Step 4 – When the Dog is Found

** Pending Formatting

 

When Dog is Found

 

  • This may be by trapping a dog, you/family/someone else hand-catching the dog, or it may return home on it’s own. Sometimes dogs are picked up by animal control, so the family should periodically check with local animal control/shelters in the area the dog went missing or is being seen. Unfortunately, sometimes a dog is hit by a car or train or dies in another way; it is important to periodically check with the local/state highway departments if there have been no sightings recently to see if the dog was picked up.

 

Trapping Protocol Will be a Separate Document Need to create this.  It can but just an overview since so much has to be demonstrated/learned in person.  I also think we need a video library in the same folder as all these documents that shows setting up and arming all kinds of traps.  It’s good to review if you haven’t done one in a while.

 

 

 

When a dog is found:

 

  1. Go to the dog’s CT and update with the “Retrieved” graphic or Deceased, (see graphics file – download to your phone for easy access).  Add the story/details or even just say “Story to come” and you can add that later.
  2. Either update the public page yourself, or when you post “Retrieved” tag Mary McCarthy and ask her to update the public page.
  3. Conduct a safety talk with the family.  This will be done right away in some situations, if the CM was there when dog is found.
  4. Complete the CWU – Case Wrap-Up
    1. You will need to state if the dog was trapped by The Retrievers or someone else, hand-caught by the Retrievers or someone else, returned home on it’s own, found deceased, etc.  If you have questions please reach out to a teammate.  There are come exceptions to this such as, if the Retriever is on the phone talking someone through hand-catching, it counts as “hand-caught by Retrievers”.  Your trainer will discuss with you.

 

  1. Let the family know we are always here for them if they have any questions, or concerns and that we love updates!!

 

When a dog is not found; When there have been no sightings for several weeks/months, we may quietly (without telling the family) move the dog to a Cold Case. Once we have given all the information that we can and the Team has done Awareness, all appropriate measures have been taken. Sometimes, we don’t find the dog. We do our best and our process works very well. We can stay in communication with the family, adn be at the ready if sightings come in.

 

When a family does not work WITH us, goes against our advisement or is non-responsive, we may need to disengage. We may give a warning (worded nicely but firmly) that we are happy to help them adn we need them to work with us. Always ask a Seasoned CM or BOD for advise on this.

 

Some family’s concede and stop searching or assume their dog is passed. Many will assume their dog was found. We want to keep our minds open and never assume. We can let them know that some dogs are found and kept, but then the awareness can bring in tips. And let them know we are willing to continue working on their pup. If they decided they are done, we need to be done. We need to respect their wishes, We then would close out the case, providing details of family wishes in the Den and complete CWU.

 

If we believe someone has the dog- meaning we have a tip or a solid lead. We want to go to that area with flyers- knock on every door and say that the dog was seen nearby (DO NOT POINT OUT POSSIBLE HOME) and ask if they have seen anything. Try to gain more information and more people saying where. Picture proof is great! See if a neighbor will allow a camera facing suspected home. Involve PD once we have more proof. Never have the family go alone to a home suspectedly keeping their dog. We want a Retriever and PD if possible. This scenario can vary- always check with seasoned CM & BOD.