read it daily).
Remember you are very emotional at this time and will experience
many emotions associated with your loss. The four stages of loss are
anger, denial, guilt, and final acceptance. Understanding that these
are natural common emotions, will help you deal with your feelings
and take control of your search.
*Keep a daily journal of what has happened in your search efforts,
from day # 1.
Where you posted signs, who you called, and what animal control
agencies did you visit, when did you visit them, and whom you talked
with once you arrived. Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.
This is important in case we determine your pet has been stolen and
catch the suspect(s).
Not only can you prosecute them for “Theft of a domesticated Pet”
which is a Class C Felony. You can also file CIVIL charges against
them in civil court to recover the cost of your search.
The first thing the judge will ask you for is proof of your
expenses. So document your actions and keep your receipts.
Documenting is also a great idea because if for some reason your pet
is never found, and you’ve followed each of our steps, you will know
you’ve done everything humanly possible to get your loved one back
home.
After you read each paragraph, please place your initials on the
line at the end of the list, after you’ve completed the task. That
way you will proceed in the proper order and won’t miss any
instructions.
Remember to: Search your own home area first. Checking any areas of
possible hiding spots. We find 15% of the missing pets still on the
pet owner’s property, or within ¼ mile of the PLS. Point Last Seen.
In garages, doghouses, attics, crawl spaces below the house, apt,
sheds, RV’s, behind the washer, dryer, water heater, stove,
cabinets, closets, behind dresser drawers, etc. ____.
Cat owners remember to lift the hood of your vehicle and search
under the hood. Cat’s love to warmth of the vehicle engine at night.
Also check the nearby trees to see if you cat is stuck in one of
them. De-clawed cats can climb. If you have a fireplace, check the
chimney.
1. Immediately start a journal, either hand written, or on your
computer. _____.
Document your search efforts. Date, Time, what action you took, how
much you spent. Results of your actions. Who, What, When, Why,
Where, and How.
2. Document your expenses: Cost of newspaper ads, photocopying,
telephone calls, time off work, fuel, cost of search dogs,
veterinarians, attorney fees, etc. Reason: If you determine that
your pet has been stolen and if the suspect(s) is – are later
identified, you can then file for damages in a civil court to
recover your expenses. I’m repeating myself but this is so very
important. Document your actions and expenses from the beginning of
your search. On my computer, I use Microsoft word for the daily
journals and Excel for the cost accounting figures.___.
3. Check all animal control agencies within a four county region.
North, South, East, and West of where your pet was last seen.
File a missing pet report. Or, if it’s been determined by a
qualified search dog team that your pet has been stolen, file a
stolen pet report with the local Humane Society Law Enforcement
Division and your local law enforcement agency as well as your local
animal control shelters.
Don’t just search within your county. We’ve found over the years,
that many folks are well meaning, but also lazy. They may see your
pet, feel sorry for it, and pick it up to keep it safe. Then turn it
in to their local animal control instead of the animal control or
shelter nearest where they picked it up. This is often in an
entirely different jurisdiction.
They may work or be visiting from out of the area when they pick up
your pet. _______.
We had a case in Florida where the pet was lost in Hollywood, FL and
found 700 miles north a month later. Upon inspecting the dog, it had
been transported by vehicle to this shelter. Here’s proof that
Microchips work.
A letter we received from one of our many clients”. Another reason
why you should go in person to a shelter. This is shocking.
“Thank you very much for all the info. It helped greatly. We found
our dog at the Leir shelter. Her leg was broken and mangled, and
they had her just laying in a cage dealing with it. I checked the
shelter three times a day since she was missing. I was there 4 times
since the "check in" time on her sheet there. I even gave them all
flyers and pictures with them promising to "keep an eye out." Only
after stumbling into a room I probably wasn't supposed to be in, did
I find Blue. I rushed her to our Vet, and she is OK and will most
likely recover if the bone heals properly. Thank you again, Brad”.
Pets are now considered personal property and it’s illegal for
another person to take possession of your property (your pet)
without following strict Federal, State, and County guidelines. If
the person(s) who has recovered your pet hasn’t filed a found report
with the authorities within the specified time limit, (usually 48
hours) they may be guilty of theft of private property.____.
4. A. Check the animal control agencies files. NEVER EVER TAKE THE
VOLUNTEERS or EMPLOYEES WORD THAT YOUR PET IS NOT AT THEIR FACILITY.
5. Most facilities are understaffed and over crowded. I’ve seen a
facility miss a GREAT DANE. I found it in their shelter the first
day I went there. This after they told my client, ”they didn’t have
a Great Dane in their custody”.
Physically drive to the shelters and animal control agencies and
check their kennels. Fax or email all veterinarian offices within
your search area. Give them a current photo and your personal
information. While at the shelters, check their dead on arrival
files-(DOA’s), sick and injured files, quarantine kennels, adoption
and destroy files. Also the temporary adoption files. (This is a
record where a person who has found a pet can call in and register
by email or telephone that they are taking care of the pet). _____.
Most of these facilities are run as a non-profit and therefore their
records are open for public inspection. If the shelter refuses to
allow you to review their files, get an attorney. Keep checking
their files, in person, not over the telephone, every three days.
Don’t give up for 10 weeks._____.
B. Check your ads on the Internet. Craigslist (
www.craiglist.com ) in two
sections. Lost and Found and under PETS. PETS FOR SALE. You can also
post on MYSPACE as well as various other locations on the Internet
FOR FREE._____.
Contact International K-9 Search & Rescue. www.k9sardog.com.
Email: searchdog@iinet.com
or sardogk91@aol.com
We’re the most documented professional K-9 SAR Dog tracking team in
the world for missing pets or persons. We keep on ongoing computer
registered report on lost and found pets around the world.
SCAMS- NOTE: I strongly recommend that you stay away from most PET
DETECTIVES. These are Private Investigators who claim to have search
dogs, unless you check a minimum of three of their references.
Most Pet Detectives that we’ve investigated, after receiving
numerous complaints from their previous clients, aren’t trained
properly, and lack experience. They may be great private
investigators, but lack the other skills needed for this type of
work. Most of these folks who state they use search dogs aren’t
search dog handlers at all. Nor are their dogs trained and tested in
Search and Rescue.
Before you hire anyone, check his or her references. Get a signed
contract for services showing up front, what they can and can’t do
for your money. Obtain an after “action search report”. If the
company refuses to give you the contract for services, and a search
report, DON’T HIRE THEM.
Contact our web site links for reputable Pet Detectives. My
recommendation is to stay away from the M.A.R.S. Pet detectives.
We’ve had nothing but complaints from so many folks who have used
them.
The problem we are seeing is that there are new MARS PET DETECTIVE
and PET SAR groups popping up all over the USA and Canada on a
monthly basis. One such example is a woman in California.
First their instructor states she’s qualified to teach K-9 SAR
groups. Yet she claims “A search dog can’t follow a scent trail
older then 72 hours”. Any professional K-9 SAR dog team can tell you
that her statement isn’t true. So she’s teaching bad information
about scent.
Numerous search dog teams throughout the USA have repeatedly
documented following scent trails as old as 6 months to a year old
and have found the missing persons dead. We’ve also tracked a cat
missing for over a year and found it alive. This so-called “Animal
professional K-9 instructor” doesn’t have a clue of what she is
talking about. Do you want people she’s trained working for you?
She travels around giving Pet Detectives conferences at $650.00 per
student. The students attending these conferences get a certificate
of completion. Then the attendees feel they are now qualified to
charge money for their new found knowledge. After their 50 hours of
training or less, they claim to have real search dogs.
Fact is, they’ve received about 50 hours of training or less. Our
professional K-9 SAR dog teams get an average of 450 hours of
training in K-9 SAR, first aid, basic tracking, report writing,
crime scene investigations and other topics related to finding
missing persons or pets. And, we’re tested yearly for our
certification levels.
From her own website she shows that she really doesn’t understand
scent and tries to disprove our DOCUMENTED Facts. Cases where we’ve
documented finding the victim where the scent trail was over 30 days
old. We’ve even posted our successes on our web site for everyone to
review.
This is one of many reasons we ask you stay from her and her M.A.R.S.
trained volunteers and staff. Here’s a copy from her web site
directly.
“In 1989, Missing Pet Partnership's founder K. A. began training
search dogs (police Bloodhounds and cadaver dogs) and ultimately
shifted into a career in law enforcement.
Then in 1997, K shifted her work to pioneering the pet detective
industry. In 2005 after nine years experience as a pet detective,
field training officer, and certified seminar leader, K launched the
MAR Technician program, which has since certified other pet
detectives who offer professional lost pet services.
Our History page explains the process we've gone through to develop
this industry and our Qualifications page lists the experience and
education that allows us to administer a proper training and
certification program for pet detectives and MAR search dogs.
Missing Pet Partnership is striving to train and certify MAR
Technicians, volunteer Lost Pet First Responders, and MAR search
dogs so that lost pet services will be affordable and available in
all communities. Because of problems that we've encountered with a
few bad apples, we've established a Code of Ethics for our
organization.
Just because a lost pet resource is not listed on our website does
not mean that he or she is not reputable or can't help you! It might
just mean that he or she has not been able to take our training
course. But understand that Missing Pet Partnership will not list a
resource on our website unless we know that he or she has been
properly trained, is reputable, and has agreed to abide by our Code
of Ethics. Sadly, a few in this field have been making claims that
their dogs can follow scent trails that are long beyond what dogs
are actually capable of following. You can learn more about how long
scent survives by reading an excerpt from MPP founder Kat Albrecht's
book DOG DETECTIVES: Train Your Dog to Find Lost Pets.
There are also others working hard to discredit anyone else who
dares to compete with them, even those who have more experience in
finding lost pets and, ironically, those who trained them. Some
speak of their own ethics and desire for standards, yet they refuse
to abide by Missing Pet Partnership's Code of Ethics”.
So with Ks statements from her web site she’s trying to cast doubt
on other teams other then her own yet she starts out with the above
info. This speaks for itself.
Again our work following scent trails older then four weeks has been
proven round the world. It’s been documented, witnessed on cases
we’ve worked on with the FBI and other government and state
agencies. Yet K say’s “it’s not possible? Whose credibility is
really on the line here? Not ours that’s for sure.
If the District attorney vouches for our success in the courtroom
then who is K to try to call everyone a “liar?”, Shame on her.
In her next statement makes comments that “we don’t abide by MARS
code of ethics? We’re not a pet detective agency, nor do we want to
be. We’re a documented, credible professional K9 Search and Rescue
agency that looks for missing persons and lost pets. We come highly
recommended by the Better Business Bureau as well as thousands of
satisfied clients. Our references are posted on our web site
www.k9sardog.com
Our documentation has been checked and double checked by law
enforcement and the Dept of Justice and validated.
Now more info. From Harry Oakes. If the District Attorney’s office
has accepted my documentation and success records as fact in
evidence for me to testify as an expert witness on Murder and
Kidnapping cases, then who is this pet detective to think she’s more
credible then a District Attorney?. Fact in evidence. We’ve
successfully tracked scent trails up to 6 months old and older.
One concern that we've had from the inception of our training
program is that anyone can take a dog, put a SEARCH DOG vest on him
or her, claim he or she is trained to track lost people or pets, and
scam money from desperate pet owners.
Here's an article where a man who lost his Mini Pin hired a
"self-proclaimed dog tracker" for $12,000.00. Sadly, his final
impression of the tracker was that, "she milked me for all I had."
It’s her own MARS Pet detectives that have received a number of
complaints. Here are some of them.
Real search dogs Vs M.A.R.S. Pet detective search dog cases.
Example#1. We received a call from a client who has hired a woman
from Oklahoma City, who claims she has two search dogs. She had
responded and performed her Pet PI search for the clients lost cat.
The MARS PET DETECTIVE charged the client approximately $900.00 to
do her search. According to the client, this Pet PI didn’t file a
report, or issue a receipt for monies paid, and told the client
that, ”she found her cat’s remains in the snow”. (It turned out to
be rabbit hair).
We flew out there with a qualified search dog team and determined
the client’s cat was picked up near a play-ground and is very much
alive. This for ½ the fee the PI had charged.
Example#2. We received another complaint in Wyoming. They had flown
a MARS Pet search dog PI person from San Diego, Ca. out and wasn’t
happy at all with the dog handler’s performance. Again, no after
action report was issued, or receipt issued for the service. They
had paid this searcher over $3000.00 for her search.
We were able to help the client, just through telephone calls, get
their dog located and returned home safely for free. We also
assisted the client in filing a complaint against the Pet PI search
dog person from San Diego, Ca. with the Better Business Bureau and
get their money refunded.
PLEASE check references and the search dog handler’s training and
certification (We call is qualification standards), before you hire
a PET PI or search dog team.
Example# 3. A client in Southern Ca. tried to get a MARS “Pet
Detective Search Dog team from S. Ca. to respond to his lost cat
search. She charged him $80.00 dollars just to give the client the
same information that we give to our client for free over the phone.
She quoted in an outrages price to travel 100 miles to do the search
for his lost cat. The client flew us down there to his area, we did
the search, and found a coyote had killed his cat for 1/3 of the
price this PET PI quoted the client.
Example# 4. This client out of LA, Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE
out of Montana. She paid her over $2,500 to come track her lost cat.
The Pet detective refused to give her a written report, and her
story about where her client’s cat went was proved to be wrong.
After wasting three months of the client’s time, efforts, and money.
We came down and for ½ the cost determined the clients own family
member stole her cat. We have a valid suspect in the case.
Example# 5. This client of Idaho, wanted to hire a MARS Pet
Detective who said, it would cost a minimum of $150.00 for her to
come out and look. We did the consult for free and that afternoon
our client got her dog back safe and alive for FREE.
Example# 6. A client in Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE who brought
in two dog teams. They refused to allow the client to go along with
them and claimed their search dogs tracked his dog to an area where
it was picked up. They (the pet detectives) breached their own
contract by not allowing their client to come along and witness the
search that he was paying for.
Example# 7. A client in Canada hired a MARS Pet Detective from
Arizona. She brought them up twice at great expense to search for
her lost cat. The Pet Detective and her search dog, never found
anything. We were asked to come up to BC Canada and do the search.
We did it for 1/8th of the amount of money the Pet Det. Charged and
after she had failed twice, it took our search dog 5 minutes to
locate where the clients cat had been killed right behind the
clients house in the alley.
Example# 8. The same Pet Det. We received numerous complaints on
from Oklahoma had charged a woman client from NY $180.00 to profile
her missing pet. (This is something we do for all of our clients for
free.
The client was furious when she found out the Pet Det. Was
completely off base, and that we were able to do the same thing over
the telephone for FREE. On her website she claims she is the most
experienced at what she does. Yet she hasn’t even come close to
documenting the successes we have. So how can she get away with
making such false claims?
Example# 9. I recently got a telephone call from a client in Las
Vegas, Nv. She had two dogs missing in the desert. She contacted a
MARS Pet Detective who quoted her $4000.00 to respond and do a
search with her UNTRAINED UNCERTIFIED SAR Dog. This client ended up
hiring I.K.9.S.A.R.S. our services. We helped her bring closure to
both of the dog cases for less then $2,500.00 dollars.
Example# 10. This just came in last week and the client called me
complaining about this pet detective. “Our dog Rudy went missing on
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010. After almost 4 very devastating, difficult
and stressful weeks, he was found. I never had lost a pet in my
life, and never realized how much I loved this guy. Everyday that he
was gone I missed him so much, cried often and was so worried, sad
and unhappy. I even hired a pet detective despite the cost in the
desperation to find him. (I don't recommend anyone doing this
without FULLY checking out the detective's background, references,
and having a signed contract beforehand). This person claimed that
our dog was traveling towards San Jose however Rudy was found in
Morgan Hill about 1/2 mile away from our home.
My husband is still upset of the amount of money and time we wasted
on this service, but in the end at least I realized that this person
was not reliable and turned my focus back to more probable places.
Night after night, I searched by car and foot further and further
from home, thinking to myself that I would never find him. Then
there were the skeptics who thought someone had found him and were
keeping him because he's cute and he's a puppy. But something in me
never gave up hope. This was the most difficult battle sometimes,
holding onto hope.
Sometimes it would've been easier to just admit the loss and accept
that I would never see him again. Hope that if someone had him they
would love him as much as I did and be taking care of him. Yet, I
just couldn't let go of the thought that he was gone, and I fought
to stay positive and tell myself, even if it takes a year I know he
will come back to me. The last hope I had was his micro-chip and I
thought someday that is what will bring him home, if it's not my
fliers, my rewards or my searching.
Finally the day came, Sunday, June 6th, we got a call and someone
found him. He was so skinny and dirty that I didn't even recognize
him! But when I said his name he got up (the frailty and weakness
was so obvious) he walked to me and I knelt down and he started to
lick me. I grabbed him right away and in tears I asked what happened
to you?
I hugged our angel who found him for us and thanked him immensely.
Right away we took Rudy to the vet because he clearly needed
professional care and at least an exam.
The vet told us that it was the second case that she had seen that
weekend of a lost pet found. She said that the day before a woman
came in with a cat that had been missing for 7 MONTHS! The cat was
found in someone's backyard, like Rudy, was very weak and starved. 7
MONTHS!
”I just wanted to share with you all who are here searching for a
pet my experience so you know that miracles do happen, hope is
important, and even though it is hard don't give up! I hope my story
helps you, maybe give you some strength and bring some hope in this
very difficult and sad time. Below is a picture of Rudy. I
especially want to thank Mr. Harry Oakes from Search and Rescue whom
I called repeatedly throughout this horrible ordeal. He offered
words of encouragement, tips for finding him. THANK YOU! “.
The person I hired was with the SocialPet.com, she charged me $65/hr
with a minimum of 4 hour search. After doing research her price is
actually reasonable compared to others, but I don't believe her
success rate compares.
If you are considering pet detective services I can give you my
experience in more detail and suggest I.K.9.S.A.R.S. They have you
sign a contract, they are credible with 26 years experience. He also
provides a written report when he’s completed his search. The
company I hired SocialPet.com refused to give me one.” Julie M.
11). From: Kathy G Wednesday, July 13, 2011 7:39 AM “I hired a MARS
Pet Detective, I used one the day after Baxter disappeared and her
service were worthless, she charged me $350.00. What a waste of time
and money. I wish I would have listened to you”.
We have numerous other complaints ref: these M.A.R.’s pet detectives
groups and how they do their searches and how they charge for their
services. While we support anyone who is out there trying to make a
difference regarding lost pets, we don’t support taking advantage of
someone during their time of need.
Police officers, doctors, attorneys, nurses, paramedics, fireman,
all provide a professional service for people during their time of
need. We also provide the same level of expertise in our field.
1). We send our clients a contract that spells out in great detail
what we can and
can’t do, what we charge, and the contract protects the client and
our search
dog team(s).
2). Our clients are asked to come along with us to witness our
search efforts and
ask questions to better understand the process.
3). We issue a receipt for all money collected.
4). We issue a report that can be turned over to the court system
and or law
enforcement.
5). We charge for only what service we provide. The pet detectives
ask for a
large deposit that is NOT REFUNDABLE up front. That’s just not
right.
If you want a Pet PI, we recommend Melody Pugh. (See our web site
for her contact information). If you want a search dog team, then
contact our office and we’ll send a trained, tested, professional
K-9 SAR Dog team to your location.
Another scam to watch for. This article from the internet.
You'd have to sink pretty low to take advantage of the distraught
owner of a lost pet, right? For a month, a retired airline pilot has
searched high and low for Georges, a large tabby he's owned since he
rescued it from a pet shelter in Florida in 1998. Georges took off
after Polverino brought home a new kitten, Tigger. Since then,
Polverino has been running ads in this newspaper and distributing
and posting about 800 fliers in Southwest Roanoke County. During his
search, Polverino has run into friendly and sympathetic people he
otherwise might not have. Some of that came when he was posting or
handing out fliers. Strangers saw his ad in the newspaper and called
to commiserate and offer support.
"I've met some nice people," Polverino said. And then there was one
caller who was looking for money. Polverino doesn't know the man's
name. He identified himself as being with "Pet Finders Alert." The
man told the worried cat owner that Pet Finders Alert could help
find Georges using computers and telephones. "They said, 'We'll work
with you every step of the way. We'll help you find your cat,' "
Polverino said. For $59.95, Pet Finders Alert would call all of
Polverino's neighbors and let them know about his missing cat.
They would call in an ever-widening circle around Polverino's place,
until everyone who lived within a mile or two had been notified or
the cat turned up. They would give Polverino progress reports, he
says the guy told him. And they would notify local animal shelters,
too. At the time the call came, "I'm real depressed, I'm at a weak
point," Polverino said. So he coughed up his credit card number.
And that was the last time Pet Finders Alert called Polverino. While
Polverino has handed out fliers in the Poages Mill area for the
missing Georges, he's asked people if they've heard from Pet Finders
Alert about Georges. The responses were along the lines of, "Pet
who?" and, "Huh?"
As for the animal shelters, "they didn't contact one," Polverino
said. "I've called all of them. I've visited them. And I've asked."
Pet Finders Alert has contacted other owners of lost pets around
here, however. One of them is Beverly Russell, who lives in the
Carvins Cove area. She's been running an ad seeking Itty Bit, a
Yorkie pup who disappeared in mid-May.
"We don't have your pet but we may be able to assist," began a
message Pet Finders Alert left on Russell's voicemail. She hasn't
returned their calls. Polverino suspects a scam and it sounds to me
like he's on to something.
Thursday and again Monday I called Pet Finders Alert at the phone
numbers Polverino and Russell gave me.
Those are listed to an address in Las Vegas. Nobody responded to
messages left Thursday and Monday. The company's Web site,
petfindersalert.com, has been suspended. The Better Business Bureau
of Southern Nevada gives the company an F rating.
"They're doing business illegally, without a state license," the
BBB's Rhonda Fisk told me. The agency has four complaints on file
since September, and Pet Finders Alert has responded to none of
them, she added.
Polverino is now disputing the charge with his credit card company.
His crusade to find Georges also has expanded. He's going after Pet
Finders Alert, too. He's scouring bulletin boards on legitimate Web
sites, such as PetFinder.com, and collecting many warnings about Pet
Finders Alert.
And he's contacting law enforcement authorities in Nevada,
encouraging them to go after the company. Let's wish him luck, and
cheer him on.”
Remember to check all of your local animal hospitals, feed stores,
vet clinics, animal rescue groups within a 200-mile area. Also post
signs at your local feed stores, pet stores such as Petco and
Petsmart. Check their lost and found boards. If your pet is a pure
bred, check the pure bred rescue groups in your area.
6. Place an ad in the local newspapers.
7. Check your ads in the newspaper. Check the lost and found
section, pets for sale, and pets being given away for free. These
are located in three different sections of the newspapers. Follow up
on each ad that possibly refers to your pet. Never go to the house
or location alone to check out a pet sighting. Think ahead and BE
SAFE. ___.
8. Don’t give up for 10 weeks. After that period of time, you will
need to put closure on your search efforts. Get counseling if
needed. You and your family have suffered a terrible loss of a
family member. I recommend that you sit down away from distractions
and write your pet a goodbye letter. Bring a box of Kleenex. Tell
them what it meant to have them in your life. How it feels to have
them gone. What you did to find them. Then when it’s time, let them
go. We’ve had successful recoveries a year after our initial search.
But honestly those are very rare cases. ___.
9. If the animal is found alive, get it to a vet clinic immediately.
Have it check for Giardia, parasite infections, and dehydration. If
it’s not micro-chipped, get it chipped right away. Avid, or Home
Again offers a great service.____.
10. NOTE. Many people who have had their pets micro-chipped fail to
contact the Microchip Company. Please as soon as you chip your
animal, call the microchip company and register your contact
information with them immediately. Also give the company a back up
contact # of a family member or friend in case you are unable to be
contacted during an emergency. If your pet comes up missing, call
the microchip company right away and register your pet on the
company’s “Hot list” or lost list. Make sure they have your current
contact information. In the Portland area, we get approximately
3,500 pets back each year through microchips.
11. If the animal is found dead, contact your local animal shelter
or a private pet service for removal, burial, or cremation of the
pet’s remains.
Be aware of other scams. One of the most common scams is where
someone calls you and gets a description of your pet. They may have
seen your ads in the newspaper or on a poster in the area. They will
then give this information to a partner. The partner calls you and
says,” he has your pet”. He or she will give you an accurate
description of your pet and describing where he / she found it. He /
she will tell you a story, such as, “I’m now out of state traveling
(or working). I was in your area and found your pet. If you wire me
some money, I will send your pet home immediately”. It’s a scam.
DON’T FALL FOR THIS.
If he / she is telling you the truth, then he / she will have no
problem taking the pet to the nearest animal shelter, or police
department, and verifying through an official agency that they do in
fact have your pet. Then you can work out the procedures of rewards
and recovery of your pet. Never give anyone any money for your pet
until you actually see your pet first.
Another scam. Person will call you and tell you that he / she is
retired, or a truck driver, and picked up a hitchhiker who had your
pet. Your pet was sick / injured and the person calling you took
your pet to the local vet. The caller will then say something like,
“If you send me the money that I paid for your pet at the vet’s
office, I’ll send you your pet on the next airplane”.
Ask the caller for their telephone#, name, and address. Send the
police there to verify their statements. If they are telling you the
truth (99.9%) of the time they are not, then work out the details of
reward and returning the animal after the police or animal control
has verified it is in fact your pet.
Watch out for unsavory businesspersons. There are a lot of new pet
finder services out on the market. Get references.
NOTE: There is a web site called PETFINDERS.COM This service allows
you to file a report for FREE listing your lost or found pet. We
strongly recommend them.
Be wary of pet detectives who charge you fees to go look for your
pet. You can do the same job for free. There are a few CREDIBLE PET
DETECTIVES. Contact us for our list of referrals.
One comment listed on Craigslist re: Pet finders. “Got a call today
from “Petfinders” after listing our lost cat with the Oregonian.
They offered to call everybody within a mile radius of our house to
give them a description of our lost cat. Looked them up online and
it appears to be a total scam”. Beware if they call you.
The person who finds your pet may do the following:
They may call the newspapers and place an ad to advise people that
they have found the animal.
Check the lost and found ads for people trying to report their
animal missing.
File online with local petfinders.com or other pet rescue resources,
(Craigslist, My space, etc.) that they’ve found your pet. Report
finding your pet at the local animal shelters, veterinarian clinics,
or pet stores.
Some folks will sell your pet or give it away to another person,
medical research facility, or to a friend.
NOTE: Numerous hospitals and medical research facilities buy animals
(dogs and cats) off the street. They claim they don’t, but we have
proved this isn’t so. They will not let us tour their facilities for
your pet. This includes local hospitals like OHSU, and Good
Samaritan. Never support these facilities.
Performing medical experiments and testing on animals is cruel and
wrong.
The person, who has your pet, may be lonely and may keep the pet and
take good care of it. (Especially around the holidays). They may
take your pet to a public place such as a park, school, or shopping
mall, and let it go, hoping someone else will pick it up and take
care of it, or that it will find its way back home. Some cultures
will eat your pet. This is highly unusual here in the USA, but it
does happen in less then 1% of the cases.
PREDATORS. There are many types of predators that may attack and
kill or injure your pet. Humans trying to capture your pet to
collect the rewards, or sell it to a medical facility for
experiments. Other animals such as other dogs, birds of prey such as
hawks, eagles, owls. coyotes, raccoons, possums, cougars, or bears
may also attack your pet.
Predators killing your pet occur in 35% of our cases that we
investigate. If you live in the wilderness, country, or rural areas,
check your local animal trails for coyote-bear-wolf poop and look
for your pet’s hair inside to prove or disprove it’s been consumed
by a predator.
Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Possums, Raccoons, Coyotes, Fox, Bears,
Cougars, Bob cats, and some larger snakes can eat small dogs and
cats. Don’t blame the predator. You’re the one who allowed fifi or
fido to run loose in the predator’s home.
Every year from March through July, we find a huge increase of
missing small dogs and cats that have become food for coyotes and
raccoons feeding and protecting their young. Be aware of the dangers
of allowing your pet to run loose.
WHEN YOU’VE FOUND YOUR PET. Your pet may suffer from psychogenic
shock and it may be traumatized. Your pet might not even recognize
you as their owner, once you’ve spotted one another. NEVER RUN UP TO
YOUR PET.
Your pet may run away, or it may attack you to defend itself. The
best thing to do is to STOP and SIT DOWN near the pet, take a deep
breath, and calm down. Calmly call out your pet’s name repeatedly,
in a very soft voice, trying to lure it back to you.
If you have another pet at home that has bonded with the missing
pet, take it with you on your search. Let your other pet greet the
one that’s in shock. Once you’ve recovered your pet, take it to your
vet. Immediately.
IF YOUR PET IS FOUND HIDING or has been spotted. Bring some pet food
and something that has your scent on it, like a dirty sock, shirt,
or other piece of clothing that hasn’t been washed. Put some of the
pet’s food into the pieces of your unwashed clothing, and leave it
in the immediate area. You may even leave your scent trail from this
area to your home, if it’s close by. This may bring the pet out of
its shock and draw it back to you. Leave a piece of soiled unwashed
clothing, cut up in the size of a quarter, trailing home. One piece
every 50 feet.
HUMAN URINE SCENT TRAIL. (Pee trail). Another method that works is
to have the person who the pet is bonded with the most at home,
urinate into a spray bottle. Mix the urine with water. This sounds
weird, but this actually has brought home about 5% of our cases.
Then go to the areas of possible sightings and spray a SCENT TRAIL
of your urine back home. One squirt (from the spray bottle) every 30
yards. Use a route where your pet won’t get hit by a car. The pet
may not come out of hiding. A live box trap and trained animal
capture staff are available to trap the animal without hurting it.
Contact your local animal control agency for assistance.
If your Pet is found dead. You may call a Critter Gitter service to
transport it, or animal control to pick up and handle your pet’s
remains for cremation or burial services. See pet loss support group
counseling services. They are free.
THE USE OF SEARCH DOGS.
If your pet is lost and you’ve called our K-9 Search & Rescue team,
here’s what to expect. First we’ll send you this lost pet profile
information.
We will obtain a missing pet description and profile, take a report,
and obtain a scent article belonging to your pet. (Some kind of fur,
hair, blanket, or collar that only the pet has touched or worn, or
laid on).
We can then initiate a track of the missing / stolen pet with a
trained search dog team. We are often called days, weeks, or even
months later after the animal has been lost.
In 99% of our cases, our search dog team will track right to where
the pet is currently at, or where it was picked up by some
well-meaning person, or where it was killed by a predator.
The person who finds your pet, normally will remove the pet from the
area by vehicle. The search dog can determine if the pet was killed
and the location where this happened.
If the search dog indicates a LIVE ALERT, this is a strong indicator
that your pet has been picked up by a well-meaning person. We then
ask you to post signs at this location. The person who picked up
your pet, observes the poster and will hopefully will call you to
return your pet.
If your pet was picked up and removed from the area by a human, what
do you do then? Post signs. Whoever picked up your pet most likely
will be looking for a lost poster and will do everything they can to
find the pets owners. Remember to post a sign in English and
Spanish.
SCENT. All trained, tested, and qualified real search dogs, as in
any other kind of tracking animal, will pick up the freshest scent
of the animal, and track it instinctively. As a human or animal
walks along, they shed approximately 10,000 pieces of scent per
minute.
This scent falls to the ground and stays there until the wind and
air currents moves the scent to nearby dirt, sand, brushy vegetation
areas. The scent is held there until it fully dissipates about a
year later.
When an animal or human walks in one specific direction, it’s laying
down scent that the trained search dog can track up to 365 days
later, even in the rain.
Rain actually helps the scent. It brings the scent closer to the
ground surface, keeps the search dog’s nasal passages moist to help
the dog retain the scent and it will liven the scent. I’ve
successfully tracked a missing dog route on the day it rained over 2
inches of rain in Portland, Ore.
What hurts scent? Heavy vehicle and human traffic contaminates the
scent.
Heavy rains of 2 inches per day may wash the scent down but we can
still perform a track.
Heat dries out the scent and the search dog’s nasal scent receptors,
making it harder for the search dog to track.
Snow. Search dogs can still track scent in the snow. When we work
avalanche searches often the victim is covered by 5 feet of snow and
the dogs will still locate them.
If this happens we can still do the search but instead may choose to
do what’s called an area search instead of a trail or track.
If the victim we are searching for is in the area, the search dog
will alert and show us where he / she is at.
Cigarette smoke contains a poisonous drug called Nicotine. Nicotine
is an anesthetizing agent that can numb up the search dogs scent
receptors by 95% and make the search dog’s job much more difficult.
If you smoke around your pet, the second hand cigarette smoke poison
that you are putting into their little lungs (Nicotine) can also
alter the missing pet’s scent, therefore throwing off a search dog.
That’s why all of our team members are non-smokers.
That’s also why you are never allowed to smoke around our search
dogs or their handlers. You are also exposing your pet to many types
of respiratory diseases and cancer.
Can search dog’s track at night? Yes, of course we can. In fact we
prefer it.
Air molecules stay lower to the ground at night, and there are fewer
scents to contend with in the evening and early morning. 95% of our
live finds of missing persons are when we’ve been called in at night
and our search dogs caught up to the persons while they were
sleeping or at least staying in one place.
FALSE TRACKS. A false track happens when the animal walks one
specific direction, then the pet owner, or someone else, walks on
top of the pets scent, (usually in or around the home). This
transfers the pet’s scent onto the bottom of the person’s footwear,
and when the person walks or drives a different direction, this
person is now giving off a fresher scent of the missing pet to
track. This is called a false scent trail.
There is no way to prevent this from happening, it’s a fact of life.
The only way that you can help this from happening, is to call our
K-9 Search and Rescue team out immediately before you do any
looking, so as not to contaminate the track. With our experience in
tracking, we can quickly determine if we’re on a false or a true
track / trail. If you’ve been out looking for your pet, we’ll deal
with the false scent trail issue. We run into this daily.
What if the search dog tracks my pet to one specific location, and
we get reports of sightings in a completely different area? It is
not unusual at all for someone who is well meaning to pick up a lost
animal. Soon the animal becomes too much responsibility for the
person to take care of. They may let the pet go at a nearby park,
school, or business. They may take it back to where they found it
and set it free, hoping it will find its way back home. The pet may
just break free from the person and try to find its own way back
home.
REMEMBER, The search dog doesn’t know how to lie. So, if the search
dog team tracks your pet to one specific area and indicates your pet
has been removed from this area, and, a few days later you get
reports your pet is seen in an entirely different area, don’t be
upset at the search dog. Be upset at the person who removed your pet
and then let it go somewhere else. This unfortunately happens in
approximately 5% of our cases.
How do we know the search dog’s track was accurate? There is never
100% guarantee that we’ll find your loved one. We’ll give it our
best efforts. Again I’ll repeat myself. A search dog doesn’t know
how to lie. That’s why their testimony in a court of law is
accepted, with training, testing, and mission documentation.
A search dog is trained to follow the freshest track or scent trail
of the scent given to them by their dog handler. A mutual trust
exists between the dog handler and the search dog. We use the dogs’
nose and tracking, air scenting, and trailing capabilities along
with our man and animal tracking and clue capabilities to confirm
why our search dog is leading us to a specific area.
During our search we look for clues such as foot-prints, fecal
matter, hair, blood and other signs to prove or disprove the track.
This is call confirming a valid track.
The search dog team (one dog, one dog handler) must go through
hundreds of hours of training, testing and actual work cases to
maintain their status in K-9 SAR. That’s why it’s important to use a
real search dog team and not someone who claims to have a search dog
like a pet detective or M.A.R.S. person.
Ask for references from people they’ve already provided service for.
Our references are posted on our web site for all to see.
Be careful of teams who we call “Posers”. These are people (dog
handler’s) who “BRAG” on TV or to the newspaper about ,”how good
they are and what they can do”. Yet when it comes to actual
searching, their results are very disappointing. We’ve seen teams
like this in Texas and in Ca.
What is your success rate in finding lost / missing / stolen pets
with search dogs? 90%. We physically find 10% during the initial
search. The remaining 80% of the pets that are found because of the
track. They are found because the search dog led the pet owners to a
specific housing area, street intersection, or park area where the
animal was picked up or is hiding. The pet owners post signs there.
Spread their urine pee trail. The pet picks up on the owners scent
and follows it back home or where they lead the pee trail to. Or,
the person(s) who picked up your pet, see the signs, and then call
you or get nervous and let your pet go.
10% of the pets are never ever found. _____.
Why are 10% of the pets never found? They may have fallen victim to
a predator. Two or four legged. People may sell your pet for drugs,
dog fighting, medical experiments, food, or its fur. This is rare
but it does occur. Four legged predators such as bears, cougars,
bobcats, larger dogs, opossums, raccoons, and some birds of prey
have been known to carry off smaller pets and transport their
remains to their den.
Why don’t you track the pet to the predator’s den? It is not our
position to interfere with nature. We don’t wish to harm or annoy
the predators. Nor do we want our search dogs to be injured by the
predator trying to protect its home and its babies. When people
build their homes in or around wilderness, rivers, creeks, green
spaces, they are unknowingly taking away the predators homes. And,
by doing so, they are providing food for the predator should the pet
wander.
PETS AND STRANGERS. I get told on almost every search, “My pet will
never go to a stranger”. This is not a true statement at all. When
the pet owner is talking about their pet, they’re talking about the
pet they know in a controlled environment. The pet is in a stable
home, has food and human contact, etc. Once an animal gets away from
this environment, they have to survive on their own. They revert
back to what’s known as a feral stage.
Your pet will hunt to kill and eat food and they will drink from
water in mud puddles, creeks, and streams. They may steal food and
water from other animals’ dishes in their surroundings. And when
they are hungry, tired, and scared enough, they will seek out humans
for comfort and safety.
Posters: When you print a poster, here is a suggestion that works
very well. Leave some kind of information about your pet out of your
description that only you will know about. That way you can
determine if the caller has your pet or not. Post your signs within
a 1-mile radius for a cat concentrating on the area 4 city blocks
from your point last seen. Post signs in a 5-mile radius for a lost
dog.
NOTE: 99% of the missing pets will travel into the wind.
Find out which way the wind was blowing on the day your pet
disappeared. Most pets including horses head into the wind when lost
or out hunting for food, water, play friends.
Post signs at stores, schools, offices, parks, etc.
I recommend that you post your signs after a search dog team has
determined the route your animal has traveled. This will save you
money and time.
Remember you will have to remove the signs when you get your pet
back. We actually recommend that you make two different types of
posters up.
One with a REWARD notice at top, the photo of your pet underneath.
It’s name, your area code and telephone. That’s it, nothing else.
Let the reporting person id your pet to you with more specifics to
prove they have your pet. (Read our scam section). Say something to
the effect of “$ REWARD $ for safe return of missing pet, no
questions asked”.
Make a second poster up with all the information. Post the Pets
name, microchip #, tattoo type, location, collar make, type, id
type. Weight, height, length, eye color, hair color, medical
identifiers, etc. This detailed information is sent to your vets,
police departments, Postal employees, animal control agencies and
search teams.
NOTE: If you have a large Hispanic speaking culture in your area,
don’t forget to make up signs in Spanish as well.
STOLEN PETS: If it’s determined that your pet has been stolen, you
will need to file a stolen pet report with your local law
enforcement agency, and the Department of Agriculture Humane Society
Law Enforcement. Keep their case # and a copy of their report on
file.
If a search dog team responds, after their search, you will be sent
a report showing their findings, and an invoice for their search
costs. Keep a copy on file.
Lately we’ve seen a lot of lazy police officers who don’t wish to be
bothered with doing their job and taking a report. Remind them
please, that pets are considered personal property. If someone takes
possession of your property without your consent, they are required
by law to report finding your pet (property).
If the person who takes possession of your pet refuses or fails to
file a found report, this constitutes, “Theft of personal property”.
This is a crime. By state law, “A police officer has the
responsibility to take a crime report and investigate the crime”.
If / when we capture the suspect(s) and recover your animal(s), you
will need to provide photographs, (proof of ownership), and a value
of the animal. (Cost of vet services, meals, breeding, purchase,
general care, etc.) You may also be called to testify against the
suspect(s). This is why we want you to document your every action in
your search for your pet. Many pets are stolen and sold for
breeding, resale values, rewards offered, dog fighting, or sold to
medical labs for medical experiments.
MEDICAL LABS / Hospitals: Contact your local hospitals that purchase
animals for medical experiments, and demand to view their animals in
their clinics. (They will refuse). But, if enough people demand to
see if their pet has been purchased by the hospital, the hospitals
may change their attitudes.
There’s been a recent increase in pets stolen for their SKINS and
FUR.
Let’s stop them now. Example: “Rapper Jay-Z, founder of the Rocawear
clothing line, is taken to task by the Humane Society after it found
that the “faux fur” in jackets sold by his company is actually dog
fur”.
Remember, once you’ve located your pet. Contact I.K.9.S.A.R.S.
Immediately. www.k9sardog.com
Call all local animal control agencies and advise them to remove
your pet’s name from their listings. _____.
Remove all of your posters.____.
Review all of your written materials and lessons learned from this
event. ____.
Take precautionary measures so that it won’t happen again. Tattoo /
Microchip and ID your pet. ___.
Pass on our web site to others who are searching for their pets.
Animal Hording.
We’ve seen a huge increase in animal pet hording cases. This is
where a person who often suffers from mental illness collects
numerous dogs, cats, other pets. When the police or animal control
is called to the scene of a hording incident, quite often the
animals have been well taken care of. Most if not all have current
id from the original owners on their harnesses or collars.
Before your pet is lost, ID your pet.
1. Talk with your veterinarian. Determine and document the
following: Identify the breed(s) of your pet. ___________. Pet’s
weight: _____. Age: ________. Height: __________. Hair: Short Medium
Long. (Circle One). Tail length: Short Medium Long. (Circle One) Eye
Color: _________. Microchip Brand:
________#____________________________. Other ID:
____________________________________________________.
List Medications:______________________________________________.
Veterinarian’s Name:______________ Address:_____________________ .
Telephone #’s: ___________________________________.
2. Comb out the pet’s hair and place it inside a clean envelope.
Place the animal’s name on the outside of the envelope and date it.
It will be good for up to two years as a scent article for a search
dog, if your pet becomes lost.
3. Take numerous color photographs from all different angles of your
pet.
4. Microchip and Tattoo your pet. Ask your local animal shelter or
veterinarian about these services.
5. NEVER leave a collar or choke chain on an animal. Many animals
are found choked to death by choke chains and regular id collars.
Use either a harness with the id attached on back, or a breakaway ID
collar.
6. Never smoke cigarettes around your pet. Not only will it make
them very ill from the nicotine poisoning, but it alters their
original scent, and can make it very difficult for a search dog to
track them. The first word in Webster’s dictionary about the drug
NICOTINE is “POISON”. Quit smoking, you’ll live longer.
7. Always check references of resources that you wish to use. We
have THOUSANDS of satisfied customers, and references are available
upon request.
8. Always seat belt or crate your pet when you travel. See our web
site for photos and instructions on how to do this. Review our web
site at: www.k9sardog.com for more SAR and private pet detective
references. (Note) we look for missing people also.
POSTER SAMPLES.
Example # 1. Very limited information on this poster to avoid scams.
REWARD for MISSING DOG.
(Photo of your missing pet).
Dogs name is: “Tonya”.
Please call : 503-222-2222.
Example # 2. Very detailed information on this poster. This is given
to law enforcement, animal control, vets, shelters, etc.
REWARD FOR MISSING DOG. Name: “LARS”. Breed: MUTT. Long hair chi.
mix. Age: 4 years Weight: 5 lbs. Colors: Tan and white. Microchip:
AVID 000-000-000. Tattoo: “I.K.9.S.A.R. RULES”. Owners: Mrs.
Thompson Email:find-me-at@aol.com Home: 503-222-2222.
If the pet has been stolen, post a poster that states, “Reward for
safe return of stolen pet” No questions asked. Give them your
telephone#.
I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is a professional K-9 SAR Dog team that uses
professionally trained K-9 Search dog teams to track missing persons
or pets.
We’ve been in business since 1986 and currently are the most
documented successful search dog team in the world for tracking
missing persons or missing pets.
The most often asked questions.
Q. Can a search dog track a lost pet after two weeks?
A. Yes we sure can. We’ve successfully tracked a lost cat one year
after the date is was lost and found it alive one mile away in a
horse barn at the Portland Horse Racing Track. We also have the cat
owner’s name and telephone number if you wish to verify this
statement. We also have documented a missing 16 year old in Canada.
We tracked him a year after he disappeared and both search dogs
found where he had committed suicide.
It’s rained a lot recently, does this affect the scent?
A. No not at all. Rain actually helps keep the scent moist and helps
the dog’s
nasal passages keep moist so they can smell the scent trail.
Q. What does an average search costs?
A. Depends on how far you live away from Longview, Wa.
We charge $25.00 per hour travel, time each way from Longview,
Washington. Cost of fuel, motel if we have to spend the night, and
$50.00
per fifteen minutes of searching. Include Airline transportation if
needed.
Example of a typical search in Portland, Ore.
Driving time $25.00 per hour x 2 hours (round trip) = $50.00
Cost of fuel $35.00
Search time $50.00 per fifteen minutes. Search lasted 15 minutes
=$50.00
Total owed I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is $135.00.
Pet searches. I charge cost of meals, fuel, motels, driving time and
search time. If I must fly, then ad on those travel fees as well.
Mr. Harry Oakes is an expert in the field of search and rescue. With
40 years of experience, he has been brought in by the FBI, City
Police Departments, Sheriff’s Office, National Parks, Embassy
officials, other government agencies and private families to help
solve missing persons cases.
Since 1986 Mr. Oakes documented over 8,750 calls around the world.
Mr. Oakes has a documented 99% success rate of either finding the
victim(s), or determining what really happened to them.
Runaways, suicides, homicides, accidental deaths, kidnappings,
natural disasters, man made disasters such as bombings,
transportation accidents, persons who are lost, missing, presumed
dead. Missing children. These are the types of cases Mr. Oakes
handle’s every week.
Being an expert in his field, many attorneys as well as law
enforcement agencies turn to Mr. Oakes for consulting advice. So do
other SAR units.
Mr. Oakes helped developed the N.A.S.A.R. and F.E.M.A. K-9 SAR
Standards as well as International SAR Standards.
Media often calls on Mr. Oakes to discuss current events, cases. Mr.
Oakes has been featured in People Magazine, This week Magazine, CNN,
ABC, CBS, NBC, Nancy Grace, as well as cases discussed on Oprah and
other shows.
If you need his assistance contact Mr. Harry Oakes at searchdog@iinet.com
or sardogk91@aol.com Or through his office at 360-414-8093 or mobile
503-705-0258.
Order his book on "Search and Rescue" Harry discusses all aspects of
Search and Rescue. Training the person for SAR, training a dog for
SAR, the ugly politics of SAR, case by case reviews, photos of his
work around the world. He talks about the Kyron Horman case as well
as many other cases he's been involved in.
Thank You
International K9 Search and Rescue Services.
www.k9sardog.com
Q. I have Multiple pets, I don’t have anything specific that belongs
just to the missing pet?
A. We’ll introduce the search dog to all of your pets from a
distance. One at a time. When the search dog smells each pet and
then can smell the one they can’t see, they know that’s the one they
need to go search for.
For Pet Owners
Before you fly with your pet on a commercial airline, follow these
suggestions to make your pet’s trip much easier and safer.
1. Microchip your pet. In the Portland, Oregon area, about 3,500
dogs and cats are returned home each year because the pet is
micro-chipped. After your pet is micro-chipped, register your pet’s
information with the microchip company online or by mail. Include
its breed, sex, age, date of birth, current home address and your
next of kin along with your veterinarian’s information.
2. Make sure the kennel is large enough for your pet to stand up,
turn around, and lie down in. A few months before you fly, put your
pet’s kennel inside their sleeping area with the door open and his
bedding inside. This helps the pet become accustomed to the kennel.
3. Place the following inside a clean paper envelope and then inside
a plastic zip lock bag:
pet's medical records, rabies certificate, vet contact information,
microchip info, a combed
out sample of its fur, and color photos of your pet from different
angles.
4. Write PET ID on the envelope and tape it to the outside of the
kennel.
If your pet becomes sick or escapes, the airline staff and search
and rescue crews like
myself now have a scent article, photographs, and a great
description of your pet with
which to start our search efforts.
5. Before your pet travels, consider giving him Acepromazine (animal
tranquilizer that
should not be used on animals with seizures) that is available from
your vet.
Put some of your pet's favorite toys and belongings inside the
kennel: chew toys and
bedding. Make sure the toys are ones that the pet can’t choke on.
6. Include a soiled piece of clothing that has your scent on it in
the kennel. Something
you’ve worn all day, but haven't washed. Having your scent inside
the kennel will help
calm your pet.
For airline personnel to retrieve an escaped pet
Do this immediately when a pet escapes from an airline transport
kennel.
1. Call our professional K9 SAR tracking team.
Office: 360-414-8093. Mobile: 503-705-0258 Web: www.k9sardog.com
2. Notify management that a pet has been lost from its kennel.
3. Notify airport security, TSA, airport ground operations services,
airport management teams, and airport police and fire departments,
as well as other ground staff.
4. Ask the airlines legal department to contact the pet owners as
well as the pet’s vet, microchip company, and local animal control
to register the pet as missing.
5. Poster the area in English and Spanish.
Rain has no negative effect on scent. It actually helps to keep the
scent fresh. Rain and moisture livens scent and keeps it moist so
the search dogs can detect it. It also keeps the search dogs nose
scent receptor cells moist to they can absorb more scent.
Searching for the Pet
1. If a pet escapes his kennel, use the client's clothing (sock,
shirt) that has been sent with the pet.
2. Wear rubber gloves to handle the item, cut up the clothing. Soak
some of the items in a spray bottle filled with water. Go to the
area where the pet has been spotted and spray the area.
3. Take the remaining pieces of cut clothing (scent) and leave them
in the area where the pet has been hiding or seen. Their owners
scent items may keep the pet in the area.
4. Check all area hiding spots: under baggage units, radar towers,
inside warehouses and near sources of fresh water.
5. Search into the wind. All pets that wander or hunt, head into the
wind.
6. Post signs in English and Spanish around the perimeter of the
airport:
“Reward for safe return no questions asked”. Don’t state the reward
amount.
7. Send someone to the animal control shelter in person every other
day to visually check for the pet.
Don’t ever accept that the animal shelter or humane society doesn't
have the pet without checking. Most shelters are staffed with
volunteers and many of the volunteers don’t know exactly which
animals are at the shelter.
8. Keep a journal of your search efforts and costs while avoiding
fraud from callers and pet detectives.
9. If you spot the missing pet, don’t approach it. The animal is in
survival mode and is likely in psychogenic shock. The pet usually
won’t even go to its owner at this point. Bring in a professional
animal capture specialist from animal control.
10. Never give or send anyone money until you physically see the pet
and confirm through scanning of the microchip that it is the same
pet.
For more information on how to find a lost pet, go to
http://www.k9sardog.com/missing.html
Once my search dog and I tracked a frightened dog who had escaped
from a vet clinic until we located it in a dense wooded area. I then
let my search dog off lead to go play with the dog, which calmed the
dog. While the dogs played, I called the dog’s owner on my cell
phone and had him call to his dog on my cellular speaker phone. This
enabled us to recapture the dog.
Our search dog teams have a 99% success rate of either finding the
missing person or lost pet or determining what really happened to
them. We’ve successfully tracked and found both missing persons and
lost pets after they have been missing a year with working search
dogs. Of course the sooner we respond and start our track with a
trained search dog the better our efforts will be in locating the
pet.
We are not pet detectives nor do we want anything to do with them.
We are search and rescue K9 teams that use our search dogs to track
missing persons and pets.
Note: We’ve received dozens of complaints over the years from people
who have used M.A.R.S. (Missing Animal Response Services) units with
their pet search dogs.
See the following pages, for some of our hundred’s of references.
Our References#1.
Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Hello. My name is Kathryn Bratcher and I
live in Snohomish, Washington. I was referred to you by Janos
Wimpffen of Redmond in an effort to help me recover my lost dog. He
told me of your search dog, Valerie. My dog, Te’ Amo, has been
missing since the evening of April 30th and has been spotted
(possibly) twice within 2-3 miles of our home in the last two days.
As you can imagine, our family is devastated. Please contact me with
information regarding your services and whether or not you and
Valerie would be able to help us recover our beloved pet. You may
respond to this e-mail. Thank you.
Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Harry: Thank you for your quick response!
I’ve also heard your voicemail this morning and want to thank you
for the tip to keep him in the area. He has been sighted several
times within a mile of home (at least five now) and I found out last
night that three people saw him AT OUR HOUSE two days ago. That
indicates to me that the little rascal is not “lost” but maybe just
on an adventure. Nonetheless, I want him home. It doesn’t seem right
to call out a team if he’s wandering the neighborhood on his own,
though. (He is neutered so I can’t imagine what the attraction
is...maybe just freedom from the fence). Do you have any suggestions
how I can maybe use socks or other personal items to lure him home?
From: “Harry E. Oakes Jr.” To: Kathryn Bratcher Date: Fri, 04 May
2001 11:32:06 Neutering doesn’t keep the sex drive down for a dog.
Does it work for a human male? NO..... :) So don’t assume because
he’s been cut that he’s lost his sex drive. GO pee allot. Yup that’s
right. now don’t get your britches up in a stir. What I mean is, in
all seriousness aside, drink water, coffee, whatever, makes you have
to do the #1.
Then put it in a spray bottle and go around to the sightings and
spray till your little hearts content. Then drive home spraying the
“Special scent” of yours all the way home. This is the strongest
scent a dog can track and it’s much more appealing (The spray bottle
that is) then the other options.
Try that. The most important thing to be concerned about is your dog
getting hit by a car. Try to find someone in the area of the
sightings that will call you immediately when they see him. Try
this, if it doesn’t work, a live dog trap (Box type) works. but, you
may catch raccoons, tigers, lions, cats, possums, and coyotes maybe
even Bigfoot???? So that’s the last option. If this stuff doesn’t
work, call me and I’ll come up there with my search dog and track
the little fella. Thanks good luck and let me know how it goes.
Harry
Tue, 08 May 2001 16:10:44 From:”Kathryn Bratcher” kathbrat@hotmail.com
To: search dog@iinet.com Dear Harry: I picked up your message
Saturday afternoon. I must say I didn’t expect the advice you
gave...BUT IT WORKED!!! It took me about nine hours on Saturday to
drink enough to make a trail from the area he was sighted to home
(of course I led him down the back roads :) I finished my “trail”
about 10:00 on Saturday evening and when I woke up at 6:30 a.m. he
was in the front yard waiting to be let in! I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR YOUR ADVICE and it really does make a great story! Although he
is home safe, he’s not exactly sound. He suffered severe knee injury
on his little adventure and underwent surgery this afternoon.
He’ll be home from the hospital tomorrow afternoon and our lives
will FINALLY regain some degree of normalcy. Thank you again, Harry!
I never would have thought of such a trick on my own! Te’ Amo thanks
you, too!!!
Ref# 2. Onalee Owass@earthlink.net
Thank you again for finding Pookie for us. I wish so much I had
known about your service 3 days earlier and I think we could have
found her alive. I know her time on earth was going to be limited
but knowing she died all alone without us is hard for me. But it was
good to find her so we didn’t have to wonder and worry about her and
we could bring her home to bury. I will certainly recommend your
services to anyone in our situation. Please send me a picture at
your convenience. Thanks, Onalee and Jerry Wasserburger
3). 04-10-06 2006-3794-084(A). Mult. Co. Lost cat. Anita Parth
samozoe@comcast.net Tigard, Ore Lost cat MILO. You and Valerie came
down, and helped me find my Persian cat all those years ago, yes the
one at the horse track in NE Portland. We did recover him a few days
later. The woman who had him was hording a lot of cats. Team: H.
Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1.
Ref# 4. Kris Desylvia World Travel.
Ref# 5. Vicki L.Johnson antiquevics@comcast.net 04-15-06.
Harry, Thank you for your efforts and for you and Valorie giving me
hope when I was beginning to fall apart. Knowing that Tia was alive
and that someone had picked her up encouraged me to continue looking
for her. I spent all day Saturday walking around the neighborhood
talking to various neighbors and posting new flyers. I was at work
around 8 pm making additional flyers when I received a phone call
that someone had found my dog and was returning her to me. So they
got our address and Tia was returned to us.
My husband & I took her to vet and she is slightly dehydrated and
was covered with fleas, but she has been treated and is beginning to
perk up like her former self. The vet is Issaquah was very
interested to hear about your search & rescue operation too. Thank
you again - you can add Tia Maria to your success list!! I’ll email
you a photo later of her.
Vicki Johnson
06-16-06 dfalasca@verizon.net Harry, Just wanted to say thank you so
much for all your help with finding Rambo. We could not have done it
without you!! You provided us with an enormous amount of information
and a generous supply of support, which we will never, ever forget.
Although we never met in person, I know you would just love Rambo.
He is a very mellow Chihuahua, and the sweetest dog we have ever
had. He is very happy to be back home in California!! Best Regards,
Ron, Doreen & Dana Falasca
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jud Landis jud.landis@gmail.com Hello: Thank you very much for your
prompt response, your informative web site, and your phone call. Our
dog showed up at our back door at 6:15 AM today, after we placed a
urine trail back to our house Sunday night (we’d laid it the wrong
way first). So, thank you so much for that piece of advice. I am
telling anybody who asks about it, even if they think I’m strange.
Sincerely, Jud Landis Eugene, OR
10-28-07 Lost dog Idaho. Elaine Peoples <skeeterchex@verizon.net
10-28-07 Harry, I am very thankful to every one that helped.... I
have to mention.... I said a prayer just 10 minutes before I saw
Sparky zipping past me as I came out of that gate on the culvert
side to the mobile home park..... I called him and he stopped and
looked at me.... thought about a minute to see if it was really
me....and then came to me.... of course I scooped him up and thanked
GOD for answering my prayers and especially so fast.... NOW I also
have to give credit to YOU for locating the actual spot that I left
him at...and the nice people that called to tell me they saw
him..... THEY saw my newspaper add in the Idaho News.... It started
on Saturday...and they called Sunday 7 AM to tell me ....and I was
already on my way to search again today....Happy ending.... good
night......we will all sleep better tonight....Elaine THANK YOU
HARRY, WILLOW and VAL.
Andria Squires <alexs221@hotmail.com Harry, We have her! I got a
call last night from the AKC number on her tags and they gave me
contact information of the family who had her. I called them right
away and we went over to get her. They live in Council Crest. The
two little girls said they had seen her running around the
neighborhood for a couple of days, but they finally caught her last
night. The family, by the way, was the Schnitzer family, like in
Arleen Schnitzer concert hall. We tried offering the reward but they
of course would take it so we said we would donate it in there name
to the Oregon Humane Society, since the father is on the board.
We can only guess that whoever picked her up from Quizno’s let her
lose in the area or she escaped from them (good girl!) and was found
by the right family. I was glad that I had read you note about what
to do when you find your dog because I knew what to expect. She
didn’t recognize us as first. She was hesitant to come near me and
then when she did she had to touch me with her nose before she
recognized me. She is acting like she is in shock a bit, but doesn’t
have any major injuries. There is a cut under her eye and she is
walking stiff, but after a bath and good nights sleep, she looks
good. I’m waiting for the vet to open so they can check her out.
Thanks again for all your wonderful help!!! Woo Hoo!!! Lucy is
home!!! Andria
Sun, 6/13/10, Glorylamb7@aol.com Subject: Re: Lost Dog -Carrolton,
GA To: harry98632@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010, 11:50 AM
Harry, Just an update to let you know that my Pom Pom is safe at
home after having been missing for two weeks. Someone picked her up
off the street and sold her to a couple in another state. This
couple saw a flyer I had posted at an animal hospital near the GA/AL
state line and called me. We drove to Alabama on Friday evening and
were reunited! There are still some honest people out there. She had
been well taken care of. Thank you, Jesus! Maybe my story can be an
encouragement to others. God bless, Tonya Lawson
07-14-2010. From: Terry Treves <ttreves@msn.com>
Subject: RE: lost dog ellie To: "Harry Oakes" <harry98632@yahoo.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:50 AM Harry Ellie probably
traveled in a huge circle thru the mini oaks up the creeks and threw
the farm land for the entire 20 days. Bet she covered over 300 miles
in those 20 days. I set a wild trap for 4 days caught nothing. She
was lost June 21st sighted June 30th crossing a dirt road near a
ranch where I lost her. I set the trap close to where I lost her and
followed your advise with baiting and the urine.
I sprayed my urine on all the paths I traveled and back to the trap.
On July 5th I got a text at 4:44 am telling me my dog (lost flyer
mailed to over 30 ranches) had been on their ranch running around
their little trailer barking when they came out and saw her she took
off. I didn't get the text till 7:30 am immediately began to drive
to their ranch over 3 miles away from where I lost her. While
driving down a busy main road (rural) on the way to the ranch where
she had been sighted I spotted Ellie running along the paved road
(bicycle path) I couldn't believe she was right there on the road
almost where I lost her (she had already traveled back 5 miles
Catahoula/mix are amazing).
I stopped my car got and and calmly called Ellie a few times. She
stopped scented the air and stared at me. I kept saying Ellie don't
run it is Terry and then (Catahoula style) she began to whine. She
was at least 50 feet away with a big field behind her and a busy
traffic road where I was parked. All of a sudden she got done on all
4 and so did I she crawled whining on her belly over to my arms.
STILL ALL AMAZING TO ME.
She is fine. She had pulled of her collar with the attached flexi,
covered with ticks, skinny as a rail and half starved but only a
couple of minor scratches. She is home relaxing on my couch and
eating like a horse.
Ellie and I say thank you for your advise. I agree don't give up and
poster and even mail to people in the area where lost. She kept
coming back to the same spot.Again thank you Terry & Ellie "Ellen
Currey-Wilson" <ecurreywilson@gmail.com>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"Harry Oakes" <harry98632@yahoo.com>
08-25-2010. Hi Harry, I wanted you to know I finally got the cat
back yesterday morning at 4 a.m.! It came back earlier in the day
but headed straight under the house. After everything was finally
quiet and everyone was asleep, I crawled under the house and carried
the cat out. It wouldn't come out any other way. Anyway, every day
since you left, I had been using the spray bottle technique (who
would have thought!) and so I guess it led Fluff back. Thank you for
your help. Fluff is fine. I'm scratched up and bruised from being
under the house (a yukky place to be and I just had a tetanus shot)
but it's worth it. We're back in Portland and Fluff is so happy.
Just wanted you to know. Thanks again. Ellen
From: Una unatbailey@gmail.com Subject: Islay found To: "Harry
Oakes" <harry98632@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 8:40 AM
We found Islay! A police officer called at 1:30 in the morning and
said that a dog fitting Islay's description was in the historic
downtown Caldwell area. He said that she was skittish and moving
around a lot but he would keep an eye on her until we got there.
John and I raced there.
I was on the phone with the officer and he said that she was taking
off past our truck. I jumped out and called her name and she whipped
her head around, did a u-turn and ran towards me with her tail
wagging. We were all excited to see each other! Harry, thank you for
your advice through this ordeal. We really appreciate it! Thank you
Una
PET TRANSPORTS and Pet Ambulance Services.
I.K.9.S.A.R.S. has started a new business on the side. Called Pet
Transports. Because the airlines kills over 500 pets per year, more
and more folks are turning to professional transport teams to drive
their beloved pets from Point A to point B. Here’s one of the
Airlines horror stories.
LOS ANGELES — Heather Lombardi paid nearly $300 to fly Snickers, an
11-week-old, 3-pound hairless kitten, from Utah to Connecticut in
climate-controlled air cargo.
By the time kitten and owner united, Snickers was icy cold and
couldn't move her head or paws, Lombardi said. The kitten died a
short time later. "I feel so guilty. We sat there for nearly an
hour. If I'd known, I would have thrown a fit," said Lombardi, who
was flying Snickers home from a breeder. "We just sat there. We had
no idea she was dying."
The Department of Transportation tracks animal deaths in transit,
but no one keeps tabs on how many die of cold or heat in cargo holds
or elsewhere, said veterinarian Louise Murray, vice president of the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Bergh
Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City.
Heat deaths are more common, Murray said, but because winter weather
has been extreme this year, Murray is sure death rates have climbed.
Lombardi's $289.94 cargo ticket on Delta Air Lines included $70 to
make sure Snickers was taken off the plane quickly. But Lombardi
said it took 50 minutes to get the cat off the plane.
Delta Flight 738 to Hartford arrived at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, when the
National Weather Service said it was 10 degrees.
Delta spokeswoman Susan C. Elliott said she couldn't talk about
specifics because the cat's death was under investigation.
"Regardless of the cause, we understand the impact the loss of an
animal can have on a pet owner. We are turning our attention now to
offering our condolences and discussing how we can provide some kind
of restitution to support her (Lombardi) during this time," Elliott
said.
So if you need us to transport your pet, contact us for our fee
schedule.
If you need more info. Please go to our web site at www.k9sardog.com
or rmail us at : searchdog@iinet.com or sardogk91@aol.com
f you wish to make a gift of money to support our Search and Rescue
efforts,
Please send a check to I.K.9.S.A.R.S. PO Box# 1472, Longview,
Washington 98632 USA.
This gift is NOT Tax deductible. WE are NOT A NON PROFIT 501-C-3
Organization. We are in fact a FOR PROFIT Professional business. We
do DONATE our own money, time and efforts during times of disasters.
You can also order Harry’s book “Search and Rescue” available on CD
only. $20.00 plus $2.50 for shipping and handling charges.
Because the photos include dead people, this is for persons of the
age 18 and above. The reality of our work can be sad. “Search and
Rescue” By Harry Oakes.
Harry’s book talks about his career in Search and Rescue starting
with the Boy Scouts, then the sheriff’s office, then working in the
military, then for Mountain Rescue, and eventually becoming
internationally known for his work around the world with his K9
partners.
He also talks about his own search dogs Kodi, Ranger, Valorie,
Willow, and Tyler as well as the 6,650 other teams he’s helped
trained around the world.
He exposes the ugly truths of politics and egos and how they’ve cost
many innocent people their lives.
He also talks about how to train as a search and rescue person and
how to train a search dog. How he finds missing persons, missing
children, runaways.
Then Harry talks about pets, lost and found information, and some of
his 8.750 cases around the world that he’s work. Oklahoma City
Bombing Disaster, Northridge earthquake, Philippine Earthquake,
Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, Joplin, MO Tornados, as well as many
other disasters.
www.k9sardog.com
Thank You
Respectfully
Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
SAR Coordinator / Handler / Instructor.
Revised 10-27-2011. |
