Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could someone please give me some information on the Siberian Husky. On Saturday, 12/20, our 2 1/2-yr-old Siberian Husky, Suka apparently dug his way out of our fenced backyard, and he has not come back. We are desperately searching for him. He has never done this before. I was wondering if anyone could give me some info on the Siberian's homing instinct. Any other advice or info would be appreciated too. We have posted his photo and description of the situation at a large grocery store, and a small convenience store in our area. We've made 60 copies of it, and tomorrow we're going to post them anywhere we can, as well as put them in newspaper boxes of people closest to our house. I am so worried about him. I know Siberians can handle the cold, but tonight it is 10 degrees outside and in the wind it's subzero. We have considered the fact that someone may have stolen him, or he may be tracking a female in heat. But he IS a digger, and there IS a hole under the fence that he's been digging on. It is very possible he got out that way, but the hole looks too small for him, and it seems there should be more hair on the bottom of the fence from him trying to squeeze through. Are they good at getting out of small openings? Do they tend to find their way home when lost? Any info is desperately needed and appreciated. Karen N.

I hope you find your dog soon or that someone contacts you that they have found it. Unfortunately Sibes are runners and like to roam so it may be unlikely he is still in the area. I would spread your posters far and wide and also contact your animal control and local agencies like the police, sheriff and fire depts. to be on the lookout. Sibes, like most Spitz breeds have a mind of their own and if not properly trained may not respond to someone calling them. The also bore easy and do not like being left alone which may explain the digging of the hole. Please post back when you get your dog back. Good Luck!!
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The Three Wise Shiba Guys

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Thanks for your message. I was just thinking...is it possible there could be a female dog in heat somewhere that he could have gone to get? I don't know why, but the last 4-5 days that we had him, he was acting so strange--he was really slow-moving, he kept his tail stuffed up in between his back legs, he seemed to hover over family members, and he was about 3 times as destructive as he usually is. If given the chance, he always liked to chew on things (till they no longer existed!), but he wouldn't do it all the time. The last few days, it seemed like he couldn't help but to chew on things like our clothes, shoes, etc. And he seemed to have more strength with the chewing than usual, or be more focused on the act; he would have things severed in less than a minute, when usually, he likes to drag it out and chew on something for hours. I am feeling guilty, because the last time I saw him, I scolded him for destroying one of my little girl's shirts--he didn't have hold of it for any more than 30 seconds, and it was shredded. I put him out on not too good of terms. Maybe that's why he left. I don't know. I put flyers up today at post offices, and in people's newspaper boxes, as I said in the post. And for the next 2 weeks, there'll be an ad in the paper. I'll keep you posted. Thanks. - kdn

Okay, now it's really hitting me. I spent the entire day yesterday and most of this morning crying my eyes out--I can't see how I have any tears left. I miss him so much! I was doing fine until yesterday when I drove past a woman approaching her fence and a large dog on the yard side going crazy over her, jumping and trying to get to her, her putting her fingers through the fence, the dog nipping at them, etc. I just lost it! I think about how when I'd give him snacks, if he was a little too anxious in taking one, and accidentally toothed my hand a little too hard, then the next one he would barely nip the very tip of the snack so as not to hurt me again. And I hear the little scratching sound 24/7 that indicated he wanted to come inside. Even my husband was sad yesterday, and those two had "had words" on more than one occasion. When I heard him say, "I would give anything to hear him scratch on that door," it really hit home. We are truly desperate. I don't know what we are going to do if he doesn't come back. I've listed him on at least 5 missing pet websites, at our local animal shelter, and the animal control division of the PD. With all the flyers and posted photos of him everywhere, I can't see how someone hasn't found him yet. I wonder if the reason he was acting so odd the last few days meant he was really sick, and maybe just went off to ... , well, I don't know, probably not. When we first got him, we almost tried to give him back to the breeder because we couldn't seem to teach him anything. After almost 6 months, and $2,000 worth of new flooring, he finally learned to go outside to the bathroom. Sometimes I wish we had given him back, but the main reason we didn't is because we were already so bonded with him even at that time. Now it's been two more years. He is such a wonderful animal. And what worries me is he is so easy to fall in love with. He is so friendly and loving, even if someone did find him, it wouldn't take long to get attached to him and not want to give him back. If this were the case, I would hope that a neighbor or family member of the person would contact us. Please say a prayer for the safe return of my Suka. Thank you, kdn

Something really strange has happened. My husband went back to the convenience store where we posted one of our lost dog notices, and the notice was not there. He asked the clerk where it was, and he said a man came in there a day or so ago and said he had seen a dog matching Suka's description laying in a ditch less than a mile from our house, and the guy took the sign down. My husband drove around that area and he did not see any dead dogs. I find it very strange that this man would take the sign down, when all he saw was a dog that looks like our dog. He had no right to take it down at all. I think he's got Suka or has information on his whereabouts. The clerk also said that the guy said he's "involved in breeding Siberians" and for us to contact him if we wanted to buy another one. But he didn't leave any contact numbers. Friday, I am going right back down there and put the sign back up. I'm going to branch out a little further and distribute flyers to each house via their paper box. My husband seems to have a defeatist attitude about it now--he says this guy's got Suka, and that's that. He doesn't express any hope now of finding him. I am not going to give up. I will never give up until I see him for myself again, alive or dead.

Karen is possible to work with the store manager or maybe have the police dept review the security tapes to see if they can spot the person who took the poster down? Might be worth to take a shot. That whole scenario sounds very strange... did the clerk recognize the man as a regular customer? Thanks for the continued updates and I keep good thoughts that your dog will be returned.
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The Three Wise Shiba Guys

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

That's a great idea. I will try that. Some possibilities I have been thinking about are 1) that Suka was taken for stud service, and may or may not be returned; 2) he was after a female in heat; 3) someone gave him as a Christmas present for someone else; and 4)someone who hasn't seen the postings has got him or knows where he is and is trying to locate the owner. My brother lives in Kentucky, and he said his neighbor lost her dog, and posted the dog on national websites, etc. and her dog was found in Houston, Texas! It had been stolen out of her yard. Nothing is impossible with God and a whole bunch of great people and organizations on the lookout. I am confident that we will bring him home. I'll let you know if we locate the guy.
Always hopeful, kdn

Karen just another thought... has Suka been micro-chipped or tattooed? If so it wouldn't hurt to contact your vet and any vet in the surrounding area to be sure and scan any Sibes that might be brought to them. Ask your vet if they have a network of some kind that something like an all points bulletin can be put out. Good Luck!
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The Three Wise Shiba Guys

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

I do hope your missing dog is found soon and returned to you. It's so tough when they are gone. I'm so sorry this happened.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas