By Janet McAfee
Daisy’s family was on vacation when their 9-year-old Silky Terrier tragically escaped on June 29th. She disappeared from a home where she was being cared for near 42nd and Adams in Bermuda Dunes. The family is devastated, and their two young children pray for her return every night. A video of the children holding Daisy’s photo on Facebook is heartbreaking.
There were two reported sightings of a stray dog resembling Daisy in Bermuda Dunes last week, one of them inside the Bermuda Dunes Country Club. Daisy was wearing a collar with her address and phone number, though she was not microchipped. Daisy weighs about 10 lbs, and her tail is only one inch long. Daisy’s family lives in Orange County, and she got loose in an unfamiliar neighborhood. She is a bit skittish, and may run if you approach her too quickly, but she does respond to treats. The recent sightings, one from a mailman, lead us to believe she is still out there on the run.
CALL (714)457-8238 if you spot Daisy or have any information on her whereabouts. There is a reward offered for her safe return, no questions asked.
Please keep an eye out for Daisy and tell others about her story. Here are some things you can do should your own cat or dog ever go missing:
CREATE A FLYER
Boiler plates to make flyers with your dog or cat’s photo are on www.bestfriends.org or www.petbond.com. Not computer savvy? Find a teenager to help. Put flyers on local bulletin boards including PetCo, Starbucks, vet clinics, grooming salons, and local shelters. Pass out flyers to postal workers, gardeners, utility workers, tree trimmers, security guards, and others who spend time in your community.
MAKE SIGNS
Big colorful, eye catching signs can be posted on telephone posts, at dog parks, and at intersections controlled by traffic lights. It helps to highlight the word REWARD.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Post your dog’s photo on Facebook and ask your friends to SHARE and TAG. Continue to re-post on Facebook, and ask local animal welfare groups to post on their pages. Post on the Facebook page “Lost and Found Pets in the Coachella Valley”.
GO DOOR TO DOOR IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
In almost every case of missing dogs I’ve helped with, the dog is within a few blocks of the home he disappeared from. Someone took the animal into their home for a variety of reasons.
Search a 10-block radius from your home, and knock on doors. Call your pet’s name loudly as he could be in someone’s back yard or be injured. The best time to search is early morning or at night when there is less noise. Check vacant homes, backyards, schools, and under cars. Cats can sometimes hide under cars or under the hood of a car.
CHECK LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTERS
Go in person every few days to your local public shelter since you are the best one to recognize your pet. All shelters check for microchips and ID tags, but sometimes collars and tags get lost. A stray animal can turn up in a shelter weeks after he disappears. Check shelters within a 50 mile radius in case he was picked up by someone traveling. Look in the kennels, search the “Found” book, the “Deceased” book, and fill out a lost report.
CHECK PETHARBOR.COM, CRAIGSLIST.COM, FIDOFINDER.COM & JOIN NEXTDOOR.COM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Check Craigslist for “FOUND” animals. Check the section for “animals for sale”, in case someone is trying to sell your pet for profit.
CONTACT THE MEDIA
Our local television station, Channel 6 KMIR, has a program to help find missing pets. Email them a photo, description, location where the pet was lost or found, and contact information to news@KMIR6.com. Post a notice under the “Lost Pets” section in local newspapers such as the Desert Sun and Penny Saver.
MAKE A TRAIL TO YOUR HOME WITH YOUR CLOTHING
Cut up a piece of clothing that has your scent, and leave small pieces of the garment over the blocks leading up to your home. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell, and this may lead them back home.
ORGANIZE A SEARCH PARTY
Gather your friends and family at Starbucks on a weekend morning, and supply them with coffee and flyers. Map out the area each person needs to cover.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL MISSING PET SEARCH COMPANY
You can go online to locate a business that will assist in your search. There are many to choose from, and I don’t have a particular one to recommend.
Jmcafee7@verizon.net
