Daisy and Joyce had a happy reunion but some won’t be so lucky. So do you know what’s the best way to prevent your dog from running away?
Lyn Crawford works at Mississippi’s Jackson Friends Animal Shelter. She recently witnessed a heart-warming and unforgettable reunion between a lost dog and its owner.
The rescue group that Lyn belongs to normally puts shelter dogs up for adoption. These dogs are sent to them from the local animal control unit if they are retrieved from the streets.
An Unusual Request
However, Lyn received a call one day with an unusual request. A woman named Joyce sought the help of the shelter to find her dog, which escaped the backyard. It's been months since Joyce lost Daisy and turning to Lyn was her last resort.
Joyce sent Lyn a photo of Daisy with the hope that the shelter worker would be able to help. Lyn tapped into her resources and showed them photos of the dog but unfortunately, even her network had no clue about Daisy. They didn't have any leads for a couple of weeks.
A Happy Ending
Back at the Jackson Friends Animal Shelter, a dog set for adoption was brought out from the cages to be photographed. One of the volunteers noticed that she looked so much like Joyce's dog. But Lyn and her fellow workers could not be certain because she looks different from the photos Joyce sent. The pooch looked so scared and confused.
Lyn thought that the best way to tell if this dog is really Daisy is to have Joyce come over. The second Daisy spotted her owner waiting for her at the lobby of the shelter, she jumped and attempted to kiss Joyce. There was no doubt now that this was the same dog that has been missing for months, and she's finally happily reunited with her best friend!
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Lyn said that the reunion between Daisy and Joyce was indeed a happy ending. It has uplifted the spirits of the shelter workers knowing that what they do really matters.
Preventing Dogs From Running Away
Daisy is one of the millions of dogs that bolt out the door or gate as soon as they get the chance. Dogs run away for many reasons and some of these could be because they are social animals, they’re curious and excited by nature. They want to investigate what's out there beyond the walls.
Aside from being lost, pets that run away are at risk of getting hit by a car, getting in a rumble with other stray dogs, falling into ditches, or catching a disease. It's the owner's responsibility, therefore, to ensure that they don't have a chance of taking off.
- Invest In A Fence
If your property doesn't have a fence, then there's a big chance the dog could run off. You need to create an environment where your dog won't bolt. It would also be helpful to install a self-closing gate along with this fence to make it more secure.
- Train Your Dog
According to trainers, dogs really need to learn not to go after something that excites them. One trick is to teach your dog to wait for your signal before going through a door or gate. Use positive or reward-based methods to train your dog to reinforce a correct behavior.
- Know What Your Dog Really Needs
Some breeds like their independence. Most dogs love to roam. To get the best results, work with your dog alongside a trainer or a behaviorist so you could tailor your training approach to meet the dog's specific needs.
Be consistent and patient with training your dog to understand that the safest place for them is at home. You're actually changing the dog's natural instincts, so expect the training to be tough. Realize, however, that this challenge will be for your pet's own good.
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