Boo is missing

[Dogdragoness]

Just posted her info on all three sites listed above.

I have new info from my parents about when/how they think she got out.

Apparently, she was last seen lying in the yard shortly before 7:30 PM on the north side of my house. My dad and brother had been doing yard work with the dog out back and were finishing up because it was getting dark. Boo didn't want to come in with my dad (I asked him if she looked like she was just basking in the sun or injured/ill in some way... he said he didn't notice anything awry). This is not terribly typical, but not unheard of either... she's not the world's most obedient dog and has been known to want to stay out occasionally. Anyway, fast forward and the neighbor to the southeast of us started setting off fireworks. My dad went outside to check on Boo. She wasn't there. He assumed my mom had already brought her in. And that is how she disappeared. So, provided that the fireworks did scare her, I suspect that she bolted in the Northwest, away from the noise.

I will upload a map later, but this would put her headed away from Davis Drive (in Lorton) towards furnace and Lorton roads (and eventually in the direction of I-95).

How far does a scared dog typically bolt? Keep in mind that the fireworks continued to go off even after she started running.

I am absolutely terrified that she made it to 95 without turning somewhere.

It sounds like You live in an area similar to ours, with no highways close to our house per say but in theory of a dog got loose from our yard they could reach the road. It is a super busy road with lots of semi truck traffic due to the booming oil business around here.

Don't loose hope, Josefina was gone for over a week and I hardly slept. Then by some miracle, someone drove up to us with her in their truck, saying the I found her running on their property. Maybe someone has Boo and is trying to find her owner.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Come home, Boo! I am checking this thread religiously and can't stop thinking about her. My fingers are crossed. I wish I could help more.

 

[GoingNowhere]

cross your fingers and send prayers. We have a potential sighting. No details - a neighbor said that a friend said that they saw a black dog in the rough vicinity of my home area ("near Giles stables"). No details on the dog or the location, but I'm waiting for my neighbor to get back to me and hopefully put me in touch with the spotter.

It'd be ~2-7 miles from my house if the location is roughly where I think she was referring to.

Giles stables doesn't exist anymore, but if she was referring to the new barn that they moved to or the location of the old barn, it'd be ~7 miles. If she was just referring to the giles run area, it'd be closer to 2.

 

[JazzyTheSibe]

I keep checking back, like everyone 20 minutes or so.I can't stop thinking of Boo.

cross your fingers and send prayers. We have a potential sighting. No details - a neighbor said that a friend said that they saw a black dog in the rough vicinity of my home area ("near Giles stables"). No details on the dog or the location, but I'm waiting for my neighbor to get back to me and hopefully put me in touch with the spotter.

It'd be ~2-7 miles from my house if the location is roughly where I think she was referring to.

Giles stables doesn't exist anymore, but if she was referring to the new barn that they moved to or the location of the old barn, it'd be ~7 miles. If she was just referring to the giles run area, it'd be closer to 2.

Yay!I really hope it is Boo. Sending good luck vibes, & prayers.Good luck!

 

[BostonBanker]

I have everything crossed that the sighting proves to be Boo, and that she is home safe and sound soon!

 

[Beanie]

Oh I hope it's her and you find her... I don't think Chaz vibes have ever failed to return a runaway yet so ~~~~ALL THE CHAZ VIBES~~~~

 

[GoingNowhere]

Thank you all.

My mom just got back from driving down Old Colchester Road where the black dog was sighted this morning. She did not have any luck, but we will post flyers in that area and have received word from the pet tracker. The tracker has given us a quote, but my mom needs to discuss with my dad. She was also kind enough to make us a much more colorful poster that she says will attract more attention and give us other advice. I am headed home tomorrow.

Question for you. I keep reading that lost dogs are scared dogs won't behave as they do at home. I read that they may not even come to people that they know and to treat them as if they are a strange, skittish dog.

Is this true? When I am able to go out searching on Friday should I whistle for her as I walk or should I walk quietly with the assumption that if she hears me coming she will run? She does know my whistle and would typically come to it if she could hear it and wasn't in the middle of chasing something. That said, if she will be terrified and acting in full "survival mode", I don't want to hinder my (already too slim) chances of seeing her.

If she still might come to a whistle, obviously being able to do so would greatly expand the area in which I could cover.

It breaks my heart to think that she would run from me, but I want to be prepared, should I see her. I cannot picture in my head her running from me, but I worry that I am sorely mistaken.

 

[Fran101]

Thank you all.

My mom just got back from driving down Old Colchester Road where the black dog was sighted this morning. She did not have any luck, but we will post flyers in that area and have received word from the pet tracker. The tracker has given us a quote, but my mom needs to discuss with my dad. She was also kind enough to make us a much more colorful poster that she says will attract more attention and give us other advice. I am headed home tomorrow.

Question for you. I keep reading that lost dogs are scared dogs won't behave as they do at home. I read that they may not even come to people that they know and to treat them as if they are a strange, skittish dog.

Is this true? When I am able to go out searching on Friday should I whistle for her as I walk or should I walk quietly with the assumption that if she hears me coming she will run? She does know my whistle and would typically come to it if she could hear it and wasn't in the middle of chasing something. That said, if she will be terrified and acting in full "survival mode", I don't want to hinder my (already too slim) chances of seeing her.

If she still might come to a whistle, obviously being able to do so would greatly expand the area in which I could cover.

It breaks my heart to think that she would run from me, but I want to be prepared, should I see her. I cannot picture in my head her running from me, but I worry that I am sorely mistaken.

I've found that this is true with dogs who are usually friendly with strangers and have been lost for a while....BUT not with their owners. In the few lost dog cases I've seen the minute they realize who it is they run over

Sending so many vibes for this girl

 

[Beanie]

Question for you. I keep reading that lost dogs are scared dogs won't behave as they do at home. I read that they may not even come to people that they know and to treat them as if they are a strange, skittish dog.

It can be true... Happy (childhood collie) got out once and he was roaming the neighbourhood and my dad went looking. He found him and when he walked up to him, calling him, Happy growled and didn't want to come to him. But Happy's eyesight was also questionable at that time, so it's possible he didn't recognize him. But he didn't run away... he just stood there until my dad got closer, and then he was like "Oh. It's you." and my dad was able to take hold of him and bring him home.

Sites recommend taking things like a squeaky toy, a bag of treats, or a food bowl with kibble you can rattle. Sounds that might entice them beyond just calling or whistling. I don't think calling for her will make her run from you... she just might not come. You can also try putting out a crate with a blanket or sweatshirt from home in it and leave it there if you don't find her... see if she doesn't come to it and stay there.

 

[Ozfozz]

Question for you. I keep reading that lost dogs are scared dogs won't behave as they do at home. I read that they may not even come to people that they know and to treat them as if they are a strange, skittish dog.

Is this true? When I am able to go out searching on Friday should I whistle for her as I walk or should I walk quietly with the assumption that if she hears me coming she will run? She does know my whistle and would typically come to it if she could hear it and wasn't in the middle of chasing something. That said, if she will be terrified and acting in full "survival mode", I don't want to hinder my (already too slim) chances of seeing her.

With some dogs yes.
When Rigby bolted, I was away, but my parents (whom she lives with and is very comfortable with and attached to) called for her on many occasions, for hours, and she didn't make any appearances.

But just before I made it home my mom simply went to where she was last spotted, set up a camping chair and sat down with a book. She didn't even flip open the first page before Rigby rocketed into her lap. Trembling and terrified. They figure she was sitting watching them the entire time.

But Rigby is typically a rather fearful and skittish dog to begin with. Even though she's totally fine with us at home, in "fear mode" it was different.


In your case, I think whistling would probably do more good than harm. It's a sound that carries, and it's something she's familiar with. Maybe not whistle excessively and have "quiet" periods every once in a while.

 

[Dogdragoness]

****, I was hoping for some good news

 

[Maxy24]

I've been following this thread and just wanted to add in my well wishes, I can't imagine how worried you guys must be.

Question for you. I keep reading that lost dogs are scared dogs won't behave as they do at home. I read that they may not even come to people that they know and to treat them as if they are a strange, skittish dog.

Is this true? When I am able to go out searching on Friday should I whistle for her as I walk or should I walk quietly with the assumption that if she hears me coming she will run? She does know my whistle and would typically come to it if she could hear it and wasn't in the middle of chasing something. That said, if she will be terrified and acting in full "survival mode", I don't want to hinder my (already too slim) chances of seeing her.

MANY dogs will act strange when loose. I saw a neighborhood dog running loose once. This dog was the OMG I LOVE EVERYONE type. Absolute spazz, leap on you and shove her tongue down your throat type. I went out with a leash to collect her and she turned and started aggressively barking at me, tail tucked, hair up. I turned away and she bolted. I followed from a distance but she charged at me so I went home. She was headed towards her house at the time and I know she got home eventually. I was shocked at how she behaved.
I also saw a dog loose in a parking lot. Her owner was there trying to catch her but the dog was running from her (and everyone else trying to catch her). They finally got her interested in an open car door and while she was deciding whether or not to jump in someone snuck up behind her and grabbed her.


That said I think the noise alone (the whistle) without the sight of you might trigger her to come, even if she's scared. She might not feel comfortable approaching, but I think she'd want to at least come close enough to watch you because the familiar sound would trigger a happy/positive/investigative emotion of some sort.

 

[Snark]

I would whistle for Boo. Haven't had a dog get lost, but when our cat got out and was finally found, she did recognize our voices (even after six weeks). Her name was Ghost, because she vanished so easily when spooked, and while it took time to actually get a hand on her, she did 'talk' back to us and stay nearby.

Continuing to send 'safe home, Boo!' vibes!

 

[MinPinOwner]

Please come home soon Boo.

 

[Taqroy]

I was so hoping your mom would be able to find her. Sending ALL THE VIBES that she'll run right up to your whistle. Come home Boo!

 

[GoingNowhere]

The tracker is coming out later today. She made it clear to us that very very rarely do they actually walk up on a lost dog, but hopefully this will give us at least a sense of her direction of travel and/or (god forbid) bring us some sort of closure should she have been hit by a car/injured. That said although my expectations are where they should be, I still have every appendage crossed in the hopes that the tracker might actually be able to find her today. I will update you when I am able. Even knowing a direction of movement (and whether she has been beelining in a single direction or circling) will be a huge help. I am headed home as soon as my classes finish this evening.

I'm hoping our scent items are good enough. We have a martingale that she hasn't worn in a while probably (because I'm the only one who finds time to walk her regularly and she last visited me at the end of February) and her bed which my mom vacuumed shortly after she ran away. She doesn't play with toys. Her food bowls are disposable. With any luck, just the fact that she's the only dog in the house will also help us out. All of her brushes are at the lake (because, go figure, I was the last one to brush her...) I shouldn't complain. My family loves her just as much as I do - it's just rough knowing that we should have great scent items, but don't because I've been away at school.

 

[skittledoo]

I have multiple people in the general area that are spreading the word about her and keeping an eye out for her. I wish I was off work right now to help you look for her. I hate that she still isn't found.

 

[xpaeanx]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you get some good news with the tracker!!!

 

[speedydogs]

I've been checking this thread constantly hoping for some good news - I hope the tracker is able to help!

I agree that lost dogs can act strange sometimes - a dog belonging to Cricket's breeder got loose a couple years ago and went pretty feral. There were multiple sightings but no one could get close enough to catch him. He did eventually come to his owner after almost a month of being lost, though, and was none the worse for wear.

 

[GoingNowhere]

A quick update for you all. I have good news. Before I go any farther, no we have not found boo yet. But the tracker walked for two hours with my mom. They caught the trail which led them over the front of our backyard fence and then back towards the back of the backyard. From there she ran (they suspect) behind my neighbors houses parallel to my street and across the adjoining busy road. The tracker said she probably stopped and regrouped on the other side of the highway, but based on her continued travel pattern the tracker does not suspect that she is injured. She went through the woods there and into the neighborhood across the street. Walked to the road and then back into the woods. Popped out again on another neighborhood road. By this point the tracker thinks she was moving slower and out of a panic. She then spent her time walking from doorstep to doorstep. She then tracked back into the woods to a stream but did not cross it. Then back into the neighborhood going from yard to yard stopping to sniff. Then back to the stream. Repeat. Tracker stopped there because she said they had a good pattern to go on.

Tracker thinks she's going to the stream to drink and had been looking for home. Although close to our house, we have never walked her there so she wouldn't know her way around.

I am on my way home now (thank god finally!) i will cover the entire area in posters/ leave mailbox notes/look tomorrow in daylight. I feel like this is extremely encouraging information. Namely the tracker thinks she is nearby, not injured, and has a water source.

Hearing all this second hand from my mom, so I may have details wrong. Also, I apologize for any typos... I am on my phone.