Door-to-Door.

     Many people are uncomfortable actually talking to their neighbors, let along to ask to search their property. However, with a lost dog it is critical, especially if your dog is shy and possibly hiding nearby. For larger dogs that are more likely to travel, you should still search your immediate neighbor‘s property. Unfortunately, you cannot trust your neighbor to search their own property; especially if that means crawling under a deck, or walking in the mud!

     When conducting door-to-door interviews and physical searches it is important to remember to ask a friend or family member to go with you as you knock on every single door, including apartments. Bring supplies, flashlight, a notebook, pen and flyers. Introduce yourself and give the person a flyer and ask them if you can look around the outside of the property with your flashlight and call for your dog. Walk around the outside of the property, REALLY LOOKING in all hiding places. Also, remember you're looking for clues too, including fur and paw prints! If you don‘t find anything, move on. Make a note in your notebook about when you searched, the address and who you spoke with. Note anything, such as great hiding places or has a lot of cats. This information might be useful later and helps track what areas you have covered.

     Other crucial questions to ask them:
      
      - Have you smelled any foul odors coming from possible hiding
          places such as in a crawl space under decks or in sheds?
      - Have you found fur or remains?It may be upsetting, but it is a
         definite must know
      - Have you heard any cat or dog fights?     
      - Have you seen any loose or stray dogs or cats in the area?
      - Do you feed your pets or stray animals outside?
      - Are their any empty or abandoned properties?
      - Did anything unusual at all happen around the day my dog went
         missing?
      - Do you know anyone who takes care of stray pets in the area?
      - Did you have anyone at your home the day my dog when missing?

     Now, if you go to a house and no one is home or you are uncomfortable searching, you have to leave some information for the person when they return. Here is an example of a letter to leave, along with your flyer:

Dear Neighbor- I need your help!




My dog____________ went missing on _______________! My dog is friendly, but timid and no doubt frightened, so it probably will not come to you. I am searching everywhere to find my lost dog. I need your permission to let me come onto your property and search the outside perimeter. Please call me when you are home and I can come by.

If you have any questions you can call me at ________________.

In addition, please let me know if:

     > You have smelled any foul odors coming from possible hiding
        places such as in crawl spaces, under decks or in sheds. Also,
        please let me know if you found any fur or remains. It may be
        upsetting, but I would like to know.
     > You have seen any loose or stray dogs in the area.
     > You feed your pets or stray animals outside. My dog may be feeding
        there to!
     > You had anyone at your home the day my dog went missing. They
        may have seen something!
     > You know if anyone went on vacation on or around the time my dog
        went missing.
     > You know of any empty of abandoned properties where my dog
        could be hiding.
     > You know of something unusual that happened around the day my
        dog went missing.
     > You know of someone in the area who takes cares of stray pets.

There is a reward for any information leading to the recovery of my dog!