[Villager Joyce]

It seems of late there have been many fur balls who are lost. It breaks my heart and almost makes me sick to my stomach to think about a baby who is lost.

Why so many? Why Are owners not using leashes? I see more and more dogs without leashes at the post office and squares. It takes a split second and s/he is gone.

[Susan G]

The one we are tracking now (Chewy) was taken out of car, no leash/collar/harness) sat on sidewalk at Brownwood by owner and off he went running like a banshee....

Others leave door from house to garage open to put out trash, etc. and off they go. Falling/jumping out of moving or parked carts is another escape method.

PLEASE everyone-- collar/harness with CURRENT tags, leash and microchip. Its getting to be a daily occurrence and our volunteers are exhaust it to mention the poor dogs.

[justjim]

Most dog owners are very responsible but a few are not. We don't have a dog now but microchip and collar with tag seems the right thing to do for your dog.

[Sable99]

Lexi is always on leash but not long ago she snuck out our front door. I was panicked. Luckily, my neighbor just drove in the driveway and caught her. She is so fast and pays absolutely no attention to me when we are outside!

[Jaggy]

First time our Millie got out...( I had taken out trash and the door to the garage didn't latch).... neighbor knocked on door and said Millie is running up the street.. she came to me when I called her , but we were lucky..( I have a name tag on her collar and micro chip, but still...panic mode )... the next day the garage door had a screen installed.. no more escape artist doggie !!!

[asianthree]

There are collars that have GPS tracking to find your pet, yes I know it's going to be close to $100 but isn't worth it to be able to literally find your pet by a GPS tracker. If everyone who owns a pet would buy a device for their beloved fur baby, there would be less heart break

[CFrance]

There are many ways an otherwise well-monitored pet gets loose, (although apparently not the case with Chewy.) My husband looked out the den window one day to spot our dog meandering down the middle of the street. The front door had blown open. My friend's two goldens went on a romp in a swamp when the pool man left the gate unlatched to her CYV. Our "driveway dog," who loved to chill in the yard in Michigan, was brought back to us by a neighbor, dragging his tie-out line & apparatus behind him.

Cats are known escape artists--much more crafty than dogs at getting out. Small dogs are quicker and more agile at bolting than large, lumbering dogs.

The list of ways is endless, even if you are the most careful of owners. Here's hoping the latest ones find their way back home.

[plimit56]

If you know that your dog may be a runner then you always need to diligent at putting gates up at doors. Also need to be sure they always have a collar or harness on with tags. Some people have put screen doors up at the entrance going in and out or from and to the garage.

[angiefox10]

I think there have always been pets getting loose. I've had friends in this neighborhood lose pets and we have found pets since we moved here.

It wasn't until my girlfriend's dog Ginger and Hope got loose at the same time that I realized we had no real network to find dogs in The Villages.

We are a population of around 125,000 spanning three counties! We needed a network! A way to get the word out to as many people as possible about lost and found dogs.

Up north, each community had a lost pets page and it works. Pets are found in record time!

So.... I decided to start the group, Lost Pets of The Villages on FaceBook. In time more people will join the group and share the posts, making it faster to find your pets.

If you are on FaceBook, join the group! As we post pets that are lost AND found... Please share the posts so that more people can be aware of the last pet!

The more people who know, the more efficient finding your pets will be.

I would like to also add that we have rescuers from all over the area checking sites for your lost dog. So... as soon as we post... they are trying to make a match.

We are still looking for Ginger and Hope.


Lost Pets Of The Villages Public Group | Facebook

[Villager Joyce]

##### nevermind

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by CFrance

There are many ways an otherwise well-monitored pet gets loose, (although apparently not the case with Chewy.)
The list of ways is endless, even if you are the most careful of owners. Here's hoping the latest ones find their way back home.

It's true that well-monitored pets can get lost. Cats are especially tricky.
Some pet owners are careless, but not many. Even the best-loved pet can go missing.
I wish there was a magic answer, but most pets are like two-year old kids and have no sense of danger.
Hopefully when we hear about a missing pet, we'll be even more careful about our furballs.
I try not to judge. I just think "There but for the Grace of God go I".
The Villages Radio Station performs a valuable service by talking about lost and found pets.
And thanks to Angiefox, there is more focus than ever before on lost pets. Thanks also to SusanG.
Hold your pets close tonight; and give them an extra belly rub.

[redwitch]

I had an Old English that was never on a lead. I'd trained him as a pup to run beside my bike. In 14 years he never once bolted nor tried to run away. I had an Afghan that would bolt at the blink of an eye. Open the door a crack and she was gone. Fortunately, the neighborhood knew her and would open their car door. She'd hop in and they'd bring her home. There is no way I could catch her. I lost an Afghan because she jumped a ten foot fence. That was heartbreaking. I had an escape kitty who thought any opening meant she had to get out. How she survived living near a busy street was beyond me but she did.

Some animals are natural runners. It doesn't mean the homeowner is irresponsible. Losing a beloved pet is hard. If the pet suffers because of your carelessness, you have to live with the guilt as well as the pain. I wouldn't try to make someone feel even worse when their pet gets get loose, they're hurting enough.

Thank you Angie and Susan in your efforts. Tis truly appreciated.

[Taltarzac725]

Originally Posted by redwitch

I had an Old English that was never on a lead. I'd trained him as a pup to run beside my bike. In 14 years he never once bolted nor tried to run away. I had an Afghan that would bolt at the blink of an eye. Open the door a crack and she was gone. Fortunately, the neighborhood knew her and would open their car door. She'd hop in and they'd bring her home. There is no way I could catch her. I lost an Afghan because she jumped a ten foot fence. That was heartbreaking. I had an escape kitty who thought any opening meant she had to get out. How she survived living near a busy street was beyond me but she did.

Some animals are natural runners. It doesn't mean the homeowner is irresponsible. Losing a beloved pet is hard. If the pet suffers because of your carelessness, you have to live with the guilt as well as the pain. I wouldn't try to make someone feel even worse when their pet gets get loose, they're hurting enough.

Thank you Angie and Susan in your efforts. Tis truly appreciated.

My dog Sport got out a few years ago because my late brother who had been staying with us back then did not shut the front door properly and a wind pushed it open. We were at a dinner party down street and Sport went looking for me. Chuck was out with his wife Grace somewhere else. A nice Belvedere woman who wandered the neighbor with her West Highland White Terrier (WESTIE) as well as her neghbor's WESTIE found him walking to the Lynnhaven Postal Center, picked him up, and had him watching TV with the two Westies after calling neighborhood watch. West Highland White Terrier (Westie) Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club

Beau slipped out the back door last May 2015 when I was flying home from a week in DC. My Mom was watering the plants and did not keep a good eye on him. He was probably looking for me like Sport was. Beau just came back to the lanai door after he checked out the neighborhood.