93 percent of dogs and 75 percent of cats reported lost were returned safely to their homes. Only 6 percent of dog owners and 2 percent of cat owners found their lost pets at shelters. 15 percent of dogs were found because they were sporting identification tags or microchips.
Lost Pet Research & Recovery indicates that 93% of lost dogs are found alive, and 20% of them return home on their own.
The good news is, when a pet runs away, they seldom go very far – which makes it more likely to reunite with them. According to a 2012 study, 59% of lost cats and 20% of lost dogs return home on their own after being lost. But there are always additional steps you can take to help ensure a happy reunion.
Your dog might even return on their own, using scent to guide their way. Even the most domesticated dogs can travel long distances and survive by scavenging for food and water until they are home again. Fear not. You have very good chances of being reunited with your dog again.
Statistics indicate that most lost pets are recovered within 30 days. But the time varies greatly depending on whether it is a cat or a dog. Most people will notice a stray dog and even try to help it.
Big strong dogs, especially young ones, can run 5 miles or more. Small dogs may be able to go half a mile at most. Most dogs are recovered well within a two-mile circle of their home, especially because they normally will never run for an extended length in a straight line no matter how strong or fast they are.
Maybe you left them alone for a long time and they are lonely. Or they may have lots of energy to use up because they don't have toys or other dogs to play with. Or maybe they are having more fun somewhere else. They could be going to a neighbor's house where there are other dogs or kids to play with.
Alert the Rescue Organizations in Your Area, Including the Police. If an hour goes by with no luck, get on the phone and alert every shelter and kennel within a 60-mile radius of your home. Call your local animal control and police department as well. The police can alert the patrolling officers to keep their eyes out.
An outgoing dog will actively seek out other humans and make it well aware that they are lost, hungry, and anxious to return home. As a result, they are more likely to be rescued, cared for, taken to a local shelter, or even adopted by a new family.
Dogs don't really think that way— research shows, in fact, that they have very little direct recall. Instead, dogs have associative memory. Dogs remember people, places, and experiences based on associations they have with them.
It's not unusual for dogs to grieve the loss of a person they've bonded with who is no longer present. While they might not understand the full extent of human absence, dogs do understand the emotional feeling of missing someone who's no longer a part of their daily lives.
New research has found that dogs rely on familiar scents to find their way back home, and those scents can lead them a long way. A 10 mile distance isn't that far for a dog to follow a scent as long as the wind conditions are right.
An adult dog can be left alone for up to four to six hours a day, as a very general rule of thumb.
A new survey has revealed that Labrador Retrievers are the most likely dogs to run away, with Cocker Spaniels and Jack Russells also in the top three.
"Not in most situations," said Dr. David Sewell, veterinarian and co-owner of Crestview Animal Hospital in Cumming, Ga. "Dogs need to be outside for exercise and for their mental well-being. It makes them happier."
How far dogs can smell depends on many things, such as the wind and the type of scent. Under perfect conditions, they have been reported to smell objects or people as far as 20km away.
The most common reasons why dogs run away are:
Fear or anxiety. Boredom. Prey drive. Mating instinct.
Another study looked at how dogs behaved with people of varying levels of familiarity - their owner, a stranger and a familiar human - and found that dogs clearly miss their owners more than anyone else, and will wait behind the door they left through in anticipation of their return.
Wondering what dogs so when you're not home? Most dogs spend a lot of their time catching some Z's. When you're not home to keep your pet busy, they'll likely find a comfortable place to cuddle up and take a siesta. If you're gone for a longer period of time, your pet might even take a few naps.
Because a large amount of lost dogs end up in foster homes and rescue adoption programs, you should contact all rescue groups and breed rescue groups within your area (Use a search engine and the keywords “animal rescue groups near [your city]”) Animal shelters and dog rescue groups are a high probability search area ...
Lost dogs and cats are also more likely to move around in the late evening or early morning hours. With careful planning and the help of other people (and animals), you'll have a better chance of finding your pet soon. If you don't find him on the first night, don't give up.
How long has your pet gone missing and how fast can he run? Even a small dog or a cat can cover a distance of 24 miles in just 8 hours--that is, if he runs non-stop for 3mph.