What to do if Your Frenchie is Lost

Finding Your Lost Dog

Running away is a common fear all dog owners have. Because some breeds have a higher theft rate than others, owners of these at risk categories should go to greater lengths to ensure that their pet isn't another statistic. A pet may disappear for any number of reasons, running away from home, taking flight out of fear, or theft. What do you do now that your worst fear has become a reality? The first thing you need to do is to keep your wits about you. If you take these steps, you'll increase the likelihood of getting your pet back.

Preventative measures go a long way. Don't wait until after the fact that they're gone, get an identification tag NOW. Don't wait, act immediately. Passively waiting several days anticipating your pet's return decreases the chance that you will ever be reunited. The quicker you begin your search for your lost pet, the better the odds are of finding him.  

The best thing that you can possibly do is microchip your Frenchie. The best defense is a good offense. This will be your most valuable tool in the arsenal of finding your beloved French Bulldog should the both of you ever become separated. The microchip is a transponder the size of a grain of rice. vThis permanent radio-frequency identification chip is usually placed under the dog's skin over the dog's shoulder and is read by a chip scanner. The process is quick and no more painful than a vaccination, the chip can't get lost, the number is unique, and the owner's name and address are available on regional and national data bases so the dog can be returned quickly and safely.

If your pet becomes lost or runs away from your residence, stop, think and reason; then do a thorough search of your house or apartment, including accessible ventilation areas and behind or inside of large appliances like dryers or refrigerators. Always keep the dog's perspective, if you were that size where would you be hiding or have fallen into?  

Failing that, next search the neighborhood where your pet was lost, talk to residents and leave your phone number and description of your pet with them. Call your pet's name while shaking a box of food or bag of favorite treats. Stop, look, and listen for sounds of your pet. Do this especially at night since some pets may be afraid to come out in the daylight. Place a piece of clothing outside your home so your pet can 'smell home.'

If you have a computer or access to one, make up a quick flyer with a recent picture of your pet and place them in a wide radius around the neighborhood. Be diverse in their placement; include post offices, libraries, pet supply stores, veterinary offices, and grocery stores. Be aware of scams, NEVER divulge all of your pet's identifying characteristics in the flyer, keep some things from the public. Have the finder tell the characteristics you intentionally omitted.

Don't delay calling veterinary clinics in the area, humane societies, animal control, and the police. Since people place ads in the “lost and found” or “pet” sections of newspapers be sure to daily check these postings. Place an add yourself offering a reward. More people than not will respond to adds offering rewards for returned pets.

Go to the animal shelters yourself; not all of them will give you information by phone. Some shelters post their finds and captures on the internet with daily revisions. This route may save time and prevent you from going on a wild goose-chase when your efforts can be more productively spent in searching for your pet.

Call your local radio stations. Some radio stations will broadcast lost pet information for free. Give them detailed information on where the pet was lost, its description, and how to contact you.

Hopefully you'll never have to use this information, but it's nice to know and have it handy just in case.

Factors Influencing Distances Traveled

So far we've given you practical advice on reconnecting you to your lost pet. This in-depth practical knowledge will help you hone in faster on your little lost one. There's a lot to take into account, all factors considered, when searching for a lost pet. These major factors influence the distance lost dogs travel: temperament, circumstances, weather, terrain, appearance, and population density. 

Dog Temperament

How a dog behaves toward strangers influences the distance they travel before someone intervenes and rescues him. There are three primary behavioral categories into which lost dogs fall:

Gregarious dogs, because of their nature, are more inclined to go to the first person who calls them. Depending on the terrain and the population density where the dog was lost, they will generally be found close to where they escaped from. Friendly dogs are often adopted by the individuals who find them.

Aloof dogs are wary of strangers and will initially avoid human contact. Once the initial fear is overcome, often times spurred on by hunger, human contact can be initiated. Though these dogs can travel great distances, eventually they can be enticed with food and patience. They are often recovered by rescue group volunteers; their wariness can be misinterpreted as abuse. Since these dogs are not recovered for weeks or months after their escape, their physical appearance of thinness with accompanying injuries gives them the impression that they are homeless, unloved, and abused.

Fearful dogs are more inclined to travel farther and suffer a higher mortality rate from passing cars. Due to their cowering, fearful behavior, it is often assumed that they were abused. Even if the dog has ID tags, the rescuers may refuse to contact the owners. Some of these terrified dogs will even run from their owners. It may be necessary to use other dogs to capture them or to use baited dog traps.

Circumstances Surrounding the Disappearance

A dog that digs out from a yard to explore will tend to travel a short distance before she is found – meandering and doubling back. On the other hand a dog that bolts in panic because of fireworks or thunder will take off at a blind run for several miles.

Weather

A dog that escapes on a warm, summer day may travel farther than one who escapes in a snowstorm. Extreme weather conditions will decrease the distances that lost dogs travel.

Terrain

An escaped dog from a residential area won't travel as far as one who escapes in a mountainous terrain. Fences create barriers and will influence a dog's travel since they tend to take a path of least resistance. 

Appearance of the Dog

The breed can often determine how quickly the dog will be rescued. Most people are less likely to rescue a dangerous breed but are more likely to pick up a Frenchie. Size matters too, people are more inclined to pick up your Frenchie since they not only look vulnerable, they are easier to transport and house than larger dogs. Additionally, people are more likely to rescue a purebred rather than a mixed-breed dog. Motorists who see a mixed-breed trotting down the sidewalk tend to think that the dog belongs in the neighborhood or is a homeless stray. But when people see a Frenchie, their inclination is to rationalize that he must be a lost pet since he is a purebred dog.

Population Density.

When dogs escape into densely populated areas, their chances of being found close to where they escaped from are increased. However, in low population areas, they tend to travel further and their chances of being found decrease. A dog who escapes in the middle of the night will travel farther than a dog who gets out during rush-hour traffic.

Rescuer Behaviors That Create Problems

People who find stray dogs often misinterpret the dog's behavior. They assume that the cowering, fearful dog was abused when, in fact, the dog has a xenophobic temperament and has been shy and fearful since she was a puppy, due to genetics and puppyhood experiences. Dogs found in rural areas are often assumed to be “dumped” and homeless; many rescuers never think that this could be a lost dog. Some people who find stray dogs without a collar automatically assume that the dog is homeless and seek to place the dog instead of finding their rightful owners. The local shelter is usually the first place where people search for their lost dogs but is typically the last place where someone who finds a stray will take him due to the fear of euthanasia. 

Created Problems Through Owner Behavior

People, through their actions or lack thereof, often inhibit their chances of recovering their lost dogs. Some have a wait and see approach believing their dog will return home. By the time they start actively searching, those vital first few hours, during which they might have located the dog or witnesses who saw the dog, are gone. Others who develop tunnel vision focus on wrong theories. They might assume that their dog was stolen and sold for research when, in fact, their dog may have been rescued and put up for adoption through a local agency. They experience grief avoidance and abandon the search feeling helpless and alone. They become discouraged by the rebuking of others who tell them “it was just a dog” or inform the owner that they'll never find their lost.

In addition, the level of human-animal bond will influence the recovery efforts of a lost dog. People with strong ties will go to extremes to find their lost dog. They tirelessly visit all the local shelters, post flyers, and contact rescue groups while maintaining a full-time job and other family commitments. People with a weak human-animal bond quickly become discouraged, assume they will never see their dog again, and will stop looking.