News: Lost Service Dogs

Recently two service dogs/ service dogs in training have gone missing from their homes:

• Missing Palm Beach service dog in training prompts search; reward offered

  The search is on for Graham, an 80-pound, 14-month-old golden retriever who has been missing from a North End home since Wednesday morning.

  Palm Beach Daily News - Apr 02 4:44 PM
• Disabled Woman Looking for Missing Service Dog; Fears it was Stolen

  A local woman and her family are asking for help in finding her dog because it plays an especially important role in her life.

  KPVI 6 Pocatello - Mar 26 9:02 PM

Neither of the dogs in these stories have been found to date. These stories are an important reminder to all of us to do several things:
1. Microchip your service dog/ service dog in training and register the number with your vet and local animal control. I keep the plastic tag with the number on my key ring and make a metal tag for my dog's collar that says "I have a microchip and the chip type, please scan me." I don't put the number on my dog's collar because I don't want someone to try to register the dog under their name claiming change of ownership. Most animal control and vet places have a policy of scanning all stray animals who come in for microchips these days.
2. Always keep a collar a collar on your dog with a tag with your name and phone number at least. I also put a secondary contact in case something may have happened to me and that is why my service dog is loose.
3. Keep a current picture of your dog along with a description of any identify marks, color, height, weight, docked tail, etc.
4. Maintain your off-leash training. Don't assume your barriers are failure proof and never underestimate what a determined, lonely, or bored dog might do.

If your service dog does go missing act immediately! Tips on finding a lost dog.