Looking for your lost dog

Have you ever lost your dear pet? Or are you still looking for it? We know, losing a pet is one of the hardest things to bear. The worst part is you miss it so much; you feel that you don’t have anything to do; you miss cuddling it. You go looking for it in every possible place.

Does this sound like a familiar situation to you? I know, you feel that the odds are strong and that you will find your pet. Let’s try to help you. Let’s briefly go over three things:

(1) Why pets run away and where they often go,

(2) The logical steps to take in assisting recovery, and

(3) Things you can tell your friends later if you are among the many who succeed in recovering your lost pet.

Why pets run away and where they often go

Normally, pets run away from acute boredom or loneliness, to answer physical urges if they have not been neutered, in response to sudden and unexpected events that frighten them, out of curiosity if doors, windows or gates are left open, or if they are new to a home and are looking for their former surroundings.

How far they will run is a matter of how far their legs will carry them. Big strong dogs, especially young ones, can run five miles or more. Small dogs may be able to go a maximum distance of half a mile. Most dogs are recovered well within a two mile circle of their home, especially because they normally will never run for an extended length in a straight line, no matter how strong or fast they are.

If it is an outgoing dog, it will be looking for other dogs and other humans who are friendly and likely to comfort, feed and shelter it. Neighbours’ yards and public parks are spots it will like. If it is a shy or older pet and not trusting of strangers, it will hide. Bushes and under cars are good spots to look for them.

It is most likely that your pet tried to return home, but failed. In a certain minority of cases, the dog has been in harm’s way.

In many cases, someone will take in your pet. They will be driving by and have your dog jump in their car. They will be working in the neighbourhood. They may live down the street. More often than not, they will not be equipped to house your pet.

If you have a tag on your dog with a current phone number including area code, that has a working answering machine or voice mail on it, or an address, then you have made the job of your pet coming back to you much easier.

Sometimes, and only rarely, do people try to keep a pet that is not theirs. There are neighbours, friends, children, and all the people who come to a home to service its needs that have the opportunity to see that pet. That is a lot of eyes seeing a new pet arrive.

We will be talking about this matter in our next article too. Be with us for tips to find your lost dog.

Compiled by Janani Amarasekara

 

I love Tu Tu

My pet dog’s name is Tu Tu. It is five years old. It is very beautiful. Tu Tu likes to bark; it barks at strangers. Its favourite food is meat and rice. Its favourite drink is milk. Tu Tu likes to play with me. It can run very fast. Tu Tu obeys me. I love Tu Tu and it also loves me a lot.

R. Ama Vidarshi, Grade 6 A,G/ Revatha National School, Balapitiya.

My pet

My pet is a kind of animal
And is also a mammal
It lives in a kennel
And gives its tail a waggle

It chases after rats
Its great enemies are cats
At night it sleeps on a mat
It’s a bit fat

It likes to eat rice
And sometimes also mice
Some of them pull carts on ice
Some are covered with lice

Some of them maybe
Get a cute little baby
But they spread rabies
Still I love to pet the kiddies

It always comes by my side
And wants a daily ride
It’s something thieves should avoid
And its ears are very wide

We pull it by a chain
And it drags us to the drain
It has a good brain
So it runs off on us again

No need to trouble you more
It’s all about my cute little dog
It says ‘hi, hello’
Giving a hearty bellow!

Dinidu de Silva, Grade 7, St. Joseph’s College, Colombo 10.