Id Tag And Quick Response Key To Finding Lost Pet

The panic usually sets in after the first hour: Your dog is missing.

You’re a responsible dog owner. When you’re away from home, you keep your dog confined in a safe place. Or if he’s a working dog on your ranch, you’ve trained him to never leave your property.

But accidents happen to even the best dog owners. The problem is, will people know what to do if they see your dog? Will they assume he’ll wander home eventually? Will they try to catch him? How will he react?

In support of National Dog Bite Prevention Week June 10-15, local experts offered this advice on finding and helping lost dogs:

Finding your dog

Time and identification tags are of the essence, according to Jan Emmick, board member of the Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint.

“Don’t assume that he’s just down at the neighbors,” Emmick said. “There’s nothing more tragic than someone coming into the shelter two weeks after their dog has disappeared and finding out it was put down because it wasn’t claimed, it didn’t have identification and there just isn’t enough space in animal shelters to keep all the stray dogs.”

Helping strays

If a dog is wandering in traffic or along a rural road, report it to your local animal control agency (see phone numbers listed below).

“Animals in traffic are a priority,” said Gail Mackie, executive director of SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.

If a stray dog wanders into your fenced yard, close the gate and call local animal control. If you feel comfortable keeping the dog while you search for its owner, make sure to alert all local animal shelters. Place a classified advertisement in all local newspapers. Most will run the ad for free for several days.

Helping injured dogs

Injured dogs can be very dangerous. Frightened, in pain and in shock, they can bite even their owners in a millisecond, said Dr. Robert Slack of Manito Veterinary Clinic.

If you find an injured dog, Slack advises calling an animal control officer to take it to a veterinarian. While waiting for the officer, cover the dog with a jacket or blanket if it’s cold, raining or snowing; provide shade on a warm day.

If you must move the dog yourself, Slack advises muzzling it first by tying something soft - like the sleeve of a sweat shirt - gently around its mouth. Remove the muzzle when done.

According to Dr. Vern Brock, Slack’s partner, most veterinarians will not charge good samaritans for the cost of treating an injured stray dog. But some will.

Preventing an attack

“The worst thing you can do if you encounter an aggressive loose dog is to run,” said Nancy Sattin, director of Spokane County Animal Control.

What should you do? Here’s what Sattin, Diane Rasmussen of the Spokane Humane Society and Carol Byrnes of SpokAnimal advise:

If charged, hold still. Yawn. Avoid direct eye contact. Take off sunglasses because they reflect the dog’s image.

Take baby steps backwards to a safe place, freezing again if the dog starts to approach.

Find a nearby object to use as a shield - NOT a weapon if necessary. Bikes and backpacks work well.

If attacked, drop down into a fetal position and cover your head with your arms. Stay still and quiet.

Finding an animal control officer

Here are some numbers to call:

City of Spokane - SpokAnimal, 534-8133

Spokane County - Spokane County Animal Control, 458-2532

City of Coeur d’Alene - Coeur d’Alene Police Department, (208) 769-2320

Kootenai County - Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, (208) 664-1511

Other locations - try city police or county sheriff departments.

Animal shelters

Spokane Humane Society, 467-5235

Spokane County Animal Shelter, 458-2532

SpokAnimal, 534-8133

Kootenai Humane Society, (208) 772-4019

Panhandle Animal Shelter, (208) 265-7297.

xxxx