Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi Everyone. My Kita ran away this morning. It was a windy day and the wind blew the door open and she bolted. I'm panicking! This happened at 9:30 this morning and she has been missing ever since. I have searched EVERYWHERE around my neighborhood. I live in North Philadelphia. I have filed a lost report with the SPCA, posted flyers, and walked up and down the streets calling her name within a half a mile radius. I have been at this from 9:30 until 7PM and I have no idea what to do. She has no collar on and is not microchipped (kicking myself in the but for that). I feel so helpless and really need advice on what to do. Any little tidbit would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Joanne

Joanne... sorry to be reading this. I'm sure you are beside yourself with worry. In addition to the SPCA it might be helpful to notify the local law enforcement agencies and possible even the fire dept to just keep a watch when they are on patrol. It might also be wise as she isn't chipped to contact some of the local vet offices in case she is found and brought in. As we know these dogs are runners... advise anyone out looking for her to NOT try to chase her. This will only make her run away. Have the people get on the ground and try enticing her with a treat or try making a game of it. The idea is to try to appear to pay little attention to her while at the same time trying to draw her close enough to catch her. Hopefully in the morning she will be found safe and sound. Good Luck to you and please keep us posted.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Do you have any good pictures of her? Go to a print shop and get postcards made that have a picture of her, list your contact info, and identify any of her recognizable characteristics. Mail these postcards to every shelter, vet's office, police/fire station, animal control, dog park, and rescue organization within a 50 mile radius. Then if she is brought in to one of these places, they will be able to call you. It will also help them to keep an eye out for her.

We did this when my Akita was stolen and we received calls for over a year afterward from shelters all over the state anytime even an Akita mix was brought in. We never did find him (which we didn't expect to b/c he didn't leave the house on his own), but we raised a lot of awareness that would have helped us find him if he was just lost.

Oh, no. Also call Philadelphia Animal Control and local vet's offices--I'd put signs up at the vet's offices and on the streets too.

Joanne, have you found Kita? I hope the answer is YES! and you've just been busy hugging her!
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

Did you find Kita? I was having deja vu while reading your story. I had gone to work, when my husband got out of the shower to find our front door wide open and Indy no where in sight. He looked for hours for her and was headed back home to find me, when he saw a car and Indy's head popped up in the windshield (She always rides on the center console in our cars.) He turned his truck to make a road block and jumped out to wave them over. The man had asked if this dog was his and my husband said yes. Then the man said that he had planned to give it to their kids for Christmas if they didn't see any posters(which was 3days away mind you.) Indy had a collar but no license. We went out and got one for her that same day.

Very scary story! Did you ever find out how the front door got opened? Collars and tags really aren't enough. Is Indy micro chipped?
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Anne, Bill, and Murphy

Brrrr!

Luckily Indy was already chipped when we got her. I am just assuming the wind or something. Maybe I didn't shut it all the way when I left. I don't know for sure. Now I check everything because she is an escape artist.