My dog is missing.

[woodman]

I am missing him. He got out of my van at Menards on Sunday the 6th, so he's been gone over a week. The van has electric doors and they seem to be malfunctioning. When we came out from shopping the side door was open and he was gone. He is frightened of people he doesn't know and even with people he knows, he is shy. He was chased in the parking lot it turns out. A couple of boys tried to catch him and he lit out panicked. We searched for hours that night but no luck.

We keep traveling down to the town, it is about 45 minutes from home and we have had no luck. It breaks my heart to think of him alone and cold and hungry. We have notified all the shelters and passed out flyers and done facebooking. No avail. I have put out a reward but I don't think it will help, he just won't go to anyone. The coyotes in this area are thick, so I think his days are numbered. On Monday we did get a couple of facebook notifications that he'd been seen near the campus there. Our effort were renewed, but no luck.

I took some of our clothes down and threw them in the weeds by the area he was seen and threw treats around. In another spot I set his cage with his bedding in the slim chance he finds it and stays there.

It is amazing how much a person can love a dog and how much a dog can love a person. He would follow my wife around and drive her crazy, but now she is inconsolable. The kids are grown and though we see and love the grandkids all the time, we have grown so close to him, like family.

I feel like I failed him somehow.

Anyway, love and appreciate your family, friends (both furry and not) and everything around you in life, because we don't know when things will go awry and you will loose that which means so much. Maybe think about chipping your dogs. I know if I ever get another, I will do so.

I do have a couple of bonehead outside hounds that could probably navigate their way home from anywhere and chickens too, so we aren't alone.

Sure wish we could get him home and safe and warm though.

[Shami-Amourae]

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/27/fd/8b/27fd8ba0d62a07c039ab0cac15857812.jpg

[EE_]

So sorry man. Sending prayers you will find him yet.

[Cebu_4_2]

Just an idea, post flyers at the schools, elementary high, convenience stores, gas stations, etc. That way your message will be much further expanded. I wish you luck!

[govcheetos]

Hate to hear that man, said a prayer for you and him.

[Hitch]

More prayers sent. Keep us posted. Dogs can be tough survivors.

[milehi]

That sucks. I rescued a chi mix yesterday. Called the number on his collar. My dog doesn't have a tag but will after this. I found him at lunch four hours from home. It's a good thing the owners were day drinking and still at the same motel or he would've turned into a job dog, although he didn't look like he could carry much pipe.

[Celtic Rogue]

So sorry !!! There is nothing worse than a loved one that is missing...furry or not! My thoughts are with you and I hope your pooch turns up soon! Ooo(

[Cebu_4_2]

Craigslist has lost pets catagory.

[midnight rambler]

Drag. I hope you're able to recover him safe and sound. Keep us posted however the outcome.

[Glass]

Does the dog have any bedding? A blanket? Can you cut off a few small pieces and fix them around the area where you lost the dog? Nail them to a post or a bit of wire. Post a few Lost Dog posters.

Maybe the dog will get pick up the familiar smell and hang around a bit more. Some one might notice dog and posters. Put 2 and 2 together and you get a phone call.

[woodman]

Does the dog have any bedding? A blanket? Can you cut off a few small pieces and fix them around the area where you lost the dog? Nail them to a post or a bit of wire. Post a few Lost Dog posters.

Maybe the dog will get pick up the familiar smell and hang around a bit more. Some one might notice dog and posters. Put 2 and 2 together and you get a phone call.

Yup, done it all. Posted reward, got the high school to announce it. Reward posters. I'll try craiglist, thanks Cebu. Hadn't thought of that. Well, it's quarter to six and I'm off to look again, but I've got work to do also. Exhausting deal.

[Awoke]

Also check Facebook if you're on it, for local "Lost/Found Pets" in your area. Good luck!

[EE_]

Did you post flyers at all the local grocery stores? Everyone has to go there.

[madfranks]

Dang, I hope you find your dog!

[hoarder]

Sad. Dogs are man's best friend. I just took pics of my dog so I can use them on flyers if she gets lost. I hope you get it back.

[EE_]

A few years back, my Brittany ran off in the desert and was gone for most of the day. It was a horrible feeling of helplessness. I called friends to help look for her...luckily, just before evening, we spotted her playing in the yard in a near by neighborhood with the people that had her, dogs. They were taking care of her until she could be found. I wouldn't have slept that night and probably many nights after, had we not found her.
I can only hope someone is holding your dear friend until you can be found.

[StreetsOfGold]

How far away is the place from where he went missing from your home?
I've heard stories of dogs traveling many miles to get back home, but it can take some time if they pick up the correct scent to get there.
Some dogs are better at this than others

[mick silver]

hope you get her back home

[Neuro]

I hope he is fine and back home soon!

[Shami-Amourae]

Neuro pointed out I made a dick post above.

Sorry woodman. Was trying to cheer you up in a dark way.

I do hope you find your pal.

[ximmy]

Neuro pointed out I made a dick post above.

Sorry woodman. Was trying to cheer you up in a dark way.

I do hope you find your pal.

I would think everybody knows you were joking....

It just seems so weird that a dog would just run off so chaotically without any direction or motive...

[woodman]

Neuro pointed out I made a dick post above.

Sorry woodman. Was trying to cheer you up in a dark way.

I do hope you find your pal.

Thanks Shami. I knew you were joking and no offense taken. Instead of thanking everyone for their kind posts after each post, I'll just make a blanket thanks to you all for your kind words.. This has struck us deeply. We really love him and mostly just don't want the little fellow to suffer. He is just a timid soul but means so much to us. Sounds like I'm talking about a person....I just about am.

He panicked when the van opened. It has since opened on it's own twice now. He left looking for us no doubt and became panicked and lit out like a rabbit. He is a Chihuahua mix. I always thought they were nasty little critters. I was wrong. They are mostly affectionate only to an inner circle of their choice and seem quite misanthropic, if this term can be applied to a canine.

Thanks again everyone. Suggestions acted upon and will update if any change. It's getting brutal cold now and I feel guilty for being warm and well fed. Knowing what Jack is enduring will forever make me more appreciative of all I have.

[JFN111]

Good Luck. I hope you get him back safe and sound.

[Twisted Titan]

May the good lord bless and keep your pooch until he is returned to you.

He will be.

[Cebu_4_2]

Back up for Woodman!

[woodman]

Back up for Woodman!

Thanks Cebu. Here's what's up: We keep getting reports of him being seen in Big Rapids. It is about 45 minutes away. He's been gone for almost a month now but it would seem he is still alive. He is old but is very fast and very afraid of people. I got word he was seen down by the university so I took his cage and bedding and set it up down there in the university maintenance yard. Checked it every few days but nothing. I've done everything that has been suggested here and no luck. I feel helpless.

5 days ago we got word from the local shelter that he'd been seen in a neighborhood. I got the address and talked to the lady. She looked at the picture and said quite certainly 'That's him." She said he was curled up under her vehicle, probably trying to stay warm. He was shaking. The control officer was called but could not catch him. She let me move his cage and bedding to her yard, it is on the edge of a large preserve area that is reminiscent of an Appalachian landscape. Very rugged and wild for the area.

She called me on Friday afternoon, four days ago now and said that he just crossed her driveway, so down I went to look for him. I found his tracks in about a half inch of fresh snow and followed them for a long way. He went down ridges and through woods and thickets, along a river and finally into town. I felt like an Indian tracking like that. I would loose his trail where he went in tire tracks through parking lots and across streets and I would keep finding it again. I finally ran out of light and couldn't do any more. Cold, dejected. I have been down there every day since, spreading treats and looking all over.

It is wearing me down. He is my friend and I can't turn my back on him so easily.

Found in my quotes:

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours,
faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

-- Unknown



How true.

[woodman]

I called the lady today to ask her if I could give her a couple hundred dollars and hook up an extension cord with a heat lamp or dog pad, inside a box for him, to at least entice him and bring his bed there to put in it. She shot me down and would have none of it. She said I could still come and put out food for him though.

I dropped off more food in his bowl but there were no more tracks and I'm sure the squirrels are the ones eating it.

Although I am saddened I still hold hope to see him again. He's a tough little fellow but it is getting mighty cold out for a chihuaua.

[Jewboo]

Here's what's up: We keep getting reports of him being seen in Big Rapids.


Great Free Website to Find a Lost Pet in Big Rapids or Mecosta County (http://activerain.com/blogsview/622983/great-free-website-to-find-a-lost-pet-in-big-rapids-or-mecosta-county)



:(??


POST PHOTO HERE: https://www.facebook.com/ArcOfMecostaCounty?_fb_noscript=1


http://www.lostmydoggie.com/missing-pets.cfm?petkindid=1&alerttypeid=1&zipcode=49307&radius=50 (https://www.facebook.com/ArcOfMecostaCounty?_fb_noscript=1)

[Cebu_4_2]

Keep renewing the craigslist lost pets ad, people are seeing it, just the challenge of catching him. You are close Woodman, like you mentioned, like an Indian tracker. I am sure since he survived so far he is a smart dog, I am hoping he will figure out this sub freezing shit.

[govcheetos]

Hang in there, thoughts and prayers.

[woodman]

My dog is back home. The little fellow survived from December 6th until yesterday, on his own in the big, bad world. He is a very tough Chiquaua to have made it through a Michigan winter. He looks a little worse for the wear and he has a hell of a skunk odor but he's back and he's livin' large.

My daughter came over on Monday and showed me a facebook page and asked if I thought it was Jack. I knew immediately it was him. He had been seen for a few consecutive days in one of the sheds at the fairgrounds in Big Rapids. We went down there right away but he was nowhere to be found. I scouted some of the nearby streets and came across an old man working in his driveway. He said that Jack was coming around quite regular, so I gave him my number and asked him to call if he saw him. He called yesterday and said Jack had just crossed the road into the fairgrounds. I was busy helping a friend at his farm but my wife Sarah was free, so she went down to find him.

She said that as soon as she saw him and he saw her, he came running and was running around her in circles, crying and yipping. Doggy tears. If this little fellow could tell his story, I bet it would be quite a tale. I can still hardly believe he's back home.

[EE_]

Awesome!

[ximmy]

so awesome. what a story

Heroic Pit Bull Journeys 2,000 Miles To Attack Owner


NEWS IN PHOTOS (http://www.theonion.com/features/news-in-photos) April 17, 2002
Vol 38 Issue 14 (http://www.theonion.com/issue/3814/) Pets (http://www.theonion.com/tag/pets) · 50 States (http://www.theonion.com/tag/50-states)





http://i.onionstatic.com/onion/6933/original/960.jpg

[midnight rambler]

That's great news!

I bet he never jumps out your van again. (at least I would hope so)

[hoarder]

4 1/2 months. I wonder what he ate.

A couple months ago I had a dobie-colored chihuahua showed up at my remote place in the mountains. He was old and looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. He acted like he knew me and my dog but he's not a real friendly dog. I finally found the owner, who lives 4 miles and 1400 feet elevation down the mountain from me. He was lucky to have wandered so far without a wolf, coyote or lion finding him. His name is Jack, too. When they told me the dog's name I remembered where I had known him from. The step dad of the owner was taking care of the dog at a different location when I first saw him.

[Cebu_4_2]

That is heart warming yet almost unbelievable at the same time. I am so glad he was able to make it back to you.

My cat disappeared last year and never returned, she was a good soul.

http://s32.postimg.org/j86nzkfjo/SANY0385.jpg

Nice floor and electric huh? Thats what happens when the bank steals your shit and you gots to go right away.

[woodman]

4 1/2 months. I wonder what he ate.

A couple months ago I had a dobie-colored chihuahua showed up at my remote place in the mountains. He was old and looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. He acted like he knew me and my dog but he's not a real friendly dog. I finally found the owner, who lives 4 miles and 1400 feet elevation down the mountain from me. He was lucky to have wandered so far without a wolf, coyote or lion finding him. His name is Jack, too. When they told me the dog's name I remembered where I had known him from. The step dad of the owner was taking care of the dog at a different location when I first saw him.

He was eating pretty good. Of course a Chihuahua will eat about anything. I was worried a coyote would get him. He is so shy that I don't believe anyone could have taken him in. I think some kind soul was feeding him though. It is heart warming to know that so many kind people are out there. Lots of mean bastards too and those were a worry too. Many hunters will shoot a stray dog out of meaness. The claim is they are chasing deer and need to be eliminated but I think that's just any excuse for meanness.

He must have found a crawlspace somewhere that was heated. Anyway, he is a tough little pooch. He's settled right in here and being treated like royalty.

[woodman]

That is heart warming yet almost unbelievable at the same time. I am so glad he was able to make it back to you.

My cat disappeared last year and never returned, she was a good soul.

http://s32.postimg.org/j86nzkfjo/SANY0385.jpg

Nice floor and electric huh? Thats what happens when the bank steals your shit and you gots to go right away.

Cebu, I can't see the pic you posted. Just a box and nothing when I click on it. I hope your cat comes back to you. A lot of people, guys especially, express a dislike for cats. I guess they aren't as expressive as dogs, but I really admire cats. I have a whole slew of them. Barn cats they are. I need to get them fixed because they are over-running the place. A select few take it upon themselves to tame us humans, and those become the 'porch' cats. They are friendly and the grandkids can play with them. They are semi-tame and always look in the windows at us. One is real affectionate. I call her Sassy because of her demeanor. She rubs against the window and you can 'pet' her through the glass. She actually moves as though she is being petted. Pretty funny.

[Cebu_4_2]

Not sure why this outdated forum does this, I'll try again:

http://s32.postimg.org/j86nzkfjo/SANY0385.jpg

[Cebu_4_2]

Let me kow if that worked.

[Ponce]

The day that the tree fell on my house, and also broke my outer fence, my dog was goneeeeeeee...... but next morning I found him in his heated bed outside.......fat ass dog knows when he got it made.....the fence is still out but the dog stays in. Only thing that I am afraid is that something big may come in and get him.......a lot of good meat there hahahahahhahahal.........after they fix my roof the second thing will be my outher fence........I hope that is not raining inside the roof where I cannot see it, is raining like hell.

V

[Hitch]

I think some kind soul was feeding him though. It is heart warming to know that so many kind people are out there.

Perhaps dogs have guardian angels as well. Really great to hear he's back with you. Amazing, and heartwarming, indeed.

[hoarder]

Many hunters will shoot a stray dog out of meaness. The claim is they are chasing deer and need to be eliminated but I think that's just any excuse for meanness. It's true that some hunters will shoot stray dogs, but most probably wouldn't shoot a chihuahua. The problem is that people pay dearly for hunting leases and recreational land to hunt on and lots of other people let their big dogs run free and tresspass on other people's property, killing fawns and running off waterfowl and generally pretending they're wolves. Good fences make good neighbors.

[woodman]

Let me kow if that worked.

Same deal.

[Glass]

Its amazing you found your dog after all this time. Good news indeed.

[Neuro]

Amazing you got him back after such a long time and thru the winter too. You're a good man Woodman!

[woodman]

The day that the tree fell on my house, and also broke my outer fence, my dog was goneeeeeeee...... but next morning I found him in his heated bed outside.......fat ass dog knows when he got it made.....the fence is still out but the dog stays in. Only thing that I am afraid is that something big may come in and get him.......a lot of good meat there hahahahahhahahal.........after they fix my roof the second thing will be my outher fence........I hope that is not raining inside the roof where I cannot see it, is raining like hell.

V

I've got a couple of bone-head labs that hang out on the porch. They are outside dogs and I've set up heated pads for them to lay on. It made a big difference for them. What kind of dog do you have?

[woodman]

It's true that some hunters will shoot stray dogs, but most probably wouldn't shoot a chihuahua. The problem is that people pay dearly for hunting leases and recreational land to hunt on and lots of other people let their big dogs run free and tresspass on other people's property, killing fawns and running off waterfowl and generally pretending they're wolves. Good fences make good neighbors.

Most dog problems are really the owners being inconsiderate. Dogs just do what dogs do. It is their nature to hunt and kill. My old neighbor who is now gone (I miss him) once had his flock of chickens decimated by a couple of strays. I asked him why he didn't shoot them and he said he couldn't do that. His wife told me that one on the neighbors shot his beloved dog many years ago for supposedly attacking his chickens. I think the dog was just prowling as dogs will. I guess the dog made it home with it's jaw hanging off and died shortly after. She said She'd never seen him cry, but he cried that day.

Good fences are very important.

[monty]

What an amazing story! I am glad he is safe.

[skidmark]

I am so happy for you and your dog now that he is back home safe and sound! What are the odds? Thank God you kept looking.

[collector]

So glad to hear that your dog is back home and safe, he must have had a rough time out on his own.
Everything you did to try to get him back shows what a good owner you are...