Begin by finding your dog's general location, typically via sightings (but some areas, including the Mid-Atlantic area, have trained missing pet trackers).
Once you have found your dog's general location, and if he/she won't come to you on seeing you, your next steps are to condition your dog to remain in that area, and finally, to contain your dog via trapping, if necessary. (Plan on it.)
Many of the supplies and equipment mentioned here are likely too expensive to consider purchasing for one lost dog recovery effort. But since most of them are items used for many other purposes, you may be able to borrow them from people you know, or by asking for loaners on sites such as Craigslist.
Bait Station Supplies: leaving food for your dog is often the best way to limit his movement, and keep him in the area. It's easy to do this, of course, but there are some challenges you may encounter. Some products available include
<> heated pet dishes for use in freezing cold weather; heated bird baths also work for this
<> self/automatic food & water dishes for when you can't get to the bait station as often as you need to
Humane Trapping: If you have found but can't contain your dog, turn to humane trapping. AWOL Dogs can often help with both procurement of a loaner trap and instruction in its use, or refer you to contacts we have in the area that can help. Get an overview of what humane trapping is about at YouTube, which at any given time, has a good number of videos that will overview how to set a humane trap. Here are a few: Havahart Easy Set Cage Trap *** Live Trap 48 Inch SetUp *** How to Catch a Dog in 3 Easy Steps
If it looks like your only source for a humane trap is going to be to buy one (most likely online), a few sources are: Trucatch Traps *** Animal-Care *** Wildlife Traps
SUPPLIES FOR SURVEILLANCE
In general, it's best to let feeding stations and humane traps do their work without humane interference, and running the risk of scaring your dog. But at times, there are reasons to want to conduct surveillance of a feeding station or a trap. You'll encounter a number of challenges, and here are some products you may find useful.
Wildlife cameras: let a camera do your surveillance for you; it's a way to determine if it's your dog that is eating from your feeding station that non-threatening to your dog. There are many, many different wildlife cameras available, so do plenty of internet research before you buy one since you would be dropping a pretty penny on one. There is one camera in particular that is on the Missing Pet Partnerships' wish list, and they have done some research on wildlife cameras. If you are in Northern Virginia, AWOL Dogs may be able to assist with procurement of a loaner camera and instructions in its use.
Night vision: To determine if your own dog is eating from your feeding station, you want to watch from as far away as possible. Use night vision to see in the dark -- borrowed, if possible as this is fairly expensive. Do internet research to pick from among the many options available if you decide to purchase it. If you are in Northern Virginia, AWOL Dogs may be able to assist with procurement of a loaner night vision monocular.
To shoo away other animals hanging around the trap, from your distance, a few ideas are: laser light pet toys *** kids water toys *** remote control water sprinklers; here's a video overview; here's an interesting idea
Hunting blinds: If the best place for you to put the feeding station is somewhere that you can't observe from a car, you could consider observing from a hunting blind. YouTube has many videos that can give you an overview of hunting blinds, and here are a couple: General information *** Setup & take down demos AWOL Dogs may be able to assist with procurement of a loaner hunting blind.
Scent inhibitors: A problem that comes with putting yourself right there, especially in a hunting blind, is that you have a lot of scent that your dog will recognize as human scent. Unless the dog you are trying to capture is your own dog with whom you are very bonded, you should consider going through motions to reduce your scent as much as possible. There are many products on the market for this, or you can make your own. Here are a few informational resources: an overview *** product comparisons *** a recipe to make your own
Skilled and Experienced Trappers on the east coast: If you have reason to believe that a humane trap won't work (usually only after you try it), there are a couple of pet trappers that you can contact to help you.
Near Baltimore is Sam Connolly, Pure Gold Pet Trackers, and she comes to Northern Virginia frequently. In Pennsylvania is Steve Hagey, Detect-a-Pet, and he is less often able to travel to Virginia than Sam. Both of these trappers construct a trap for you, and here are some pictures of Sam's trap. It works in several different ways, and it always set up according to the conditions of the specific case.
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| Sam's custom trap set up in the woods |
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| Salsa demonstrates this trap working |
