Search expert solves old missing lost pet case.

Three weeks ago Harry Oakes was contacted by a client out of Ca. regarding their lost dog. They had posted signs, checked the ads on Craigs list, went to their local shelter. Their vet recommeneded Harry Oakes and his search dog Willow to help them resolve what really happened to their lost dog. Their dog saddie had been missing for over a month in the hills just outside Hollyood Ca. Saddie and old beagle that was nearly blind and deaf had disappeared.

Harry with his search dog Willow was able to track Saddie's scent trail to a canyon and then down to the main roadway. There the track stopped in front of a business.
I asked the owners of Saddie to go talk with the business owners. They did and had a funny look on their face. They said, The business owner said we could post a sign in their window but remembers a young couple asking if anyone had lost a beagle?".
But it was so long ago they didn't have any more info. So the beagle owners put up a sign in the window and the very next Friday, the young couple who had Saddie drove by saw the poster and got Saddie back to Frank and Diane the owners. A happy ending thanks to SAR dog Willow and handler Harry Oakes from Longview, Washington
www.k9sardog.com

Finding lost pets, pet search and rescue, pet detectives

Pet Detectives, Finding your lost pet,Pet searches





Thursday, January 13, 2011How to find your lost pet, pet searches.
INTERNATIONAL K-9 SEARCH & RESCUE SERVICES
P.O. Box# 1472 Longview, Washington 98632 USA.
Voice mail - Office 360-414-8093 Mobile (503) 705-0258.
Web site: www.k9sardog.com
Email: searchdog@iinet.com
INTEGRITY YOU CAN TRUST - SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON.
How to Find Your Lost Pet.

Written By Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
The most documented missing person and missing person and lost pet
Search and rescue expert in the world.

People spend a lot of money, time, and tears, searching for their missing pet(s). This information comes from my 38 years plus of looking for missing persons, and 25 years looking for missing pets. I hope this helps you bring home your loved one.
Forward: I started in Search and Rescue in 1972 with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Dept. L.E. Explorer Post# 900. In 1986, I co-founded the search dog team Oregon D.O.G.S. (Dogs Organized for Ground Search and Rescue, for the state of Oregon while I was a team leader for Portland Mountain Rescue. In 1988 I founded the international response team of Mountain Wilderness Search dogs.
In 1988, I did my first pet search with my second search dog “Ranger” and we found the missing cat “Dweezil” in less then 20 seconds. (Hiding upstairs under the waterbed in the client’s home).
In 1997 I started the first professional FOR PROFIT K-9 SAR dog team in the world. It’s called International K-9 Search and Rescue Services. We provide professionally trained K-9 SAR Dog Teams and coordinators 24 / 7 around the world for missing people or lost pets.
In 1999, I co-founded the search dog teams for the country of Turkey after responding to their earthquakes as a rescuer. In 2002, I co-founded the search dog program for the US Virgin Islands on St Croix USVI. I’ve trained K9 SAR dog teams in Africa, Philippines, Honduras, St. Croix USVI, Canada, Mexico, South America, as well as in every state in the USA.

With 12 years of Law Enforcement, and 38 years of combined Search and Rescue experience, the information I’m about to pass on to you the reader, are the methods I’ve found useful in finding missing pets. Since 1988, I’ve helped locate over 3,500 lost, stolen, missing pets.

I hope this information helps you in your search efforts.


YOUR PET IS MISSING
Many things can happen to your missing pet. Your pet may;

*Track your scent and find its way back home.

*Get scared and hide. We often find them hiding in wooded brushy areas, garages, under decks, inside homes in attics, basements, cabinets, crawlspaces, or inside RV’s.

*Befriend a small child or other pet owner and follow them home, to their
work, or to School.

*Pick up a scent they are interested in, such as the scent of food or the
opposite sex, and investigate it. Yes, even if they are neutered or spayed.
Often headed into the wind to investigate their new discoveries.

*Fall victim to injury, illness, or death. A predator may attack them.
Get hit by a car, shot by a landowner, or fall into the wrong person’s hands
that will try to keep them, harm them, or sell them.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR PET.
(Please print this section out and read it daily).
Remember you are very emotional at this time and will experience many emotions associated with your loss. The four stages of loss are anger, denial, guilt, and final acceptance. Understanding that these are natural common emotions, will help you deal with your feelings and take control of your search.

*Keep a daily journal of what has happened in your search efforts, from day # 1.

Where you posted signs, who you called, and what animal control agencies did you visit, when did you visit them, and whom you talked with once you arrived. Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.

This is important in case we determine your pet has been stolen and catch the suspect(s). Not only can you prosecute them for “Theft of a domesticated Pet” which is a Class C Felony. You can also file CIVIL charges against them in civil court to recover the cost of your search. The first thing the judge will ask you for is proof of your expenses. So document your actions and keep your receipts.

Documenting is also a great idea because if for some reason your pet is never found, and you’ve followed each of our steps, you will know you’ve done everything humanly possible to get your loved one back home.

After you read each paragraph, please place your initials on the line at the end of the list, after you’ve completed the task. That way you will proceed in the proper order and won’t miss any instructions.
Remember to: Search your own home area first. Checking any areas of possible hiding spots. We find 15% of the missing pets still on the pet owner’s property, or within ¼ mile of the PLS. Point Last Seen. In garages, doghouses, attics, crawl spaces below the house, apt, sheds, RV’s, behind the washer, dryer, water heater, stove, cabinets, closets, behind dresser drawers, etc. ____.

Cat owners remember to lift the hood of your vehicle and search under the hood. Cat’s love to warmth of the vehicle engine at night. Also check the nearby trees to see if you cat is stuck in one of them. De-clawed cats can climb. If you have a fireplace, check the chimney.

1. Immediately start a journal, either hand written, or on your computer. _____.
Document your search efforts. Date, Time, what action you took, how much you spent. Results of your actions. Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How.
2. Document your expenses: Cost of newspaper ads, photocopying, telephone calls, time off work, fuel, cost of search dogs, veterinarians, attorney fees, etc. Reason: If you determine that your pet has been stolen and if the suspect(s) is – are later identified, you can then file for damages in a civil court to recover your expenses. I’m repeating myself but this is so very important. Document your actions and expenses from the beginning of your search. On my computer, I use Microsoft word for the daily journals and Excel for the cost accounting figures.___.

3. Check all animal control agencies within a four county region.
North, South, East, and West of where your pet was last seen.
File a missing pet report. Or, if it’s been determined by a qualified search dog team that your pet has been stolen, file a stolen pet report with the local Humane Society Law Enforcement Division and your local law enforcement agency as well as your local animal control shelters.

Don’t just search within your county. We’ve found over the years, that many folks are well meaning, but also lazy. They may see your pet, feel sorry for it, and pick it up to keep it safe. Then turn it in to their local animal control instead of the animal control or shelter nearest where they picked it up. This is often in an entirely different jurisdiction.
They may work or be visiting from out of the area when they pick up your pet. _______.
We had a case in Florida where the pet was lost in Hollywood, FL and found 700 miles north a month later. Upon inspecting the dog, it had been transported by vehicle to this shelter. Here’s proof that Microchips work.

A letter we received from one of our many clients”. Another reason why you should go in person to a shelter. This is shocking.
“Thank you very much for all the info. It helped greatly. We found our dog at the Leir shelter. Her leg was broken and mangled, and they had her just laying in a cage dealing with it. I checked the shelter three times a day since she was missing. I was there 4 times since the "check in" time on her sheet there. I even gave them all flyers and pictures with them promising to "keep an eye out." Only after stumbling into a room I probably wasn't supposed to be in, did I find Blue. I rushed her to our Vet, and she is OK and will most likely recover if the bone heals properly. Thank you again, Brad”.

Pets are now considered personal property and it’s illegal for another person to take possession of your property (your pet) without following strict Federal, State, and County guidelines. If the person(s) who has recovered your pet hasn’t filed a found report with the authorities within the specified time limit, (usually 48 hours) they may be guilty of theft of private property.____.

4. A. Check the animal control agencies files. NEVER EVER TAKE THE VOLUNTEERS or EMPLOYEES WORD THAT YOUR PET IS NOT AT THEIR FACILITY.

5. Most facilities are understaffed and over crowded. I’ve seen a facility miss a GREAT DANE. I found it in their shelter the first day I went there. This after they told my client, ”they didn’t have a Great Dane in their custody”.

Physically drive to the shelters and animal control agencies and check their kennels. Fax or email all veterinarian offices within your search area. Give them a current photo and your personal information. While at the shelters, check their dead on arrival files-(DOA’s), sick and injured files, quarantine kennels, adoption and destroy files. Also the temporary adoption files. (This is a record where a person who has found a pet can call in and register by email or telephone that they are taking care of the pet). _____.
Most of these facilities are run as a non-profit and therefore their records are open for public inspection. If the shelter refuses to allow you to review their files, get an attorney. Keep checking their files, in person, not over the telephone, every three days. Don’t give up for 10 weeks._____.
B. Check your ads on the Internet. Craigslist ( www.craiglist.com ) in two sections. Lost and Found and under PETS. PETS FOR SALE.
You can also post on MYSPACE as well as various other locations on the Internet FOR FREE._____.

Contact International K-9 Search & Rescue. www.k9sardog.com.
Email: searchdog@iinet.com

We’re the most documented professional K-9 SAR Dog tracking team in the world for missing pets or persons. We keep on ongoing computer registered report on lost and found pets around the world.

SCAMS- NOTE: I strongly recommend that you stay away from most PET DETECTIVES. These are Private Investigators who claim to have search dogs, unless you check a minimum of three of their references.

Most Pet Detectives that we’ve investigated, after receiving numerous complaints from their previous clients, aren’t trained properly, and lack experience. They may be great private investigators, but lack the other skills needed for this type of work. Most of these folks who state they use search dogs aren’t search dog handlers at all. Nor are their dogs trained and tested in Search and Rescue.

Before you hire anyone, check his or her references. Get a signed contract for services showing up front, what they can and can’t do for your money. Obtain an after “action search report”. If the company refuses to give you the contract for services, and a search report, DON’T HIRE THEM.

Contact our web site links for reputable Pet Detectives. My recommendation is to stay away from the M.A.R.S. Pet detectives. We’ve had nothing but complaints from so many folks who have used them.

The problem we are seeing recently is that there are new MARS PET DETECTIVE and PET SAR groups popping up all over the USA on a monthly basis. One such example is a woman in California.

First their instructor states she’s qualified to teach K-9 SAR groups. Yet she claims “A search dog can’t follow a scent trail older then 72 hours”. Any professional K-9 SAR dog team can tell you that her statement isn’t true.

Numerous search dog teams throughout the USA have repeatedly documented following scent trails as old as 6 months to a year old and have found the missing persons dead. We’ve also tracked a cat missing for over a year and found it alive. This so-called “Animal professional K-9 instructor” doesn’t have a clue of what she is talking about. Do you want people she’s trained working for you?

She travels around giving Pet Detectives conferences at $650.00 per student. The students attending these conferences get a certificate of completion. Then the attendees feel they are now qualified to charge money for their new found knowledge. After their 50 hours of training or less, they claim to have real search dogs.

Fact is, they’ve received about 50 hours of training or less. Our professional K-9 SAR dog teams get an average of 450 hours of training in K-9 SAR, first aid, basic tracking, report writing, crime scene investigations and other topics related to finding missing persons or pets. And, we’re tested yearly for our certification levels.
From her own website she shows that she really doesn’t understand scent and tries to disprove our DOCUMENTED Facts. Cases where we’ve documented finding the victim where the scent trail was over 30 days old. We’ve even posted our successes on our web site for everyone to review.

This is one of many reasons we ask you stay from her and her M.A.R.S. trained volunteers and staff. Here’s a copy from her web site directly.
“In 1989, Missing Pet Partnership's founder K. A. began training search dogs (police Bloodhounds and cadaver dogs) and ultimately shifted into a career in law enforcement.
Then in 1997, K shifted her work to pioneering the pet detective industry. In 2005 after nine years experience as a pet detective, field training officer, and certified seminar leader, K launched the MAR Technician program, which has since certified other pet detectives who offer professional lost pet services.
Our History page explains the process we've gone through to develop this industry and our Qualifications page lists the experience and education that allows us to administer a proper training and certification program for pet detectives and MAR search dogs.
Missing Pet Partnership is striving to train and certify MAR Technicians, volunteer Lost Pet First Responders, and MAR search dogs so that lost pet services will be affordable and available in all communities. Because of problems that we've encountered with a few bad apples, we've established a Code of Ethics for our organization.
Just because a lost pet resource is not listed on our website does not mean that he or she is not reputable or can't help you! It might just mean that he or she has not been able to take our training course. But understand that Missing Pet Partnership will not list a resource on our website unless we know that he or she has been properly trained, is reputable, and has agreed to abide by our Code of Ethics. Sadly, a few in this field have been making claims that their dogs can follow scent trails that are long beyond what dogs are actually capable of following. You can learn more about how long scent survives by reading an excerpt from MPP founder Kat Albrecht's book DOG DETECTIVES: Train Your Dog to Find Lost Pets.
There are also others working hard to discredit anyone else who dares to compete with them, even those who have more experience in finding lost pets and, ironically, those who trained them. Some speak of their own ethics and desire for standards, yet they refuse to abide by Missing Pet Partnership's Code of Ethics”.
So with Ks statements from her web site she’s trying to cast doubt on other teams other then her own yet she starts out with the above info. This speaks for itself.



Again our work following scent trails older then four weeks has been proven round the world. It’s been documented, witnessed on cases we’ve worked on with the FBI and other government and state agencies. Yet K say’s “it’s not possible? Whose credibility is really on the line here? Not ours that’s for sure.

If the District attorney vouches for our success in the courtroom then who is K to try to call everyone a “liar?”, Shame on her.

In her next statement makes comments that “we don’t abide by MARS code of ethics? We’re not a pet detective agency, nor do we want to be. We’re a documented, credible professional K9 Search and Rescue agency that looks for missing persons and lost pets. We come highly recommended by the Better Business Bureau as well as thousands of satisfied clients. Our references are posted on our web site www.k9sardog.com

Our documentation has been checked and double checked by law enforcement and the Dept of Justice and validated.

Now more info. From Harry Oakes. If the District Attorney’s office has accepted my documentation and success records as fact in evidence for me to testify as an expert witness then who is this pet detective to think she’s more credible then a District Attorney?. Fact in evidence. We’ve successfully tracked scent trails up to 6 months old and older.
One concern that we've had from the inception of our training program is that anyone can take a dog, put a SEARCH DOG vest on him or her, claim he or she is trained to track lost people or pets, and scam money from desperate pet owners.
Here's an article where a man who lost his Mini Pin hired a "self-proclaimed dog tracker" for $12,000.00. Sadly, his final impression of the tracker was that, "she milked me for all I had."
It’s her own MARS Pet detectives that have received a number of complaints. Here are some of them.

Real search dogs Vs M.A.R.S. Pet detective search dog cases.
Example#1. We received a call from a client who has hired a woman from Oklahoma City, who claims she has two search dogs. She had responded and performed her Pet PI search for the clients lost cat. The MARS PET DETECTIVE charged the client approximately $900.00 to do her search. According to the client, this Pet PI didn’t file a report, or issue a receipt for monies paid, and told the client that, ”she found her cat’s remains in the snow”. (It turned out to be rabbit hair).

We flew out there with a qualified search dog team and determined the client’s cat was picked up near a play-ground and is very much alive. This for ½ the fee the PI had charged.
Example#2. We received another complaint in Wyoming. They had flown a MARS Pet search dog PI person from San Diego, Ca. out and wasn’t happy at all with the dog handler’s performance. Again, no after action report was issued, or receipt issued for the service. They had paid this searcher over $3000.00 for her search.

We were able to help the client, just through telephone calls, get their dog located and returned home safely for free. We also assisted the client in filing a complaint against the Pet PI search dog person from San Diego, Ca. with the Better Business Bureau and get their money refunded.

PLEASE check references and the search dog handler’s training and certification (We call is qualification standards), before you hire a PET PI or search dog team.

Example# 3. A client in Southern Ca. tried to get a MARS “Pet Detective Search Dog team from S. Ca. to respond to his lost cat search. She charged him $80.00 dollars just to give the client the same information that we give to our client for free over the phone. She quoted in an outrages price to travel 100 miles to do the search for his lost cat. The client flew us down there to his area, we did the search, and found a coyote had killed his cat for 1/3 of the price this PET PI quoted the client.

Example# 4. This client out of LA, Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE out of Montana. She paid her over $2,500 to come track her lost cat. The Pet detective refused to give her a written report, and her story about where her client’s cat went was proved to be wrong. After wasting three months of the client’s time, efforts, and money. We came down and for ½ the cost determined the clients own family member stole her cat. We have a valid suspect in the case.

Example# 5. This client of Idaho, wanted to hire a MARS Pet Detective who said, it would cost a minimum of $150.00 for her to come out and look. We did the consult for free and that afternoon our client got her dog back safe and alive for FREE.

Example# 6. A client in Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE who brought in two dog teams. They refused to allow the client to go along with them and claimed their search dogs tracked his dog to an area where it was picked up. They (the pet detectives) breached their own contract by not allowing their client to come along and witness the search that he was paying for.

Example# 7. A client in Canada hired a MARS Pet Detective from Arizona. She brought them up twice at great expense to search for her lost cat. The Pet Detective and her search dog, never found anything. We were asked to come up to BC Canada and do the search. We did it for 1/8th of the amount of money the Pet Det. Charged and after she had failed twice, it took our search dog 5 minutes to locate where the clients cat had been killed right behind the clients house in the alley.

Example# 8. The same Pet Det. We received numerous complaints on from Oklahoma had charged a woman client from NY $180.00 to profile her missing pet. (This is something we do for all of our clients for free.

The client was furious when she found out the Pet Det. Was completely off base, and that we were able to do the same thing over the telephone for FREE. On her website she claims she is the most experienced at what she does. Yet she hasn’t even come close to documenting the successes we have. So how can she get away with making such false claims?

Example# 9. I recently got a telephone call from a client in Las Vegas, Nv. She had two dogs missing in the desert. She contacted a MARS Pet Detective who quoted her $4000.00 to respond and do a search with her UNTRAINED UNCERTIFIED SAR Dog. This client ended up hiring I.K.9.S.A.R.S. our services. We helped her bring closure to both of the dog cases for less then $2,500.00 dollars.

Example# 10. This just came in last week and the client called me complaining about this pet detective. “Our dog Rudy went missing on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010. After almost 4 very devastating, difficult and stressful weeks, he was found. I never had lost a pet in my life, and never realized how much I loved this guy. Everyday that he was gone I missed him so much, cried often and was so worried, sad and unhappy. I even hired a pet detective despite the cost in the desperation to find him. (I don't recommend anyone doing this without FULLY checking out the detective's background, references, and having a signed contract beforehand). This person claimed that our dog was traveling towards San Jose however Rudy was found in Morgan Hill about 1/2 mile away from our home.

My husband is still upset of the amount of money and time we wasted on this service, but in the end at least I realized that this person was not reliable and turned my focus back to more probable places. Night after night, I searched by car and foot further and further from home, thinking to myself that I would never find him. Then there were the skeptics who thought someone had found him and were keeping him because he's cute and he's a puppy. But something in me never gave up hope. This was the most difficult battle sometimes, holding onto hope.
Sometimes it would've been easier to just admit the loss and accept that I would never see him again. Hope that if someone had him they would love him as much as I did and be taking care of him. Yet, I just couldn't let go of the thought that he was gone, and I fought to stay positive and tell myself, even if it takes a year I know he will come back to me. The last hope I had was his micro-chip and I thought someday that is what will bring him home, if it's not my fliers, my rewards or my searching.

Finally the day came, Sunday, June 6th, we got a call and someone found him. He was so skinny and dirty that I didn't even recognize him! But when I said his name he got up (the frailty and weakness was so obvious) he walked to me and I knelt down and he started to lick me. I grabbed him right away and in tears I asked what happened to you?
I hugged our angel who found him for us and thanked him immensely. Right away we took Rudy to the vet because he clearly needed professional care and at least an exam.

The vet told us that it was the second case that she had seen that weekend of a lost pet found. She said that the day before a woman came in with a cat that had been missing for 7 MONTHS! The cat was found in someone's backyard, like Rudy, was very weak and starved. 7 MONTHS!
”I just wanted to share with you all who are here searching for a pet my experience so you know that miracles do happen, hope is important, and even though it is hard don't give up! I hope my story helps you, maybe give you some strength and bring some hope in this very difficult and sad time. Below is a picture of Rudy. I especially want to thank Mr. Harry Oakes from Search and Rescue whom I called repeatedly throughout this horrible ordeal. He offered words of encouragement, tips for finding him. THANK YOU! “.
The person I hired was with the SocialPet.com, she charged me $65/hr with a minimum of 4 hour search. After doing research her price is actually reasonable compared to others, but I don't believe her success rate compares.
If you are considering pet detective services I can give you my experience in more detail and suggest I.K.9.S.A.R.S. They have you sign a contract, they are credible with 25 years experience. He also provides a written report when he’s completed his search. The company I hired SocialPet.com refused to give me one.”
We have numerous other complaints ref: these M.A.R.’s pet detectives groups and how they do their searches and how they charge for their services. While we support anyone who is out there trying to make a difference regarding lost pets, we don’t support taking advantage of someone during their time of need.

Police officers, doctors, attorneys, nurses, paramedics, fireman, all provide a professional service for people during their time of need. We also provide the same level of expertise in our field.

1). We send our clients a contract that spells out in great detail what we can and
can’t do, what we charge, and the contract protects the client and our search
dog team(s).

2). Our clients are asked to come along with us to witness our search efforts and
ask questions to better understand the process.

3). We issue a receipt for all money collected.

4). We issue a report that can be turned over to the court system and or law
enforcement.

5). We charge for only what service we provide. The pet detectives ask for a
large deposit that is NOT REFUNDABLE up front. That’s just not right.

If you want a Pet PI, we recommend Melody Pugh. (See our web site for her contact information). If you want a search dog team, then contact our office and we’ll send a trained, tested, professional K-9 SAR Dog team to your location.

Another scam to watch for. This article from the internet.
You'd have to sink pretty low to take advantage of the distraught owner of a lost pet, right? For a month, a retired airline pilot has searched high and low for Georges, a large tabby he's owned since he rescued it from a pet shelter in Florida in 1998. Georges took off after Polverino brought home a new kitten, Tigger. Since then, Polverino has been running ads in this newspaper and distributing and posting about 800 fliers in Southwest Roanoke County. During his search, Polverino has run into friendly and sympathetic people he otherwise might not have. Some of that came when he was posting or handing out fliers. Strangers saw his ad in the newspaper and called to commiserate and offer support.

"I've met some nice people," Polverino said. And then there was one caller who was looking for money. Polverino doesn't know the man's name. He identified himself as being with "Pet Finders Alert." The man told the worried cat owner that Pet Finders Alert could help find Georges using computers and telephones. "They said, 'We'll work with you every step of the way. We'll help you find your cat,' " Polverino said. For $59.95, Pet Finders Alert would call all of Polverino's neighbors and let them know about his missing cat.

They would call in an ever-widening circle around Polverino's place, until everyone who lived within a mile or two had been notified or the cat turned up. They would give Polverino progress reports, he says the guy told him. And they would notify local animal shelters, too. At the time the call came, "I'm real depressed, I'm at a weak point," Polverino said. So he coughed up his credit card number.
And that was the last time Pet Finders Alert called Polverino. While Polverino has handed out fliers in the Poages Mill area for the missing Georges, he's asked people if they've heard from Pet Finders Alert about Georges. The responses were along the lines of, "Pet who?" and, "Huh?"
As for the animal shelters, "they didn't contact one," Polverino said. "I've called all of them. I've visited them. And I've asked." Pet Finders Alert has contacted other owners of lost pets around here, however. One of them is Beverly Russell, who lives in the Carvins Cove area. She's been running an ad seeking Itty Bit, a Yorkie pup who disappeared in mid-May.
"We don't have your pet but we may be able to assist," began a message Pet Finders Alert left on Russell's voicemail. She hasn't returned their calls. Polverino suspects a scam and it sounds to me like he's on to something.
Thursday and again Monday I called Pet Finders Alert at the phone numbers Polverino and Russell gave me.
Those are listed to an address in Las Vegas. Nobody responded to messages left Thursday and Monday. The company's Web site, petfindersalert.com, has been suspended. The Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada gives the company an F rating.
"They're doing business illegally, without a state license," the BBB's Rhonda Fisk told me. The agency has four complaints on file since September, and Pet Finders Alert has responded to none of them, she added.
Polverino is now disputing the charge with his credit card company. His crusade to find Georges also has expanded. He's going after Pet Finders Alert, too. He's scouring bulletin boards on legitimate Web sites, such as PetFinder.com, and collecting many warnings about Pet Finders Alert.
And he's contacting law enforcement authorities in Nevada, encouraging them to go after the company. Let's wish him luck, and cheer him on.”

Remember to check all of your local animal hospitals, feed stores, vet clinics, animal rescue groups within a 200-mile area. Also post signs at your local feed stores, pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart. Check their lost and found boards. If your pet is a pure bred, check the pure bred rescue groups in your area.

6. Place an ad in the local newspapers.

7. Check your ads in the newspaper. Check the lost and found section, pets for sale, and pets being given away for free. These are located in three different sections of the newspapers. Follow up on each ad that possibly refers to your pet. Never go to the house or location alone to check out a pet sighting. Think ahead and BE SAFE. ___.

9. Don’t give up for 10 weeks. After that period of time, you will need to put closure on your search efforts. Get counseling if needed. You and your family have suffered a terrible loss of a family member.

I recommend that you sit down away from distractions and write your pet a goodbye letter. Bring a box of Kleenex.
Tell them what it meant to have them in your life. How it feels to have them gone. What you did to find them. Then when it’s time, let them go. We’ve had successful recoveries a year after our initial search. But honestly those are very rare cases. ___.

10. If the animal is found alive, get it to a vet clinic immediately. Have it check for Giardia, parasite infections, and dehydration. If it’s not micro-chipped, get it chipped right away. Avid, or Home Again offers a great service.____.

NOTE. Many people who have had their pets micro-chipped fail to contact the Microchip Company. Please as soon as you chip your animal, call the microchip company and register your contact information with them immediately. Also give the company a back up contact # of a family member or friend in case you are unable to be contacted during an emergency. If your pet comes up missing, call the microchip company right away and register your pet on the company’s “Hot list” or lost list. Make sure they have your current contact information. In the Portland area, we get approximately 3,500 pets back each year through microchips.

11. If the animal is found dead, contact your local animal shelter or a private pet service for removal, burial, or cremation of the pet’s remains.

Be aware of other scams. One of the most common scams is where someone calls you and gets a description of your pet. They may have seen your ads in the newspaper or on a poster in the area. They will then give this information to a partner. The partner calls you and says,” he has your pet”. He or she will give you an accurate description of your pet and describing where he / she found it. He / she will tell you a story, such as, “I’m now out of state traveling (or working). I was in your area and found your pet. If you wire me some money, I will send your pet home immediately”. It’s a scam. DON’T FALL FOR THIS.

If he / she is telling you the truth, then he / she will have no problem taking the pet to the nearest animal shelter, or police department, and verifying through an official agency that they do in fact have your pet. Then you can work out the procedures of rewards and recovery of your pet. Never give anyone any money for your pet until you actually see your pet first.

Another scam. Person will call you and tell you that he / she is retired, or a truck driver, and picked up a hitchhiker who had your pet. Your pet was sick / injured and the person calling you took your pet to the local vet. The caller will then say something like, “If you send me the money that I paid for your pet at the vet’s office, I’ll send you your pet on the next airplane”.

Ask the caller for their telephone#, name, and address. Send the police there to verify their statements. If they are telling you the truth (99.9%) of the time they are not, then work out the details of reward and returning the animal after the police or animal control has verified it is in fact your pet.

Watch out for unsavory businesspersons. There are a lot of new pet finder services out on the market. Get references.

NOTE: There is a web site called PETFINDERS.COM This service allows you to file a report for FREE listing your lost or found pet. We strongly recommend them.

Be wary of pet detectives who charge you fees to go look for your pet. You can do the same job for free. There are a few CREDIBLE PET DETECTIVES. Contact us for our list of referrals.

One comment listed on Craigslist re: Pet finders. “Got a call today from “Petfinders” after listing our lost cat with the Oregonian. They offered to call everybody within a mile radius of our house to give them a description of our lost cat. Looked them up online and it appears to be a total scam”. Beware if they call you.
The person who finds your pet may do the following:
They may call the newspapers and place an ad to advise people that they have found the animal.
Check the lost and found ads for people trying to report their animal missing.

File online with local petfinders.com or other pet rescue resources, (Craigslist, My space, etc.) that they’ve found your pet. Report finding your pet at the local animal shelters, veterinarian clinics, or pet stores.

Some folks will sell your pet or give it away to another person, medical research facility, or to a friend.

NOTE: Numerous hospitals and medical research facilities buy animals (dogs and cats) off the street. They claim they don’t, but we have proved this isn’t so. They will not let us tour their facilities for your pet. This includes local hospitals like OHSU, and Good Samaritan. Never support these facilities.

Performing medical experiments and testing on animals is cruel and wrong.

The person, who has your pet, may be lonely and may keep the pet and take good care of it. (Especially around the holidays). They may take your pet to a public place such as a park, school, or shopping mall, and let it go, hoping someone else will pick it up and take care of it, or that it will find its way back home. Some cultures will eat your pet. This is highly unusual here in the USA, but it does happen in less then 1% of the cases.

PREDATORS. There are many types of predators that may attack and kill or injure your pet. Humans trying to capture your pet to collect the rewards, or sell it to a medical facility for experiments. Other animals such as other dogs, birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, owls. coyotes, raccoons, possums, cougars, or bears may also attack your pet.

Predators killing your pet occur in 35% of our cases that we investigate. If you live in the wilderness, country, or rural areas, check your local animal trails for coyote-bear-wolf poop and look for your pet’s hair inside to prove or disprove it’s been consumed by a predator.

Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Possums, Raccoons, Coyotes, Fox, Bears, Cougars, Bob cats, and some larger snakes can eat small dogs and cats. Don’t blame the predator. You’re the one who allowed fifi or fido to run loose in the predator’s home.

Every year from March through July, we find a huge increase of missing small dogs and cats that have become food for coyotes and raccoons feeding and protecting their young. Be aware of the dangers of allowing your pet to run loose.

WHEN YOU’VE FOUND YOUR PET. Your pet may suffer from psychogenic shock and it may be traumatized. Your pet might not even recognize you as their owner, once you’ve spotted one another. NEVER RUN UP TO YOUR PET.

Your pet may run away, or it may attack you to defend itself. The best thing to do is to STOP and SIT DOWN near the pet, take a deep breath, and calm down. Calmly call out your pet’s name repeatedly, in a very soft voice, trying to lure it back to you.

If you have another pet at home that has bonded with the missing pet, take it with you on your search. Let your other pet greet the one that’s in shock. Once you’ve recovered your pet, take it to your vet. Immediately.

IF YOUR PET IS FOUND HIDING or has been spotted. Bring some pet food and something that has your scent on it, like a dirty sock, shirt, or other piece of clothing that hasn’t been washed. Put some of the pet’s food into the pieces of your unwashed clothing, and leave it in the immediate area. You may even leave your scent trail from this area to your home, if it’s close by. This may bring the pet out of its shock and draw it back to you. Leave a piece of soiled unwashed clothing, cut up in the size of a quarter, trailing home. One piece every 50 feet.

HUMAN URINE SCENT TRAIL. (Pee trail). Another method that works is to have the person who the pet is bonded with the most at home, urinate into a spray bottle. Mix the urine with water. This sounds weird, but this actually has brought home about 5% of our cases. Then go to the areas of possible sightings and spray a SCENT TRAIL of your urine back home. One squirt (from the spray bottle) every 30 yards. Use a route where your pet won’t get hit by a car. The pet may not come out of hiding. A live box trap and trained animal capture staff are available to trap the animal without hurting it. Contact your local animal control agency for assistance.

If your Pet is found dead. You may call a Critter Gitter service to transport it, or animal control to pick up and handle your pet’s remains for cremation or burial services. See pet loss support group counseling services. They are free.

THE USE OF SEARCH DOGS.
If your pet is lost and you’ve called our K-9 Search & Rescue team, here’s what to expect. First we’ll send you this lost pet profile information for free.

We will obtain a missing pet description and profile, take a report, and obtain a scent article belonging to your pet. (Some kind of fur, hair, blanket, or collar that only the pet has touched or worn, or laid on).

We can then initiate a track of the missing / stolen pet with a trained search dog team. We are often called days, weeks, or even months later after the animal has been lost.

In 99% of our cases, our search dog team will track right to where the pet is currently at, or where it was picked up by some well-meaning person, or where it was killed by a predator.

The person who finds your pet, normally will remove the pet from the area by vehicle. The search dog can determine if the pet was killed and the location where this happened.

If the search dog indicates a LIVE ALERT, this is a strong indicator that your pet has been picked up by a well-meaning person. We then ask you to post signs at this location. The person who picked up your pet, observes the poster and will hopefully will call you to return your pet.

If your pet was picked up and removed from the area by a human, what do you do then? Post signs. Whoever picked up your pet most likely will be looking for a lost poster and will do everything they can to find the pets owners. Remember to post a sign in English and Spanish.

SCENT. All trained, tested, and qualified real search dogs, as in any other kind of tracking animal, will pick up the freshest scent of the animal, and track it instinctively. As a human or animal walks along, they shed approximately 10,000 pieces of scent per minute.

This scent falls to the ground and stays there until the wind and air currents moves the scent to nearby dirt, sand, brushy vegetation areas. The scent is held there until it fully dissipates about a year later.

When an animal or human walks in one specific direction, it’s laying down scent that the trained search dog can track up to 365 days later, even in the rain.

Rain actually helps the scent. It brings the scent closer to the ground surface, keeps the search dog’s nasal passages moist to help the dog retain the scent and it will liven the scent. I’ve successfully tracked a missing dog route on the day it rained over 2 inches of rain in Portland, Ore.

What hurts scent? Heavy vehicle and human traffic contaminates the scent.
Heavy rains of 2 inches per day may wash the scent down but we can still perform a track.

Heat dries out the scent and the search dog’s nasal scent receptors, making it harder for the search dog to track.

Snow. Search dogs can still track scent in the snow. When we work avalanche searches often the victim is covered by 5 feet of snow and the dogs will still locate them.

If this happens we can still do the search but instead may choose to do what’s called an area search instead of a trail or track.

If the victim we are searching for is in the area, the search dog will alert and show us where he / she is at.

Cigarette smoke contains a poisonous drug called Nicotine. Nicotine is an anesthetizing agent that can numb up the search dogs scent receptors by 95% and make the search dog’s job much more difficult. If you smoke around your pet, the second hand cigarette smoke poison that you are putting into their little lungs (Nicotine) can also alter the missing pet’s scent, therefore throwing off a search dog. That’s why all of our team members are non-smokers.

That’s also why you are never allowed to smoke around our search dogs or their handlers. You are also exposing your pet to many types of respiratory diseases and cancer.

Can search dog’s track at night? Yes, of course we can. In fact we prefer it.
Air molecules stay lower to the ground at night, and there are fewer scents to contend with in the evening and early morning. 95% of our live finds of missing persons are when we’ve been called in at night and our search dogs caught up to the persons while they were sleeping or at least staying in one place.

FALSE TRACKS. A false track happens when the animal walks one specific direction, then the pet owner, or someone else, walks on top of the pets scent, (usually in or around the home). This transfers the pet’s scent onto the bottom of the person’s footwear, and when the person walks or drives a different direction, this person is now giving off a fresher scent of the missing pet to track. This is called a false scent trail.

There is no way to prevent this from happening, it’s a fact of life. The only way that you can help this from happening, is to call our K-9 Search and Rescue team out immediately before you do any looking, so as not to contaminate the track. With our experience in tracking, we can quickly determine if we’re on a false or a true track / trail. If you’ve been out looking for your pet, we’ll deal with the false scent trail issue. We run into this daily.

What if the search dog tracks my pet to one specific location, and we get reports of sightings in a completely different area? It is not unusual at all for someone who is well meaning to pick up a lost animal. Soon the animal becomes too much responsibility for the person to take care of. They may let the pet go at a nearby park, school, or business. They may take it back to where they found it and set it free, hoping it will find its way back home. The pet may just break free from the person and try to find its own way back home.

REMEMBER, The search dog doesn’t know how to lie. So, if the search dog team tracks your pet to one specific area and indicates your pet has been removed from this area, and, a few days later you get reports your pet is seen in an entirely different area, don’t be upset at the search dog. Be upset at the person who removed your pet and then let it go somewhere else. This unfortunately happens in approximately 5% of our cases.

How do we know the search dog’s track was accurate? There is never 100% guarantee that we’ll find your loved one. We’ll give it our best efforts.
Again I’ll repeat myself. A search dog doesn’t know how to lie. That’s why their testimony in a court of law is accepted, with training, testing, and mission documentation.

A search dog is trained to follow the freshest track or scent trail of the scent given to them by their dog handler. A mutual trust exists between the dog handler and the search dog. We use the dogs’ nose and tracking, air scenting, and trailing capabilities along with our man and animal tracking and clue capabilities to confirm why our search dog is leading us to a specific area.

During our search we look for clues such as foot-prints, fecal matter, hair, blood and other signs to prove or disprove the track. This is call confirming a valid track.

The search dog team (one dog, one dog handler) must go through hundreds of hours of training, testing and actual work cases to maintain their status in K-9 SAR. That’s why it’s important to use a real search dog team and not someone who claims to have a search dog like a pet detective or M.A.R.S. person.

Ask for references from people they’ve already provided service for.
Our references are posted on our web site for all to see.

Be careful of teams who we call “Posers”. These are people (dog handler’s) who “BRAG” on TV or to the newspaper about ,”how good they are and what they can do”. Yet when it comes to actual searching, their results are very disappointing. We’ve seen teams like this in Texas and in Ca.

What is your success rate in finding lost / missing / stolen pets with search dogs? 90%. We physically find 10% during the initial search. The remaining 80% of the pets that are found because of the track. They are found because the search dog led the pet owners to a specific housing area, street intersection, or park area where the animal was picked up or is hiding. The pet owners post signs there. Spread their urine pee trail. The pet picks up on the owners scent and follows it back home or where they lead the pee trail to. Or, the person(s) who picked up your pet, see the signs, and then call you or get nervous and let your pet go.
10% of the pets are never ever found. _____.

Why are 10% of the pets never found? They may have fallen victim to a predator. Two or four legged. People may sell your pet for drugs, dog fighting, medical experiments, food, or its fur. This is rare but it does occur.
Four legged predators such as bears, cougars, bobcats, larger dogs, opossums, raccoons, and some birds of prey have been known to carry off smaller pets and transport their remains to their den.

Why don’t you track the pet to the predator’s den? It is not our position to interfere with nature. We don’t wish to harm or annoy the predators. Nor do we want our search dogs to be injured by the predator trying to protect its home and its babies. When people build their homes in or around wilderness, rivers, creeks, green spaces, they are unknowingly taking away the predators homes. And, by doing so, they are providing food for the predator should the pet wander.

PETS AND STRANGERS. I get told on almost every search, “My pet will never go to a stranger”. This is not a true statement at all. When the pet owner is talking about their pet, they’re talking about the pet they know in a controlled environment. The pet is in a stable home, has food and human contact, etc. Once an animal gets away from this environment, they have to survive on their own. They revert back to what’s known as a feral stage.

Your pet will hunt to kill and eat food and they will drink from water in mud puddles, creeks, and streams. They may steal food and water from other animals’ dishes in their surroundings. And when they are hungry, tired, and scared enough, they will seek out humans for comfort and safety.

Posters: When you print a poster, here is a suggestion that works very well. Leave some kind of information about your pet out of your description that only you will know about. That way you can determine if the caller has your pet or not. Post your signs within a 1-mile radius for a cat concentrating on the area 4 city blocks from your point last seen. Post signs in a 5-mile radius for a lost dog.

NOTE: 99% of the missing pets will travel into the wind.
Find out which way the wind was blowing on the day your pet disappeared. Most pets including horses head into the wind when lost or out hunting for food, water, play friends.

Post signs at stores, schools, offices, parks, etc.

I recommend that you post your signs after a search dog team has determined the route your animal has traveled. This will save you money and time.

Remember you will have to remove the signs when you get your pet back. We actually recommend that you make two different types of posters up.

One with a REWARD notice at top, the photo of your pet underneath. It’s name, your area code and telephone. That’s it, nothing else. Let the reporting person id your pet to you with more specifics to prove they have your pet. (Read our scam section). Say something to the effect of “$ REWARD $ for safe return of missing pet, no questions asked”.

Make a second poster up with all the information. Post the Pets name, microchip #, tattoo type, location, collar make, type, id type. Weight, height, length, eye color, hair color, medical identifiers, etc. This detailed information is sent to your vets, police departments, Postal employees, animal control agencies and search teams.

NOTE: If you have a large Hispanic speaking culture in your area, don’t forget to make up signs in Spanish as well.

STOLEN PETS: If it’s determined that your pet has been stolen, you will need to file a stolen pet report with your local law enforcement agency, and the Department of Agriculture Humane Society Law Enforcement. Keep their case # and a copy of their report on file.

If a search dog team responds, after their search, you will be sent a report showing their findings, and an invoice for their search costs. Keep a copy on file.
Lately we’ve seen a lot of lazy police officers who don’t wish to be bothered with doing their job and taking a report. Remind them please, that pets are considered personal property. If someone takes possession of your property without your consent, they are required by law to report finding your pet (property).

If the person who takes possession of your pet refuses or fails to file a found report, this constitutes, “Theft of personal property”. This is a crime. By state law, “A police officer has the responsibility to take a crime report and investigate the crime”.

If / when we capture the suspect(s) and recover your animal(s), you will need to provide photographs, (proof of ownership), and a value of the animal. (Cost of vet services, meals, breeding, purchase, general care, etc.) You may also be called to testify against the suspect(s). This is why we want you to document your every action in your search for your pet. Many pets are stolen and sold for breeding, resale values, rewards offered, dog fighting, or sold to medical labs for medical experiments.

MEDICAL LABS / Hospitals: Contact your local hospitals that purchase animals for medical experiments, and demand to view their animals in their clinics. (They will refuse). But, if enough people demand to see if their pet has been purchased by the hospital, the hospitals may change their attitudes.

There’s been a recent increase in pets stolen for their SKINS and FUR.
Let’s stop them now.
Example: “Rapper Jay-Z, founder of the Rocawear clothing line, is taken to task by the Humane Society after it found that the “faux fur” in jackets sold by his company is actually dog fur”.
Remember, once you’ve located your pet. Contact I.K.9.S.A.R.S. Immediately. www.k9sardog.com
Call all local animal control agencies and advise them to remove your pet’s name from their listings. _____.
Remove all of your posters.____.
Review all of your written materials and lessons learned from this event. ____.
Take precautionary measures so that it won’t happen again. Tattoo / Microchip and ID your pet. ___.
Pass on our web site to others who are searching for their pets.




Before your pet is lost, ID your pet.
1. Talk with your veterinarian. Determine and document the following: Identify the breed(s) of your pet. ___________. Pet’s weight: _____. Age: ________. Height: __________. Hair: Short Medium Long. (Circle One). Tail length: Short Medium Long. (Circle One) Eye Color: _________. Microchip Brand: ________#____________________________. Other ID: ____________________________________________________.
List Medications:______________________________________________.
Veterinarian’s Name:______________ Address:_____________________ .
Telephone #’s: ___________________________________.
2. Comb out the pet’s hair and place it inside a clean envelope. Place the animal’s name on the outside of the envelope and date it. It will be good for up to two years as a scent article for a search dog, if your pet becomes lost.

3. Take numerous color photographs from all different angles of your pet.

4. Microchip and Tattoo your pet. Ask your local animal shelter or veterinarian about these services.

5. NEVER leave a collar or choke chain on an animal. Many animals are found choked to death by choke chains and regular id collars. Use either a harness with the id attached on back, or a breakaway ID collar.

6. Never smoke cigarettes around your pet. Not only will it make them very ill from the nicotine poisoning, but it alters their original scent, and can make it very difficult for a search dog to track them. The first word in Webster’s dictionary about the drug NICOTINE is “POISON”. Quit smoking, you’ll live longer.

7. Always check references of resources that you wish to use. We have THOUSANDS of satisfied customers, and references are available upon request.

8. Always seat belt or crate your pet when you travel. See our web site for photos and instructions on how to do this. Review our web site at: www.k9sardog.com for more SAR and private pet detective references. (Note) we look for missing people also.






POSTER SAMPLES.
Example # 1. Very limited information on this poster to avoid scams.

REWARD for MISSING DOG.
(Photo of your missing pet).
Dogs name is: “Tonya”.
Please call : 503-222-2222.

Example # 2. Very detailed information on this poster. This is given to law enforcement, animal control, vets, shelters, etc.

REWARD FOR MISSING DOG. Name: “LARS”. Breed: MUTT. Long hair chi. mix. Age: 4 years Weight: 5 lbs. Colors: Tan and white. Microchip: AVID 000-000-000. Tattoo: “I.K.9.S.A.R. RULES”. Owners: Mrs. Thompson Email:find-me-at@aol.com Home: 503-222-2222.

If the pet has been stolen, post a poster that states, “Reward for safe return of stolen pet” No questions asked. Give them your telephone#.

I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is a professional K-9 SAR Dog team that uses professionally trained K-9 Search dog teams to track missing persons or pets.

We’ve been in business since 1986 and currently are the most documented successful search dog team in the world for tracking missing persons or
missing pets.
The most often asked questions.
Q. Can a search dog track a lost pet after two weeks?
A. Yes we sure can. We’ve successfully tracked a lost cat one year after the date is was lost and found it alive one mile away in a horse barn at the Portland Horse Racing Track. We also have the cat owner’s name and telephone number if you wish to verify this statement. We also have documented a missing 16 year old in Canada. We tracked him a year after he disappeared and both search dogs found where he had committed suicide.

It’s rained a lot recently, does this affect the scent?
A. No not at all. Rain actually helps keep the scent moist and helps the dog’s
nasal passages keep moist so they can smell the scent trail.

Q. What does an average search costs?
A. Depends on how far you live away from Longview, Wa.
We charge $25.00 per hour travel, time each way from Longview,
Washington. Cost of fuel, motel if we have to spend the night, and $50.00
per fifteen minutes of searching. Include Airline transportation if needed.
Example of a typical search in Portland, Ore.
Driving time $25.00 per hour x 2 hours (round trip) = $50.00
Cost of fuel $25.00
Search time $50.00 per fifteen minutes. Search lasted 15 minutes =$50.00
Total owed I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is $125.00.

Pet searches. I charge cost of meals, fuel, motels, driving time and search time. If I must fly, then ad on those travel fees as well.

Mr. Harry Oakes is an expert in the field of search and rescue. With 38 years of experience, he has been brought in by the FBI, City Police Departments, Sheriff’s Office, National Parks, Embassy officials, other government agencies and private families to help solve missing persons cases.

Since 1986 Mr. Oakes documented over 8,300 calls around the world. Mr. Oakes has a documented 99% success rate of either finding the victim(s), or determining what really happened to them.

Runaways, suicides, homicides, accidental deaths, kidnappings, natural disasters, man made disasters such as bombings, transportation accidents, persons who are lost, missing, presumed dead. Missing children. These are the types of cases Mr. Oakes handle’s every week.

Being an expert in his field, many attorneys as well as law enforcement agencies turn to Mr. Oakes for consulting advice. So do other SAR units.

Mr. Oakes helped developed the N.A.S.A.R. and F.E.M.A. K-9 SAR Standards as well as International SAR Standards.

Media often calls on Mr. Oakes to discuss current events, cases. Mr. Oakes has been featured in People Magazine, This week Magazine, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Nancy Grace, as well as cases discussed on Oprah and other shows.

If you need his assistance contact Mr. Harry Oakes at searchdog@iinet.com
Or through his office at 360-414-8093.

Order his book on "Search and Rescue" Harry discusses all aspects of Search and Rescue. Training the person for SAR, training a dog for SAR, the ugly politics of SAR, case by case reviews, photos of his work around the world. He talks about the Kyron Horman case as well as many other cases he's been involved in.

Thank You

International K9 Search and Rescue Services.
www.k9sardog.com

Q. I have Multiple pets, I don’t have anything specific that belongs just to the missing pet?
A. We’ll introduce the search dog to all of your pets from a distance. One at a time. When the search dog smells each pet and then can smell the one they can’t see, they know that’s the one they need to go search for.
For Pet Owners

Before you fly with your pet on a commercial airline, follow these suggestions to make your pet’s trip much easier and safer.

1. Microchip your pet. In the Portland, Oregon area, about 3,000 dogs and cats are returned home each year because the pet is micro-chipped. After your pet is micro-chipped, register your pet’s information with the microchip company online or by mail. Include its breed, sex, age, date of birth, current home address and your next of kin along with your veterinarian’s information.
2. Make sure the kennel is large enough for your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. A few months before you fly, put your pet’s kennel inside their sleeping area with the door open and his bedding inside. This helps the pet become accustomed to the kennel.
3. Place the following inside a clean paper envelope and then inside a plastic zip lock bag: pet's medical records, rabies certificate, vet contact information, microchip info, a combed out sample of its fur, and color photos of your pet from different angles.
4. Write PET ID on the envelope and tape it to the outside of the kennel.
If your pet becomes sick or escapes, the airline staff and search and rescue crews like myself now have a scent article, photographs, and a great description of your pet with which to start our search efforts.
5. Before your pet travels, consider giving him Acepromazine (animal tranquilizer that should not be used on animals with seizures) that is available from your vet.
6. Put some of your pet's favorite toys and belongings inside the kennel: chew toys and bedding. Make sure the toys are ones that the pet can’t choke on.
7. Include a soiled piece of clothing that has your scent on it in the kennel. Something you’ve worn all day, but haven't washed. Having your scent inside the kennel will help calm your pet.


For airline personnel to retrieve an escaped pet
Do this immediately when a pet escapes from an airline transport kennel.
1. Call our professional K9 SAR tracking team.
Office: 360-414-8093. Mobile: 503-705-0258 Web: www.k9sardog.com
2. Notify management that a pet has been lost from its kennel.
3. Notify airport security, TSA, airport ground operations services, airport management teams, and airport police and fire departments, as well as other ground staff.
4. Ask the airlines legal department to contact the pet owners as well as the pet’s vet, microchip company, and local animal control to register the pet as missing.
5. Poster the area in English and Spanish.
Rain has no negative effect on scent. It actually helps to keep the scent fresh. Rain and moisture livens scent and keeps it moist so the search dogs can detect it. It also keeps the search dogs nose scent receptor cells moist to they can absorb more scent.
Searching for the Pet
1. If a pet escapes his kennel, use the client's clothing (sock, shirt) that has been sent with the pet.
2. Wear rubber gloves to handle the item, cut up the clothing. Soak some of the items in a spray bottle filled with water. Go to the area where the pet has been spotted and spray the area.
3. Take the remaining pieces of cut clothing (scent) and leave them in the area where the pet has been hiding or seen. Their owners scent items may keep the pet in the area.
4. Check all area hiding spots: under baggage units, radar towers, inside warehouses and near sources of fresh water.
5. Search into the wind. All pets that wander or hunt, head into the wind.
6. Post signs in English and Spanish around the perimeter of the airport:
“Reward for safe return no questions asked”. Don’t state the reward amount.
7. Send someone to the animal control shelter in person every other day to visually check for the pet.
Don’t ever accept that the animal shelter or humane society doesn't have the pet without checking. Most shelters are staffed with volunteers and many of the volunteers don’t know exactly which animals are at the shelter.
8. Keep a journal of your search efforts and costs while avoiding fraud from callers and pet detectives.
9. If you spot the missing pet, don’t approach it. The animal is in survival mode and is likely in psychogenic shock. The pet usually won’t even go to its owner at this point. Bring in a professional animal capture specialist from animal control.
10. Never give or send anyone money until you physically see the pet and confirm through scanning of the microchip that it is the same pet.
For more information on how to find a lost pet, go to http://www.k9sardog.com/missing.html

Once my search dog and I tracked a frightened dog who had escaped from a vet clinic until we located it in a dense wooded area. I then let my search dog off lead to go play with the dog, which calmed the dog. While the dogs played, I called the dog’s owner on my cell phone and had him call to his dog on my cellular speaker phone. This enabled us to recapture the dog.

Our search dog teams have a 99% success rate of either finding the missing person or lost pet or determining what really happened to them. We’ve successfully tracked and found both missing persons and lost pets after they have been missing a year with working search dogs. Of course the sooner we respond and start our track with a trained search dog the better our efforts will be in locating the pet.

We are not pet detectives nor do we want anything to do with them. We are search and rescue K9 teams that use our search dogs to track missing persons and pets.

Note: We’ve received dozens of complaints over the years from people who have used M.A.R.S. (Missing Animal Response Services) units with their pet search dogs.
See the following pages, for some of our hundred’s of references.
Our References#1.
Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Hello. My name is Kathryn Bratcher and I live in Snohomish, Washington. I was referred to you by Janos Wimpffen of Redmond in an effort to help me recover my lost dog. He told me of your search dog, Valerie. My dog, Te’ Amo, has been missing since the evening of April 30th and has been spotted (possibly) twice within 2-3 miles of our home in the last two days. As you can imagine, our family is devastated. Please contact me with information regarding your services and whether or not you and Valerie would be able to help us recover our beloved pet. You may respond to this e-mail. Thank you.

Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Harry: Thank you for your quick response! I’ve also heard your voicemail this morning and want to thank you for the tip to keep him in the area. He has been sighted several times within a mile of home (at least five now) and I found out last night that three people saw him AT OUR HOUSE two days ago. That indicates to me that the little rascal is not “lost” but maybe just on an adventure. Nonetheless, I want him home. It doesn’t seem right to call out a team if he’s wandering the neighborhood on his own, though. (He is neutered so I can’t imagine what the attraction is...maybe just freedom from the fence). Do you have any suggestions how I can maybe use socks or other personal items to lure him home?

From: “Harry E. Oakes Jr.” To: Kathryn Bratcher Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 11:32:06 Neutering doesn’t keep the sex drive down for a dog. Does it work for a human male? NO..... :) So don’t assume because he’s been cut that he’s lost his sex drive. GO pee allot. Yup that’s right. now don’t get your britches up in a stir. What I mean is, in all seriousness aside, drink water, coffee, whatever, makes you have to do the #1.

Then put it in a spray bottle and go around to the sightings and spray till your little hearts content. Then drive home spraying the “Special scent” of yours all the way home. This is the strongest scent a dog can track and it’s much more appealing (The spray bottle that is) then the other options.

Try that. The most important thing to be concerned about is your dog getting hit by a car. Try to find someone in the area of the sightings that will call you immediately when they see him. Try this, if it doesn’t work, a live dog trap (Box type) works. but, you may catch raccoons, tigers, lions, cats, possums, and coyotes maybe even Bigfoot???? So that’s the last option. If this stuff doesn’t work, call me and I’ll come up there with my search dog and track the little fella. Thanks good luck and let me know how it goes. Harry

Tue, 08 May 2001 16:10:44 From:”Kathryn Bratcher” kathbrat@hotmail.com To: search dog@iinet.com Dear Harry: I picked up your message Saturday afternoon. I must say I didn’t expect the advice you gave...BUT IT WORKED!!! It took me about nine hours on Saturday to drink enough to make a trail from the area he was sighted to home (of course I led him down the back roads :) I finished my “trail” about 10:00 on Saturday evening and when I woke up at 6:30 a.m. he was in the front yard waiting to be let in! I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR ADVICE and it really does make a great story! Although he is home safe, he’s not exactly sound. He suffered severe knee injury on his little adventure and underwent surgery this afternoon.

He’ll be home from the hospital tomorrow afternoon and our lives will FINALLY regain some degree of normalcy. Thank you again, Harry! I never would have thought of such a trick on my own! Te’ Amo thanks you, too!!!
Ref# 2. Onalee Owass@earthlink.net
Thank you again for finding Pookie for us. I wish so much I had known about your service 3 days earlier and I think we could have found her alive. I know her time on earth was going to be limited but knowing she died all alone without us is hard for me. But it was good to find her so we didn’t have to wonder and worry about her and we could bring her home to bury. I will certainly recommend your services to anyone in our situation. Please send me a picture at your convenience. Thanks, Onalee and Jerry Wasserburger
3). 04-10-06 2006-3794-084(A). Mult. Co. Lost cat. Anita Parth samozoe@comcast.net Tigard, Ore Lost cat MILO. You and Valerie came down, and helped me find my Persian cat all those years ago, yes the one at the horse track in NE Portland. We did recover him a few days later. The woman who had him was hording a lot of cats. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1.

Ref# 4. Kris Desylvia World Travel.

Ref# 5. Vicki L.Johnson antiquevics@comcast.net 04-15-06.
Harry, Thank you for your efforts and for you and Valorie giving me hope when I was beginning to fall apart. Knowing that Tia was alive and that someone had picked her up encouraged me to continue looking for her. I spent all day Saturday walking around the neighborhood talking to various neighbors and posting new flyers. I was at work around 8 pm making additional flyers when I received a phone call that someone had found my dog and was returning her to me. So they got our address and Tia was returned to us.

My husband & I took her to vet and she is slightly dehydrated and was covered with fleas, but she has been treated and is beginning to perk up like her former self. The vet is Issaquah was very interested to hear about your search & rescue operation too. Thank you again - you can add Tia Maria to your success list!! I’ll email you a photo later of her.
Vicki Johnson

06-16-06 dfalasca@verizon.net Harry, Just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help with finding Rambo. We could not have done it without you!! You provided us with an enormous amount of information and a generous supply of support, which we will never, ever forget. Although we never met in person, I know you would just love Rambo. He is a very mellow Chihuahua, and the sweetest dog we have ever had. He is very happy to be back home in California!! Best Regards, Ron, Doreen & Dana Falasca
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Jud Landis jud.landis@gmail.com Hello: Thank you very much for your prompt response, your informative web site, and your phone call. Our dog showed up at our back door at 6:15 AM today, after we placed a urine trail back to our house Sunday night (we’d laid it the wrong way first). So, thank you so much for that piece of advice. I am telling anybody who asks about it, even if they think I’m strange. Sincerely, Jud Landis Eugene, OR

10-28-07 Lost dog Idaho. Elaine Peoples 10-28-07 Harry, I am very thankful to every one that helped.... I have to mention.... I said a prayer just 10 minutes before I saw Sparky zipping past me as I came out of that gate on the culvert side to the mobile home park..... I called him and he stopped and looked at me.... thought about a minute to see if it was really me....and then came to me.... of course I scooped him up and thanked GOD for answering my prayers and especially so fast.... NOW I also have to give credit to YOU for locating the actual spot that I left him at...and the nice people that called to tell me they saw him..... THEY saw my newspaper add in the Idaho News.... It started on Saturday...and they called Sunday 7 AM to tell me ....and I was already on my way to search again today....Happy ending.... good night......we will all sleep better tonight....Elaine THANK YOU HARRY, WILLOW and VAL.
Andria Squires
We can only guess that whoever picked her up from Quizno’s let her lose in the area or she escaped from them (good girl!) and was found by the right family. I was glad that I had read you note about what to do when you find your dog because I knew what to expect. She didn’t recognize us as first. She was hesitant to come near me and then when she did she had to touch me with her nose before she recognized me. She is acting like she is in shock a bit, but doesn’t have any major injuries. There is a cut under her eye and she is walking stiff, but after a bath and good nights sleep, she looks good. I’m waiting for the vet to open so they can check her out. Thanks again for all your wonderful help!!! Woo Hoo!!! Lucy is home!!! Andria

Sun, 6/13/10, Glorylamb7@aol.com Subject: Re: Lost Dog -Carrolton, GA To: harry98632@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010, 11:50 AM Harry, Just an update to let you know that my Pom Pom is safe at home after having been missing for two weeks. Someone picked her up off the street and sold her to a couple in another state. This couple saw a flyer I had posted at an animal hospital near the GA/AL state line and called me. We drove to Alabama on Friday evening and were reunited! There are still some honest people out there. She had been well taken care of. Thank you, Jesus! Maybe my story can be an encouragement to others. God bless, Tonya Lawson

07-14-2010. From: Terry Treves
Subject: RE: lost dog ellie To: "Harry Oakes"
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:50 AM Harry Ellie probably traveled in a huge circle thru the mini oaks up the creeks and threw the farm land for the entire 20 days. Bet she covered over 300 miles in those 20 days. I set a wild trap for 4 days caught nothing. She was lost June 21st sighted June 30th crossing a dirt road near a ranch where I lost her. I set the trap close to where I lost her and followed your advise with baiting and the urine.
I sprayed my urine on all the paths I traveled and back to the trap. On July 5th I got a text at 4:44 am telling me my dog (lost flyer mailed to over 30 ranches) had been on their ranch running around their little trailer barking when they came out and saw her she took off. I didn't get the text till 7:30 am immediately began to drive to their ranch over 3 miles away from where I lost her. While driving down a busy main road (rural) on the way to the ranch where she had been sighted I spotted Ellie running along the paved road (bicycle path) I couldn't believe she was right there on the road almost where I lost her (she had already traveled back 5 miles Catahoula/mix are amazing).


I stopped my car got and and calmly called Ellie a few times. She stopped scented the air and stared at me. I kept saying Ellie don't run it is Terry and then (Catahoula style) she began to whine. She was at least 50 feet away with a big field behind her and a busy traffic road where I was parked. All of a sudden she got done on all 4 and so did I she crawled whining on her belly over to my arms. STILL ALL AMAZING TO ME.

She is fine. She had pulled of her collar with the attached flexi, covered with ticks, skinny as a rail and half starved but only a couple of minor scratches. She is home relaxing on my couch and eating like a horse.

Ellie and I say thank you for your advise. I agree don't give up and poster and even mail to people in the area where lost. She kept coming back to the same spot.Again thank you Terry & Ellie "Ellen Currey-Wilson"
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"Harry Oakes"
08-25-2010. Hi Harry, I wanted you to know I finally got the cat back yesterday morning at 4 a.m.! It came back earlier in the day but headed straight under the house. After everything was finally quiet and everyone was asleep, I crawled under the house and carried the cat out. It wouldn't come out any other way. Anyway, every day since you left, I had been using the spray bottle technique (who would have thought!) and so I guess it led Fluff back. Thank you for your help. Fluff is fine. I'm scratched up and bruised from being under the house (a yukky place to be and I just had a tetanus shot) but it's worth it. We're back in Portland and Fluff is so happy. Just wanted you to know. Thanks again. Ellen

From: Una unatbailey@gmail.com Subject: Islay found To: "Harry Oakes"
If you need more info. Please go to our web site at www.k9sardog.com or rmail us at : searchdog@iinet.com or harry98632@yahoo.com

If you wish to make a gift of money to support our Search and Rescue efforts,
Please send a check to I.K.9.S.A.R.S. PO Box# 1472, Longview, Washington 98632 USA.

This gift is NOT Tax deductible. WE are NOT A NON PROFIT 501-C-3 Organization. We are in fact a FOR PROFIT Professional business. We do DONATE our own money, time and efforts during times of disasters.

You can also order Harry’s book available on CD only. $15.00

Because the photos include dead people, this is for persons of the age 18 and above. The reality of our work can be sad.

“Search and Rescue” By Harry Oakes.

Harry’s book talks about his career in Search and Rescue starting with the Boy Scouts, then the sheriff’s office, then working in the military, then for Mountain Rescue, and eventually becoming internationally known for his work around the world with his K9 partners.

He also talks about his own search dogs Kodi, Ranger, Valorie, Willow, and Tyler as well as the 6,500 other teams he’s helped trained around the world.

He exposes the ugly truths of politics and egos and how they’ve cost many innocent people their lives.

He also talks about how to train as a search and rescue person and how to train a search dog. How he finds missing persons, missing children, runaways.

Then Harry talks about pets, lost and found information, and some of his 8.300 cases around the world that he’s work. Oklahoma City Bombing Disaster, Northridge earthquake, Philippine Earthquake, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras,
As well as many other disasters.

www.k9sardog.com

Thank You

Respectfully
Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
SAR Coordinator / Handler / Instructor.
Revised 01-12-2011.

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Labels: harry oakes., How to find your lost pet, Internatinal K9 Search and Rescue services., M.A.R.S., pet detectives
Tuesday, January 4, 2011Airline employee proceedures to finding lost client's pets. Before you fly with your pet, how to prepare.
Over the last 25 years I’ve been asked to respond to LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, JFK in NY, PDX Portland International Airport, SEA-TAC, along with several other smaller airports to track pets that have become missing from their transport kennels and airlines.

Here are some suggestions for clients who must transport their pets inside a kennel. And, for the airline employees who are looking for the missing pet.

Before you fly with your pet on a commercial airlines a few suggestions to make your pet’s trip much easier and safer.

Make sure the Kennel is large enough for your pet to stand up in, turn around in.
Lay down in. A few months before you fly, put your pet’s kennel inside their sleeping area with the door open and the pet’s bedding inside.

This helps the pet become more accustom to the kennel. Place the pet’s toys inside along with some kind of scent from the pet owner.

Before you fly with your pet, try to de-stress your pet by talking with your vet and maybe giving your pet some ace promizine. (Animal Tranquilizer).

Another way of calming your pet if it’s transported inside a kennel, is to leave some of your pet's favorite toys, rubber balls, chew toys, bedding, and a dirty sock or shirt inside the pets kennel. Make sure it’s toys the pet can’t choke on.

Make sure that you include a soiled piece of clothing that has your scent on it. Something you’ve worn all day, but not washed. Having your scent inside the kennel will help calm your pet.

Before you fly, the pet owner should microchip your pet. This would be a huge PR boost for an airlines if they were to help co-sponsor along with the Humane Society of the USA a major micro chip campaign.

In the Portland, Oregon area, we get about 3,000 dogs and cats back each year because the pet is micro-chipped.

NOTE: Once the pet is micro-chipped. Please make sure you contact the microchip company either by US Mail, telephone call, or on line, register your pet’s information. Breed, sex, age, date of birth, current home address and your next of ken along with your veterinarian’s information.

You should send a copy of their pet's medical records, rabies certificate, vet contact information, microchip info, a combed out sample of your pet's fir, and color photos from different angles of your pet, attached to the kennel.

This should be placed inside a clean paper envelope and then inside a plastic zip lock bag. Marked on the outside as PET ID. And taped to the outside of the kennel.

Should your pet become sick or escape, the airline staff and search and rescue crews like myself now have a scent article, photographs, and a great description of your pet to start our search efforts with.

Airline employee suggested procedures to recapture an escaped pet from a airline transport kennel.

If your pet escape it’s kennel, an airline employee can take part of the soiled clothing (sock, shirt) the client sent with their pet.

Have the employee handling the item wear rubber gloves, cut up the clothing left in the pet's kennel. Soak some of the items in a spray bottle filled with water.

Go to the area where the pet has been spotted and spray the area. Take the remaining pieces of cut clothing (scent) and leave it strewn about in the area where the pet has been hiding or seen. This may keep the pet in the area with their owners scent.

Poster the area in English and Spanish.

Call our professional K9 SAR tracking team in right away. Our web site info is www.k9sardog.com Office: 360-414-8093. Mobile 503-705-0258

For your staff here's what I usually send to our clients on how to search for their pets. Please have them follow our guidelines.

Steps Airline Employees should take immediately to help locate a client’s missing pet.

The airlines employees should search into the wind.
All pets that wander or hunt, head into the wind.

Airlines staff should notify their management right away that a pet has been lost from it’s carrier.

Airlines legal department should contact the pet owners as well as the pet’s vet, microchip company, and local animal control and register the pet as missing.

Staff should check all area hiding spots. Under baggage units, radar towers, inside warehouses. Near sources of fresh water.

Post signs in English and Spanish around the perimeter of the airport.
“Reward for safe return no questions asked”. Don’t state how much the reward is.

Staff should contact Airport security, TSA, airport ground operations services, airport management teams, and airport police and fire departments, as well as other ground staff. Alert them to the missing pet situation.

Make sure you send one of your staff to the animal control shelter in person every other day.

Don’t ever take their word at the animal shelter or humane society, “that they don’t have the pet”. Most are staffed with volunteers and many of the volunteers don’t have a clue on what the shelter has and doesn’t have in their possession.

Never give anyone or send anyone money until you physically see the pet and confirm through scanning of the microchip that it is the same pet.

Click on this URL: http://www.k9sardog.com/missing.html or go to our web site www.k9sardog.com then click on “finding your lost pet” section.
Read the info on scams as well as how to find your lost pet.

Should an employee spot the missing pet, don’t approach it. It’s in survival mode. Most are in psychogenic shock. The pet usually won’t even go to it’s owner at this point. Bring in a professional animal capture specialist from animal control.

One technique I used to recapture a scared dog that was lost from a vet clinic. I brought in my search dog and we tracked the dog until we located it in a dense wooded area. I then let my search dog off lead to go play with the scared dog. This helped calm the dog down. Then I got the dog’s owner on my cell phone speaker and had him call to his dog. Between my SAR dog playing with his dog and his dog hearing his owners voice, we were able to recapture the lost pet.

Read this web site’s information on avoiding scams.

Keep a journal of your search efforts and costs while avoiding fraud from callers and pet detectives.

Rain has no effect on scent. It actually helps keep the scent fresh. It livens it up and keeps it moist so the search dogs can smell it. It also keeps the search dogs nose scent receptor cells moist to they can absorb more scent.

“We’ve successfully tracked and found both missing persons and lost pets after 1 year’s time with their real search dogs”. Of course the sooner we respond and start our track with a real search dog the better our efforts will be in locating the pet.

Our search dog teams have a 97% success rate of either finding the missing person or lost pet or determining what really happened to them. Picked up, injured, killed, where, how, etc. 25 years of experience”.

We are not pet detectives nor do we want anything to do with them. We are real search and rescue k9 teams that use our search dogs to track missing persons and lost pets.

We’ve received dozens of complaints over the years from people who have used the MARS services, regarding their dog handlers from the M.A.R.S. (Missing Animal Response Services) units with their alleged pet search dogs.

I hope this helps you.
Good luck.
If you have any questions feel free to call or write us.
Thank You

Since 1988, I’ve performed over 1,211 Consults regarding missing pet cases.
I’ve personally performed over 5,400 searches for lost pets finding 2,891.

Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
Search and Rescue Coordinator, instructor.
International K9 Search and Rescue Services.
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Labels: Airline proceedures to finding lost pets lost from kennels, harry oakes., how to prepare your pet for air travel, searchdogs tracking lost pets, transport
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How to find your lost pet, pet searches.
Airline employee proceedures to finding lost clien...
About Me

Harry Oakes
12 years Law enforcement, 25 years as an EMT, 38 years in SAR work, 25 in K9 SAR. Instructed and worked around the world in K9 SAR. Also teach dog obedience for fun and work. I have one son, one grandson.
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Pet Detectives, Finding your lost pet,Pet searches





Thursday, January 13, 2011How to find your lost pet, pet searches.
INTERNATIONAL K-9 SEARCH & RESCUE SERVICES
P.O. Box# 1472 Longview, Washington 98632 USA.
Voice mail - Office 360-414-8093 Mobile (503) 705-0258.
Web site: www.k9sardog.com
Email: searchdog@iinet.com
INTEGRITY YOU CAN TRUST - SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON.
How to Find Your Lost Pet.

Written By Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
The most documented missing person and missing person and lost pet
Search and rescue expert in the world.

People spend a lot of money, time, and tears, searching for their missing pet(s). This information comes from my 38 years plus of looking for missing persons, and 25 years looking for missing pets. I hope this helps you bring home your loved one.
Forward: I started in Search and Rescue in 1972 with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Dept. L.E. Explorer Post# 900. In 1986, I co-founded the search dog team Oregon D.O.G.S. (Dogs Organized for Ground Search and Rescue, for the state of Oregon while I was a team leader for Portland Mountain Rescue. In 1988 I founded the international response team of Mountain Wilderness Search dogs.
In 1988, I did my first pet search with my second search dog “Ranger” and we found the missing cat “Dweezil” in less then 20 seconds. (Hiding upstairs under the waterbed in the client’s home).
In 1997 I started the first professional FOR PROFIT K-9 SAR dog team in the world. It’s called International K-9 Search and Rescue Services. We provide professionally trained K-9 SAR Dog Teams and coordinators 24 / 7 around the world for missing people or lost pets.
In 1999, I co-founded the search dog teams for the country of Turkey after responding to their earthquakes as a rescuer. In 2002, I co-founded the search dog program for the US Virgin Islands on St Croix USVI. I’ve trained K9 SAR dog teams in Africa, Philippines, Honduras, St. Croix USVI, Canada, Mexico, South America, as well as in every state in the USA.

With 12 years of Law Enforcement, and 38 years of combined Search and Rescue experience, the information I’m about to pass on to you the reader, are the methods I’ve found useful in finding missing pets. Since 1988, I’ve helped locate over 3,500 lost, stolen, missing pets.

I hope this information helps you in your search efforts.


YOUR PET IS MISSING
Many things can happen to your missing pet. Your pet may;

*Track your scent and find its way back home.

*Get scared and hide. We often find them hiding in wooded brushy areas, garages, under decks, inside homes in attics, basements, cabinets, crawlspaces, or inside RV’s.

*Befriend a small child or other pet owner and follow them home, to their
work, or to School.

*Pick up a scent they are interested in, such as the scent of food or the
opposite sex, and investigate it. Yes, even if they are neutered or spayed.
Often headed into the wind to investigate their new discoveries.

*Fall victim to injury, illness, or death. A predator may attack them.
Get hit by a car, shot by a landowner, or fall into the wrong person’s hands
that will try to keep them, harm them, or sell them.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR PET.
(Please print this section out and read it daily).
Remember you are very emotional at this time and will experience many emotions associated with your loss. The four stages of loss are anger, denial, guilt, and final acceptance. Understanding that these are natural common emotions, will help you deal with your feelings and take control of your search.

*Keep a daily journal of what has happened in your search efforts, from day # 1.

Where you posted signs, who you called, and what animal control agencies did you visit, when did you visit them, and whom you talked with once you arrived. Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why.

This is important in case we determine your pet has been stolen and catch the suspect(s). Not only can you prosecute them for “Theft of a domesticated Pet” which is a Class C Felony. You can also file CIVIL charges against them in civil court to recover the cost of your search. The first thing the judge will ask you for is proof of your expenses. So document your actions and keep your receipts.

Documenting is also a great idea because if for some reason your pet is never found, and you’ve followed each of our steps, you will know you’ve done everything humanly possible to get your loved one back home.

After you read each paragraph, please place your initials on the line at the end of the list, after you’ve completed the task. That way you will proceed in the proper order and won’t miss any instructions.
Remember to: Search your own home area first. Checking any areas of possible hiding spots. We find 15% of the missing pets still on the pet owner’s property, or within ¼ mile of the PLS. Point Last Seen. In garages, doghouses, attics, crawl spaces below the house, apt, sheds, RV’s, behind the washer, dryer, water heater, stove, cabinets, closets, behind dresser drawers, etc. ____.

Cat owners remember to lift the hood of your vehicle and search under the hood. Cat’s love to warmth of the vehicle engine at night. Also check the nearby trees to see if you cat is stuck in one of them. De-clawed cats can climb. If you have a fireplace, check the chimney.

1. Immediately start a journal, either hand written, or on your computer. _____.
Document your search efforts. Date, Time, what action you took, how much you spent. Results of your actions. Who, What, When, Why, Where, and How.
2. Document your expenses: Cost of newspaper ads, photocopying, telephone calls, time off work, fuel, cost of search dogs, veterinarians, attorney fees, etc. Reason: If you determine that your pet has been stolen and if the suspect(s) is – are later identified, you can then file for damages in a civil court to recover your expenses. I’m repeating myself but this is so very important. Document your actions and expenses from the beginning of your search. On my computer, I use Microsoft word for the daily journals and Excel for the cost accounting figures.___.

3. Check all animal control agencies within a four county region.
North, South, East, and West of where your pet was last seen.
File a missing pet report. Or, if it’s been determined by a qualified search dog team that your pet has been stolen, file a stolen pet report with the local Humane Society Law Enforcement Division and your local law enforcement agency as well as your local animal control shelters.

Don’t just search within your county. We’ve found over the years, that many folks are well meaning, but also lazy. They may see your pet, feel sorry for it, and pick it up to keep it safe. Then turn it in to their local animal control instead of the animal control or shelter nearest where they picked it up. This is often in an entirely different jurisdiction.
They may work or be visiting from out of the area when they pick up your pet. _______.
We had a case in Florida where the pet was lost in Hollywood, FL and found 700 miles north a month later. Upon inspecting the dog, it had been transported by vehicle to this shelter. Here’s proof that Microchips work.

A letter we received from one of our many clients”. Another reason why you should go in person to a shelter. This is shocking.
“Thank you very much for all the info. It helped greatly. We found our dog at the Leir shelter. Her leg was broken and mangled, and they had her just laying in a cage dealing with it. I checked the shelter three times a day since she was missing. I was there 4 times since the "check in" time on her sheet there. I even gave them all flyers and pictures with them promising to "keep an eye out." Only after stumbling into a room I probably wasn't supposed to be in, did I find Blue. I rushed her to our Vet, and she is OK and will most likely recover if the bone heals properly. Thank you again, Brad”.

Pets are now considered personal property and it’s illegal for another person to take possession of your property (your pet) without following strict Federal, State, and County guidelines. If the person(s) who has recovered your pet hasn’t filed a found report with the authorities within the specified time limit, (usually 48 hours) they may be guilty of theft of private property.____.

4. A. Check the animal control agencies files. NEVER EVER TAKE THE VOLUNTEERS or EMPLOYEES WORD THAT YOUR PET IS NOT AT THEIR FACILITY.

5. Most facilities are understaffed and over crowded. I’ve seen a facility miss a GREAT DANE. I found it in their shelter the first day I went there. This after they told my client, ”they didn’t have a Great Dane in their custody”.

Physically drive to the shelters and animal control agencies and check their kennels. Fax or email all veterinarian offices within your search area. Give them a current photo and your personal information. While at the shelters, check their dead on arrival files-(DOA’s), sick and injured files, quarantine kennels, adoption and destroy files. Also the temporary adoption files. (This is a record where a person who has found a pet can call in and register by email or telephone that they are taking care of the pet). _____.
Most of these facilities are run as a non-profit and therefore their records are open for public inspection. If the shelter refuses to allow you to review their files, get an attorney. Keep checking their files, in person, not over the telephone, every three days. Don’t give up for 10 weeks._____.
B. Check your ads on the Internet. Craigslist ( www.craiglist.com ) in two sections. Lost and Found and under PETS. PETS FOR SALE.
You can also post on MYSPACE as well as various other locations on the Internet FOR FREE._____.

Contact International K-9 Search & Rescue. www.k9sardog.com.
Email: searchdog@iinet.com

We’re the most documented professional K-9 SAR Dog tracking team in the world for missing pets or persons. We keep on ongoing computer registered report on lost and found pets around the world.

SCAMS- NOTE: I strongly recommend that you stay away from most PET DETECTIVES. These are Private Investigators who claim to have search dogs, unless you check a minimum of three of their references.

Most Pet Detectives that we’ve investigated, after receiving numerous complaints from their previous clients, aren’t trained properly, and lack experience. They may be great private investigators, but lack the other skills needed for this type of work. Most of these folks who state they use search dogs aren’t search dog handlers at all. Nor are their dogs trained and tested in Search and Rescue.

Before you hire anyone, check his or her references. Get a signed contract for services showing up front, what they can and can’t do for your money. Obtain an after “action search report”. If the company refuses to give you the contract for services, and a search report, DON’T HIRE THEM.

Contact our web site links for reputable Pet Detectives. My recommendation is to stay away from the M.A.R.S. Pet detectives. We’ve had nothing but complaints from so many folks who have used them.

The problem we are seeing recently is that there are new MARS PET DETECTIVE and PET SAR groups popping up all over the USA on a monthly basis. One such example is a woman in California.

First their instructor states she’s qualified to teach K-9 SAR groups. Yet she claims “A search dog can’t follow a scent trail older then 72 hours”. Any professional K-9 SAR dog team can tell you that her statement isn’t true.

Numerous search dog teams throughout the USA have repeatedly documented following scent trails as old as 6 months to a year old and have found the missing persons dead. We’ve also tracked a cat missing for over a year and found it alive. This so-called “Animal professional K-9 instructor” doesn’t have a clue of what she is talking about. Do you want people she’s trained working for you?

She travels around giving Pet Detectives conferences at $650.00 per student. The students attending these conferences get a certificate of completion. Then the attendees feel they are now qualified to charge money for their new found knowledge. After their 50 hours of training or less, they claim to have real search dogs.

Fact is, they’ve received about 50 hours of training or less. Our professional K-9 SAR dog teams get an average of 450 hours of training in K-9 SAR, first aid, basic tracking, report writing, crime scene investigations and other topics related to finding missing persons or pets. And, we’re tested yearly for our certification levels.
From her own website she shows that she really doesn’t understand scent and tries to disprove our DOCUMENTED Facts. Cases where we’ve documented finding the victim where the scent trail was over 30 days old. We’ve even posted our successes on our web site for everyone to review.

This is one of many reasons we ask you stay from her and her M.A.R.S. trained volunteers and staff. Here’s a copy from her web site directly.
“In 1989, Missing Pet Partnership's founder K. A. began training search dogs (police Bloodhounds and cadaver dogs) and ultimately shifted into a career in law enforcement.
Then in 1997, K shifted her work to pioneering the pet detective industry. In 2005 after nine years experience as a pet detective, field training officer, and certified seminar leader, K launched the MAR Technician program, which has since certified other pet detectives who offer professional lost pet services.
Our History page explains the process we've gone through to develop this industry and our Qualifications page lists the experience and education that allows us to administer a proper training and certification program for pet detectives and MAR search dogs.
Missing Pet Partnership is striving to train and certify MAR Technicians, volunteer Lost Pet First Responders, and MAR search dogs so that lost pet services will be affordable and available in all communities. Because of problems that we've encountered with a few bad apples, we've established a Code of Ethics for our organization.
Just because a lost pet resource is not listed on our website does not mean that he or she is not reputable or can't help you! It might just mean that he or she has not been able to take our training course. But understand that Missing Pet Partnership will not list a resource on our website unless we know that he or she has been properly trained, is reputable, and has agreed to abide by our Code of Ethics. Sadly, a few in this field have been making claims that their dogs can follow scent trails that are long beyond what dogs are actually capable of following. You can learn more about how long scent survives by reading an excerpt from MPP founder Kat Albrecht's book DOG DETECTIVES: Train Your Dog to Find Lost Pets.
There are also others working hard to discredit anyone else who dares to compete with them, even those who have more experience in finding lost pets and, ironically, those who trained them. Some speak of their own ethics and desire for standards, yet they refuse to abide by Missing Pet Partnership's Code of Ethics”.
So with Ks statements from her web site she’s trying to cast doubt on other teams other then her own yet she starts out with the above info. This speaks for itself.



Again our work following scent trails older then four weeks has been proven round the world. It’s been documented, witnessed on cases we’ve worked on with the FBI and other government and state agencies. Yet K say’s “it’s not possible? Whose credibility is really on the line here? Not ours that’s for sure.

If the District attorney vouches for our success in the courtroom then who is K to try to call everyone a “liar?”, Shame on her.

In her next statement makes comments that “we don’t abide by MARS code of ethics? We’re not a pet detective agency, nor do we want to be. We’re a documented, credible professional K9 Search and Rescue agency that looks for missing persons and lost pets. We come highly recommended by the Better Business Bureau as well as thousands of satisfied clients. Our references are posted on our web site www.k9sardog.com

Our documentation has been checked and double checked by law enforcement and the Dept of Justice and validated.

Now more info. From Harry Oakes. If the District Attorney’s office has accepted my documentation and success records as fact in evidence for me to testify as an expert witness then who is this pet detective to think she’s more credible then a District Attorney?. Fact in evidence. We’ve successfully tracked scent trails up to 6 months old and older.
One concern that we've had from the inception of our training program is that anyone can take a dog, put a SEARCH DOG vest on him or her, claim he or she is trained to track lost people or pets, and scam money from desperate pet owners.
Here's an article where a man who lost his Mini Pin hired a "self-proclaimed dog tracker" for $12,000.00. Sadly, his final impression of the tracker was that, "she milked me for all I had."
It’s her own MARS Pet detectives that have received a number of complaints. Here are some of them.

Real search dogs Vs M.A.R.S. Pet detective search dog cases.
Example#1. We received a call from a client who has hired a woman from Oklahoma City, who claims she has two search dogs. She had responded and performed her Pet PI search for the clients lost cat. The MARS PET DETECTIVE charged the client approximately $900.00 to do her search. According to the client, this Pet PI didn’t file a report, or issue a receipt for monies paid, and told the client that, ”she found her cat’s remains in the snow”. (It turned out to be rabbit hair).

We flew out there with a qualified search dog team and determined the client’s cat was picked up near a play-ground and is very much alive. This for ½ the fee the PI had charged.
Example#2. We received another complaint in Wyoming. They had flown a MARS Pet search dog PI person from San Diego, Ca. out and wasn’t happy at all with the dog handler’s performance. Again, no after action report was issued, or receipt issued for the service. They had paid this searcher over $3000.00 for her search.

We were able to help the client, just through telephone calls, get their dog located and returned home safely for free. We also assisted the client in filing a complaint against the Pet PI search dog person from San Diego, Ca. with the Better Business Bureau and get their money refunded.

PLEASE check references and the search dog handler’s training and certification (We call is qualification standards), before you hire a PET PI or search dog team.

Example# 3. A client in Southern Ca. tried to get a MARS “Pet Detective Search Dog team from S. Ca. to respond to his lost cat search. She charged him $80.00 dollars just to give the client the same information that we give to our client for free over the phone. She quoted in an outrages price to travel 100 miles to do the search for his lost cat. The client flew us down there to his area, we did the search, and found a coyote had killed his cat for 1/3 of the price this PET PI quoted the client.

Example# 4. This client out of LA, Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE out of Montana. She paid her over $2,500 to come track her lost cat. The Pet detective refused to give her a written report, and her story about where her client’s cat went was proved to be wrong. After wasting three months of the client’s time, efforts, and money. We came down and for ½ the cost determined the clients own family member stole her cat. We have a valid suspect in the case.

Example# 5. This client of Idaho, wanted to hire a MARS Pet Detective who said, it would cost a minimum of $150.00 for her to come out and look. We did the consult for free and that afternoon our client got her dog back safe and alive for FREE.

Example# 6. A client in Ca. hired a MARS PET DETECTIVE who brought in two dog teams. They refused to allow the client to go along with them and claimed their search dogs tracked his dog to an area where it was picked up. They (the pet detectives) breached their own contract by not allowing their client to come along and witness the search that he was paying for.

Example# 7. A client in Canada hired a MARS Pet Detective from Arizona. She brought them up twice at great expense to search for her lost cat. The Pet Detective and her search dog, never found anything. We were asked to come up to BC Canada and do the search. We did it for 1/8th of the amount of money the Pet Det. Charged and after she had failed twice, it took our search dog 5 minutes to locate where the clients cat had been killed right behind the clients house in the alley.

Example# 8. The same Pet Det. We received numerous complaints on from Oklahoma had charged a woman client from NY $180.00 to profile her missing pet. (This is something we do for all of our clients for free.

The client was furious when she found out the Pet Det. Was completely off base, and that we were able to do the same thing over the telephone for FREE. On her website she claims she is the most experienced at what she does. Yet she hasn’t even come close to documenting the successes we have. So how can she get away with making such false claims?

Example# 9. I recently got a telephone call from a client in Las Vegas, Nv. She had two dogs missing in the desert. She contacted a MARS Pet Detective who quoted her $4000.00 to respond and do a search with her UNTRAINED UNCERTIFIED SAR Dog. This client ended up hiring I.K.9.S.A.R.S. our services. We helped her bring closure to both of the dog cases for less then $2,500.00 dollars.

Example# 10. This just came in last week and the client called me complaining about this pet detective. “Our dog Rudy went missing on Tuesday, May 11th, 2010. After almost 4 very devastating, difficult and stressful weeks, he was found. I never had lost a pet in my life, and never realized how much I loved this guy. Everyday that he was gone I missed him so much, cried often and was so worried, sad and unhappy. I even hired a pet detective despite the cost in the desperation to find him. (I don't recommend anyone doing this without FULLY checking out the detective's background, references, and having a signed contract beforehand). This person claimed that our dog was traveling towards San Jose however Rudy was found in Morgan Hill about 1/2 mile away from our home.

My husband is still upset of the amount of money and time we wasted on this service, but in the end at least I realized that this person was not reliable and turned my focus back to more probable places. Night after night, I searched by car and foot further and further from home, thinking to myself that I would never find him. Then there were the skeptics who thought someone had found him and were keeping him because he's cute and he's a puppy. But something in me never gave up hope. This was the most difficult battle sometimes, holding onto hope.
Sometimes it would've been easier to just admit the loss and accept that I would never see him again. Hope that if someone had him they would love him as much as I did and be taking care of him. Yet, I just couldn't let go of the thought that he was gone, and I fought to stay positive and tell myself, even if it takes a year I know he will come back to me. The last hope I had was his micro-chip and I thought someday that is what will bring him home, if it's not my fliers, my rewards or my searching.

Finally the day came, Sunday, June 6th, we got a call and someone found him. He was so skinny and dirty that I didn't even recognize him! But when I said his name he got up (the frailty and weakness was so obvious) he walked to me and I knelt down and he started to lick me. I grabbed him right away and in tears I asked what happened to you?
I hugged our angel who found him for us and thanked him immensely. Right away we took Rudy to the vet because he clearly needed professional care and at least an exam.

The vet told us that it was the second case that she had seen that weekend of a lost pet found. She said that the day before a woman came in with a cat that had been missing for 7 MONTHS! The cat was found in someone's backyard, like Rudy, was very weak and starved. 7 MONTHS!
”I just wanted to share with you all who are here searching for a pet my experience so you know that miracles do happen, hope is important, and even though it is hard don't give up! I hope my story helps you, maybe give you some strength and bring some hope in this very difficult and sad time. Below is a picture of Rudy. I especially want to thank Mr. Harry Oakes from Search and Rescue whom I called repeatedly throughout this horrible ordeal. He offered words of encouragement, tips for finding him. THANK YOU! “.
The person I hired was with the SocialPet.com, she charged me $65/hr with a minimum of 4 hour search. After doing research her price is actually reasonable compared to others, but I don't believe her success rate compares.
If you are considering pet detective services I can give you my experience in more detail and suggest I.K.9.S.A.R.S. They have you sign a contract, they are credible with 25 years experience. He also provides a written report when he’s completed his search. The company I hired SocialPet.com refused to give me one.”
We have numerous other complaints ref: these M.A.R.’s pet detectives groups and how they do their searches and how they charge for their services. While we support anyone who is out there trying to make a difference regarding lost pets, we don’t support taking advantage of someone during their time of need.

Police officers, doctors, attorneys, nurses, paramedics, fireman, all provide a professional service for people during their time of need. We also provide the same level of expertise in our field.

1). We send our clients a contract that spells out in great detail what we can and
can’t do, what we charge, and the contract protects the client and our search
dog team(s).

2). Our clients are asked to come along with us to witness our search efforts and
ask questions to better understand the process.

3). We issue a receipt for all money collected.

4). We issue a report that can be turned over to the court system and or law
enforcement.

5). We charge for only what service we provide. The pet detectives ask for a
large deposit that is NOT REFUNDABLE up front. That’s just not right.

If you want a Pet PI, we recommend Melody Pugh. (See our web site for her contact information). If you want a search dog team, then contact our office and we’ll send a trained, tested, professional K-9 SAR Dog team to your location.

Another scam to watch for. This article from the internet.
You'd have to sink pretty low to take advantage of the distraught owner of a lost pet, right? For a month, a retired airline pilot has searched high and low for Georges, a large tabby he's owned since he rescued it from a pet shelter in Florida in 1998. Georges took off after Polverino brought home a new kitten, Tigger. Since then, Polverino has been running ads in this newspaper and distributing and posting about 800 fliers in Southwest Roanoke County. During his search, Polverino has run into friendly and sympathetic people he otherwise might not have. Some of that came when he was posting or handing out fliers. Strangers saw his ad in the newspaper and called to commiserate and offer support.

"I've met some nice people," Polverino said. And then there was one caller who was looking for money. Polverino doesn't know the man's name. He identified himself as being with "Pet Finders Alert." The man told the worried cat owner that Pet Finders Alert could help find Georges using computers and telephones. "They said, 'We'll work with you every step of the way. We'll help you find your cat,' " Polverino said. For $59.95, Pet Finders Alert would call all of Polverino's neighbors and let them know about his missing cat.

They would call in an ever-widening circle around Polverino's place, until everyone who lived within a mile or two had been notified or the cat turned up. They would give Polverino progress reports, he says the guy told him. And they would notify local animal shelters, too. At the time the call came, "I'm real depressed, I'm at a weak point," Polverino said. So he coughed up his credit card number.
And that was the last time Pet Finders Alert called Polverino. While Polverino has handed out fliers in the Poages Mill area for the missing Georges, he's asked people if they've heard from Pet Finders Alert about Georges. The responses were along the lines of, "Pet who?" and, "Huh?"
As for the animal shelters, "they didn't contact one," Polverino said. "I've called all of them. I've visited them. And I've asked." Pet Finders Alert has contacted other owners of lost pets around here, however. One of them is Beverly Russell, who lives in the Carvins Cove area. She's been running an ad seeking Itty Bit, a Yorkie pup who disappeared in mid-May.
"We don't have your pet but we may be able to assist," began a message Pet Finders Alert left on Russell's voicemail. She hasn't returned their calls. Polverino suspects a scam and it sounds to me like he's on to something.
Thursday and again Monday I called Pet Finders Alert at the phone numbers Polverino and Russell gave me.
Those are listed to an address in Las Vegas. Nobody responded to messages left Thursday and Monday. The company's Web site, petfindersalert.com, has been suspended. The Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada gives the company an F rating.
"They're doing business illegally, without a state license," the BBB's Rhonda Fisk told me. The agency has four complaints on file since September, and Pet Finders Alert has responded to none of them, she added.
Polverino is now disputing the charge with his credit card company. His crusade to find Georges also has expanded. He's going after Pet Finders Alert, too. He's scouring bulletin boards on legitimate Web sites, such as PetFinder.com, and collecting many warnings about Pet Finders Alert.
And he's contacting law enforcement authorities in Nevada, encouraging them to go after the company. Let's wish him luck, and cheer him on.”

Remember to check all of your local animal hospitals, feed stores, vet clinics, animal rescue groups within a 200-mile area. Also post signs at your local feed stores, pet stores such as Petco and Petsmart. Check their lost and found boards. If your pet is a pure bred, check the pure bred rescue groups in your area.

6. Place an ad in the local newspapers.

7. Check your ads in the newspaper. Check the lost and found section, pets for sale, and pets being given away for free. These are located in three different sections of the newspapers. Follow up on each ad that possibly refers to your pet. Never go to the house or location alone to check out a pet sighting. Think ahead and BE SAFE. ___.

9. Don’t give up for 10 weeks. After that period of time, you will need to put closure on your search efforts. Get counseling if needed. You and your family have suffered a terrible loss of a family member.

I recommend that you sit down away from distractions and write your pet a goodbye letter. Bring a box of Kleenex.
Tell them what it meant to have them in your life. How it feels to have them gone. What you did to find them. Then when it’s time, let them go. We’ve had successful recoveries a year after our initial search. But honestly those are very rare cases. ___.

10. If the animal is found alive, get it to a vet clinic immediately. Have it check for Giardia, parasite infections, and dehydration. If it’s not micro-chipped, get it chipped right away. Avid, or Home Again offers a great service.____.

NOTE. Many people who have had their pets micro-chipped fail to contact the Microchip Company. Please as soon as you chip your animal, call the microchip company and register your contact information with them immediately. Also give the company a back up contact # of a family member or friend in case you are unable to be contacted during an emergency. If your pet comes up missing, call the microchip company right away and register your pet on the company’s “Hot list” or lost list. Make sure they have your current contact information. In the Portland area, we get approximately 3,500 pets back each year through microchips.

11. If the animal is found dead, contact your local animal shelter or a private pet service for removal, burial, or cremation of the pet’s remains.

Be aware of other scams. One of the most common scams is where someone calls you and gets a description of your pet. They may have seen your ads in the newspaper or on a poster in the area. They will then give this information to a partner. The partner calls you and says,” he has your pet”. He or she will give you an accurate description of your pet and describing where he / she found it. He / she will tell you a story, such as, “I’m now out of state traveling (or working). I was in your area and found your pet. If you wire me some money, I will send your pet home immediately”. It’s a scam. DON’T FALL FOR THIS.

If he / she is telling you the truth, then he / she will have no problem taking the pet to the nearest animal shelter, or police department, and verifying through an official agency that they do in fact have your pet. Then you can work out the procedures of rewards and recovery of your pet. Never give anyone any money for your pet until you actually see your pet first.

Another scam. Person will call you and tell you that he / she is retired, or a truck driver, and picked up a hitchhiker who had your pet. Your pet was sick / injured and the person calling you took your pet to the local vet. The caller will then say something like, “If you send me the money that I paid for your pet at the vet’s office, I’ll send you your pet on the next airplane”.

Ask the caller for their telephone#, name, and address. Send the police there to verify their statements. If they are telling you the truth (99.9%) of the time they are not, then work out the details of reward and returning the animal after the police or animal control has verified it is in fact your pet.

Watch out for unsavory businesspersons. There are a lot of new pet finder services out on the market. Get references.

NOTE: There is a web site called PETFINDERS.COM This service allows you to file a report for FREE listing your lost or found pet. We strongly recommend them.

Be wary of pet detectives who charge you fees to go look for your pet. You can do the same job for free. There are a few CREDIBLE PET DETECTIVES. Contact us for our list of referrals.

One comment listed on Craigslist re: Pet finders. “Got a call today from “Petfinders” after listing our lost cat with the Oregonian. They offered to call everybody within a mile radius of our house to give them a description of our lost cat. Looked them up online and it appears to be a total scam”. Beware if they call you.
The person who finds your pet may do the following:
They may call the newspapers and place an ad to advise people that they have found the animal.
Check the lost and found ads for people trying to report their animal missing.

File online with local petfinders.com or other pet rescue resources, (Craigslist, My space, etc.) that they’ve found your pet. Report finding your pet at the local animal shelters, veterinarian clinics, or pet stores.

Some folks will sell your pet or give it away to another person, medical research facility, or to a friend.

NOTE: Numerous hospitals and medical research facilities buy animals (dogs and cats) off the street. They claim they don’t, but we have proved this isn’t so. They will not let us tour their facilities for your pet. This includes local hospitals like OHSU, and Good Samaritan. Never support these facilities.

Performing medical experiments and testing on animals is cruel and wrong.

The person, who has your pet, may be lonely and may keep the pet and take good care of it. (Especially around the holidays). They may take your pet to a public place such as a park, school, or shopping mall, and let it go, hoping someone else will pick it up and take care of it, or that it will find its way back home. Some cultures will eat your pet. This is highly unusual here in the USA, but it does happen in less then 1% of the cases.

PREDATORS. There are many types of predators that may attack and kill or injure your pet. Humans trying to capture your pet to collect the rewards, or sell it to a medical facility for experiments. Other animals such as other dogs, birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, owls. coyotes, raccoons, possums, cougars, or bears may also attack your pet.

Predators killing your pet occur in 35% of our cases that we investigate. If you live in the wilderness, country, or rural areas, check your local animal trails for coyote-bear-wolf poop and look for your pet’s hair inside to prove or disprove it’s been consumed by a predator.

Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Possums, Raccoons, Coyotes, Fox, Bears, Cougars, Bob cats, and some larger snakes can eat small dogs and cats. Don’t blame the predator. You’re the one who allowed fifi or fido to run loose in the predator’s home.

Every year from March through July, we find a huge increase of missing small dogs and cats that have become food for coyotes and raccoons feeding and protecting their young. Be aware of the dangers of allowing your pet to run loose.

WHEN YOU’VE FOUND YOUR PET. Your pet may suffer from psychogenic shock and it may be traumatized. Your pet might not even recognize you as their owner, once you’ve spotted one another. NEVER RUN UP TO YOUR PET.

Your pet may run away, or it may attack you to defend itself. The best thing to do is to STOP and SIT DOWN near the pet, take a deep breath, and calm down. Calmly call out your pet’s name repeatedly, in a very soft voice, trying to lure it back to you.

If you have another pet at home that has bonded with the missing pet, take it with you on your search. Let your other pet greet the one that’s in shock. Once you’ve recovered your pet, take it to your vet. Immediately.

IF YOUR PET IS FOUND HIDING or has been spotted. Bring some pet food and something that has your scent on it, like a dirty sock, shirt, or other piece of clothing that hasn’t been washed. Put some of the pet’s food into the pieces of your unwashed clothing, and leave it in the immediate area. You may even leave your scent trail from this area to your home, if it’s close by. This may bring the pet out of its shock and draw it back to you. Leave a piece of soiled unwashed clothing, cut up in the size of a quarter, trailing home. One piece every 50 feet.

HUMAN URINE SCENT TRAIL. (Pee trail). Another method that works is to have the person who the pet is bonded with the most at home, urinate into a spray bottle. Mix the urine with water. This sounds weird, but this actually has brought home about 5% of our cases. Then go to the areas of possible sightings and spray a SCENT TRAIL of your urine back home. One squirt (from the spray bottle) every 30 yards. Use a route where your pet won’t get hit by a car. The pet may not come out of hiding. A live box trap and trained animal capture staff are available to trap the animal without hurting it. Contact your local animal control agency for assistance.

If your Pet is found dead. You may call a Critter Gitter service to transport it, or animal control to pick up and handle your pet’s remains for cremation or burial services. See pet loss support group counseling services. They are free.

THE USE OF SEARCH DOGS.
If your pet is lost and you’ve called our K-9 Search & Rescue team, here’s what to expect. First we’ll send you this lost pet profile information for free.

We will obtain a missing pet description and profile, take a report, and obtain a scent article belonging to your pet. (Some kind of fur, hair, blanket, or collar that only the pet has touched or worn, or laid on).

We can then initiate a track of the missing / stolen pet with a trained search dog team. We are often called days, weeks, or even months later after the animal has been lost.

In 99% of our cases, our search dog team will track right to where the pet is currently at, or where it was picked up by some well-meaning person, or where it was killed by a predator.

The person who finds your pet, normally will remove the pet from the area by vehicle. The search dog can determine if the pet was killed and the location where this happened.

If the search dog indicates a LIVE ALERT, this is a strong indicator that your pet has been picked up by a well-meaning person. We then ask you to post signs at this location. The person who picked up your pet, observes the poster and will hopefully will call you to return your pet.

If your pet was picked up and removed from the area by a human, what do you do then? Post signs. Whoever picked up your pet most likely will be looking for a lost poster and will do everything they can to find the pets owners. Remember to post a sign in English and Spanish.

SCENT. All trained, tested, and qualified real search dogs, as in any other kind of tracking animal, will pick up the freshest scent of the animal, and track it instinctively. As a human or animal walks along, they shed approximately 10,000 pieces of scent per minute.

This scent falls to the ground and stays there until the wind and air currents moves the scent to nearby dirt, sand, brushy vegetation areas. The scent is held there until it fully dissipates about a year later.

When an animal or human walks in one specific direction, it’s laying down scent that the trained search dog can track up to 365 days later, even in the rain.

Rain actually helps the scent. It brings the scent closer to the ground surface, keeps the search dog’s nasal passages moist to help the dog retain the scent and it will liven the scent. I’ve successfully tracked a missing dog route on the day it rained over 2 inches of rain in Portland, Ore.

What hurts scent? Heavy vehicle and human traffic contaminates the scent.
Heavy rains of 2 inches per day may wash the scent down but we can still perform a track.

Heat dries out the scent and the search dog’s nasal scent receptors, making it harder for the search dog to track.

Snow. Search dogs can still track scent in the snow. When we work avalanche searches often the victim is covered by 5 feet of snow and the dogs will still locate them.

If this happens we can still do the search but instead may choose to do what’s called an area search instead of a trail or track.

If the victim we are searching for is in the area, the search dog will alert and show us where he / she is at.

Cigarette smoke contains a poisonous drug called Nicotine. Nicotine is an anesthetizing agent that can numb up the search dogs scent receptors by 95% and make the search dog’s job much more difficult. If you smoke around your pet, the second hand cigarette smoke poison that you are putting into their little lungs (Nicotine) can also alter the missing pet’s scent, therefore throwing off a search dog. That’s why all of our team members are non-smokers.

That’s also why you are never allowed to smoke around our search dogs or their handlers. You are also exposing your pet to many types of respiratory diseases and cancer.

Can search dog’s track at night? Yes, of course we can. In fact we prefer it.
Air molecules stay lower to the ground at night, and there are fewer scents to contend with in the evening and early morning. 95% of our live finds of missing persons are when we’ve been called in at night and our search dogs caught up to the persons while they were sleeping or at least staying in one place.

FALSE TRACKS. A false track happens when the animal walks one specific direction, then the pet owner, or someone else, walks on top of the pets scent, (usually in or around the home). This transfers the pet’s scent onto the bottom of the person’s footwear, and when the person walks or drives a different direction, this person is now giving off a fresher scent of the missing pet to track. This is called a false scent trail.

There is no way to prevent this from happening, it’s a fact of life. The only way that you can help this from happening, is to call our K-9 Search and Rescue team out immediately before you do any looking, so as not to contaminate the track. With our experience in tracking, we can quickly determine if we’re on a false or a true track / trail. If you’ve been out looking for your pet, we’ll deal with the false scent trail issue. We run into this daily.

What if the search dog tracks my pet to one specific location, and we get reports of sightings in a completely different area? It is not unusual at all for someone who is well meaning to pick up a lost animal. Soon the animal becomes too much responsibility for the person to take care of. They may let the pet go at a nearby park, school, or business. They may take it back to where they found it and set it free, hoping it will find its way back home. The pet may just break free from the person and try to find its own way back home.

REMEMBER, The search dog doesn’t know how to lie. So, if the search dog team tracks your pet to one specific area and indicates your pet has been removed from this area, and, a few days later you get reports your pet is seen in an entirely different area, don’t be upset at the search dog. Be upset at the person who removed your pet and then let it go somewhere else. This unfortunately happens in approximately 5% of our cases.

How do we know the search dog’s track was accurate? There is never 100% guarantee that we’ll find your loved one. We’ll give it our best efforts.
Again I’ll repeat myself. A search dog doesn’t know how to lie. That’s why their testimony in a court of law is accepted, with training, testing, and mission documentation.

A search dog is trained to follow the freshest track or scent trail of the scent given to them by their dog handler. A mutual trust exists between the dog handler and the search dog. We use the dogs’ nose and tracking, air scenting, and trailing capabilities along with our man and animal tracking and clue capabilities to confirm why our search dog is leading us to a specific area.

During our search we look for clues such as foot-prints, fecal matter, hair, blood and other signs to prove or disprove the track. This is call confirming a valid track.

The search dog team (one dog, one dog handler) must go through hundreds of hours of training, testing and actual work cases to maintain their status in K-9 SAR. That’s why it’s important to use a real search dog team and not someone who claims to have a search dog like a pet detective or M.A.R.S. person.

Ask for references from people they’ve already provided service for.
Our references are posted on our web site for all to see.

Be careful of teams who we call “Posers”. These are people (dog handler’s) who “BRAG” on TV or to the newspaper about ,”how good they are and what they can do”. Yet when it comes to actual searching, their results are very disappointing. We’ve seen teams like this in Texas and in Ca.

What is your success rate in finding lost / missing / stolen pets with search dogs? 90%. We physically find 10% during the initial search. The remaining 80% of the pets that are found because of the track. They are found because the search dog led the pet owners to a specific housing area, street intersection, or park area where the animal was picked up or is hiding. The pet owners post signs there. Spread their urine pee trail. The pet picks up on the owners scent and follows it back home or where they lead the pee trail to. Or, the person(s) who picked up your pet, see the signs, and then call you or get nervous and let your pet go.
10% of the pets are never ever found. _____.

Why are 10% of the pets never found? They may have fallen victim to a predator. Two or four legged. People may sell your pet for drugs, dog fighting, medical experiments, food, or its fur. This is rare but it does occur.
Four legged predators such as bears, cougars, bobcats, larger dogs, opossums, raccoons, and some birds of prey have been known to carry off smaller pets and transport their remains to their den.

Why don’t you track the pet to the predator’s den? It is not our position to interfere with nature. We don’t wish to harm or annoy the predators. Nor do we want our search dogs to be injured by the predator trying to protect its home and its babies. When people build their homes in or around wilderness, rivers, creeks, green spaces, they are unknowingly taking away the predators homes. And, by doing so, they are providing food for the predator should the pet wander.

PETS AND STRANGERS. I get told on almost every search, “My pet will never go to a stranger”. This is not a true statement at all. When the pet owner is talking about their pet, they’re talking about the pet they know in a controlled environment. The pet is in a stable home, has food and human contact, etc. Once an animal gets away from this environment, they have to survive on their own. They revert back to what’s known as a feral stage.

Your pet will hunt to kill and eat food and they will drink from water in mud puddles, creeks, and streams. They may steal food and water from other animals’ dishes in their surroundings. And when they are hungry, tired, and scared enough, they will seek out humans for comfort and safety.

Posters: When you print a poster, here is a suggestion that works very well. Leave some kind of information about your pet out of your description that only you will know about. That way you can determine if the caller has your pet or not. Post your signs within a 1-mile radius for a cat concentrating on the area 4 city blocks from your point last seen. Post signs in a 5-mile radius for a lost dog.

NOTE: 99% of the missing pets will travel into the wind.
Find out which way the wind was blowing on the day your pet disappeared. Most pets including horses head into the wind when lost or out hunting for food, water, play friends.

Post signs at stores, schools, offices, parks, etc.

I recommend that you post your signs after a search dog team has determined the route your animal has traveled. This will save you money and time.

Remember you will have to remove the signs when you get your pet back. We actually recommend that you make two different types of posters up.

One with a REWARD notice at top, the photo of your pet underneath. It’s name, your area code and telephone. That’s it, nothing else. Let the reporting person id your pet to you with more specifics to prove they have your pet. (Read our scam section). Say something to the effect of “$ REWARD $ for safe return of missing pet, no questions asked”.

Make a second poster up with all the information. Post the Pets name, microchip #, tattoo type, location, collar make, type, id type. Weight, height, length, eye color, hair color, medical identifiers, etc. This detailed information is sent to your vets, police departments, Postal employees, animal control agencies and search teams.

NOTE: If you have a large Hispanic speaking culture in your area, don’t forget to make up signs in Spanish as well.

STOLEN PETS: If it’s determined that your pet has been stolen, you will need to file a stolen pet report with your local law enforcement agency, and the Department of Agriculture Humane Society Law Enforcement. Keep their case # and a copy of their report on file.

If a search dog team responds, after their search, you will be sent a report showing their findings, and an invoice for their search costs. Keep a copy on file.
Lately we’ve seen a lot of lazy police officers who don’t wish to be bothered with doing their job and taking a report. Remind them please, that pets are considered personal property. If someone takes possession of your property without your consent, they are required by law to report finding your pet (property).

If the person who takes possession of your pet refuses or fails to file a found report, this constitutes, “Theft of personal property”. This is a crime. By state law, “A police officer has the responsibility to take a crime report and investigate the crime”.

If / when we capture the suspect(s) and recover your animal(s), you will need to provide photographs, (proof of ownership), and a value of the animal. (Cost of vet services, meals, breeding, purchase, general care, etc.) You may also be called to testify against the suspect(s). This is why we want you to document your every action in your search for your pet. Many pets are stolen and sold for breeding, resale values, rewards offered, dog fighting, or sold to medical labs for medical experiments.

MEDICAL LABS / Hospitals: Contact your local hospitals that purchase animals for medical experiments, and demand to view their animals in their clinics. (They will refuse). But, if enough people demand to see if their pet has been purchased by the hospital, the hospitals may change their attitudes.

There’s been a recent increase in pets stolen for their SKINS and FUR.
Let’s stop them now.
Example: “Rapper Jay-Z, founder of the Rocawear clothing line, is taken to task by the Humane Society after it found that the “faux fur” in jackets sold by his company is actually dog fur”.
Remember, once you’ve located your pet. Contact I.K.9.S.A.R.S. Immediately. www.k9sardog.com
Call all local animal control agencies and advise them to remove your pet’s name from their listings. _____.
Remove all of your posters.____.
Review all of your written materials and lessons learned from this event. ____.
Take precautionary measures so that it won’t happen again. Tattoo / Microchip and ID your pet. ___.
Pass on our web site to others who are searching for their pets.




Before your pet is lost, ID your pet.
1. Talk with your veterinarian. Determine and document the following: Identify the breed(s) of your pet. ___________. Pet’s weight: _____. Age: ________. Height: __________. Hair: Short Medium Long. (Circle One). Tail length: Short Medium Long. (Circle One) Eye Color: _________. Microchip Brand: ________#____________________________. Other ID: ____________________________________________________.
List Medications:______________________________________________.
Veterinarian’s Name:______________ Address:_____________________ .
Telephone #’s: ___________________________________.
2. Comb out the pet’s hair and place it inside a clean envelope. Place the animal’s name on the outside of the envelope and date it. It will be good for up to two years as a scent article for a search dog, if your pet becomes lost.

3. Take numerous color photographs from all different angles of your pet.

4. Microchip and Tattoo your pet. Ask your local animal shelter or veterinarian about these services.

5. NEVER leave a collar or choke chain on an animal. Many animals are found choked to death by choke chains and regular id collars. Use either a harness with the id attached on back, or a breakaway ID collar.

6. Never smoke cigarettes around your pet. Not only will it make them very ill from the nicotine poisoning, but it alters their original scent, and can make it very difficult for a search dog to track them. The first word in Webster’s dictionary about the drug NICOTINE is “POISON”. Quit smoking, you’ll live longer.

7. Always check references of resources that you wish to use. We have THOUSANDS of satisfied customers, and references are available upon request.

8. Always seat belt or crate your pet when you travel. See our web site for photos and instructions on how to do this. Review our web site at: www.k9sardog.com for more SAR and private pet detective references. (Note) we look for missing people also.






POSTER SAMPLES.
Example # 1. Very limited information on this poster to avoid scams.

REWARD for MISSING DOG.
(Photo of your missing pet).
Dogs name is: “Tonya”.
Please call : 503-222-2222.

Example # 2. Very detailed information on this poster. This is given to law enforcement, animal control, vets, shelters, etc.

REWARD FOR MISSING DOG. Name: “LARS”. Breed: MUTT. Long hair chi. mix. Age: 4 years Weight: 5 lbs. Colors: Tan and white. Microchip: AVID 000-000-000. Tattoo: “I.K.9.S.A.R. RULES”. Owners: Mrs. Thompson Email:find-me-at@aol.com Home: 503-222-2222.

If the pet has been stolen, post a poster that states, “Reward for safe return of stolen pet” No questions asked. Give them your telephone#.

I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is a professional K-9 SAR Dog team that uses professionally trained K-9 Search dog teams to track missing persons or pets.

We’ve been in business since 1986 and currently are the most documented successful search dog team in the world for tracking missing persons or
missing pets.
The most often asked questions.
Q. Can a search dog track a lost pet after two weeks?
A. Yes we sure can. We’ve successfully tracked a lost cat one year after the date is was lost and found it alive one mile away in a horse barn at the Portland Horse Racing Track. We also have the cat owner’s name and telephone number if you wish to verify this statement. We also have documented a missing 16 year old in Canada. We tracked him a year after he disappeared and both search dogs found where he had committed suicide.

It’s rained a lot recently, does this affect the scent?
A. No not at all. Rain actually helps keep the scent moist and helps the dog’s
nasal passages keep moist so they can smell the scent trail.

Q. What does an average search costs?
A. Depends on how far you live away from Longview, Wa.
We charge $25.00 per hour travel, time each way from Longview,
Washington. Cost of fuel, motel if we have to spend the night, and $50.00
per fifteen minutes of searching. Include Airline transportation if needed.
Example of a typical search in Portland, Ore.
Driving time $25.00 per hour x 2 hours (round trip) = $50.00
Cost of fuel $25.00
Search time $50.00 per fifteen minutes. Search lasted 15 minutes =$50.00
Total owed I.K.9.S.A.R.S. is $125.00.

Pet searches. I charge cost of meals, fuel, motels, driving time and search time. If I must fly, then ad on those travel fees as well.

Mr. Harry Oakes is an expert in the field of search and rescue. With 38 years of experience, he has been brought in by the FBI, City Police Departments, Sheriff’s Office, National Parks, Embassy officials, other government agencies and private families to help solve missing persons cases.

Since 1986 Mr. Oakes documented over 8,300 calls around the world. Mr. Oakes has a documented 99% success rate of either finding the victim(s), or determining what really happened to them.

Runaways, suicides, homicides, accidental deaths, kidnappings, natural disasters, man made disasters such as bombings, transportation accidents, persons who are lost, missing, presumed dead. Missing children. These are the types of cases Mr. Oakes handle’s every week.

Being an expert in his field, many attorneys as well as law enforcement agencies turn to Mr. Oakes for consulting advice. So do other SAR units.

Mr. Oakes helped developed the N.A.S.A.R. and F.E.M.A. K-9 SAR Standards as well as International SAR Standards.

Media often calls on Mr. Oakes to discuss current events, cases. Mr. Oakes has been featured in People Magazine, This week Magazine, CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Nancy Grace, as well as cases discussed on Oprah and other shows.

If you need his assistance contact Mr. Harry Oakes at searchdog@iinet.com
Or through his office at 360-414-8093.

Order his book on "Search and Rescue" Harry discusses all aspects of Search and Rescue. Training the person for SAR, training a dog for SAR, the ugly politics of SAR, case by case reviews, photos of his work around the world. He talks about the Kyron Horman case as well as many other cases he's been involved in.

Thank You

International K9 Search and Rescue Services.
www.k9sardog.com

Q. I have Multiple pets, I don’t have anything specific that belongs just to the missing pet?
A. We’ll introduce the search dog to all of your pets from a distance. One at a time. When the search dog smells each pet and then can smell the one they can’t see, they know that’s the one they need to go search for.
For Pet Owners

Before you fly with your pet on a commercial airline, follow these suggestions to make your pet’s trip much easier and safer.

1. Microchip your pet. In the Portland, Oregon area, about 3,000 dogs and cats are returned home each year because the pet is micro-chipped. After your pet is micro-chipped, register your pet’s information with the microchip company online or by mail. Include its breed, sex, age, date of birth, current home address and your next of kin along with your veterinarian’s information.
2. Make sure the kennel is large enough for your pet to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. A few months before you fly, put your pet’s kennel inside their sleeping area with the door open and his bedding inside. This helps the pet become accustomed to the kennel.
3. Place the following inside a clean paper envelope and then inside a plastic zip lock bag: pet's medical records, rabies certificate, vet contact information, microchip info, a combed out sample of its fur, and color photos of your pet from different angles.
4. Write PET ID on the envelope and tape it to the outside of the kennel.
If your pet becomes sick or escapes, the airline staff and search and rescue crews like myself now have a scent article, photographs, and a great description of your pet with which to start our search efforts.
5. Before your pet travels, consider giving him Acepromazine (animal tranquilizer that should not be used on animals with seizures) that is available from your vet.
6. Put some of your pet's favorite toys and belongings inside the kennel: chew toys and bedding. Make sure the toys are ones that the pet can’t choke on.
7. Include a soiled piece of clothing that has your scent on it in the kennel. Something you’ve worn all day, but haven't washed. Having your scent inside the kennel will help calm your pet.


For airline personnel to retrieve an escaped pet
Do this immediately when a pet escapes from an airline transport kennel.
1. Call our professional K9 SAR tracking team.
Office: 360-414-8093. Mobile: 503-705-0258 Web: www.k9sardog.com
2. Notify management that a pet has been lost from its kennel.
3. Notify airport security, TSA, airport ground operations services, airport management teams, and airport police and fire departments, as well as other ground staff.
4. Ask the airlines legal department to contact the pet owners as well as the pet’s vet, microchip company, and local animal control to register the pet as missing.
5. Poster the area in English and Spanish.
Rain has no negative effect on scent. It actually helps to keep the scent fresh. Rain and moisture livens scent and keeps it moist so the search dogs can detect it. It also keeps the search dogs nose scent receptor cells moist to they can absorb more scent.
Searching for the Pet
1. If a pet escapes his kennel, use the client's clothing (sock, shirt) that has been sent with the pet.
2. Wear rubber gloves to handle the item, cut up the clothing. Soak some of the items in a spray bottle filled with water. Go to the area where the pet has been spotted and spray the area.
3. Take the remaining pieces of cut clothing (scent) and leave them in the area where the pet has been hiding or seen. Their owners scent items may keep the pet in the area.
4. Check all area hiding spots: under baggage units, radar towers, inside warehouses and near sources of fresh water.
5. Search into the wind. All pets that wander or hunt, head into the wind.
6. Post signs in English and Spanish around the perimeter of the airport:
“Reward for safe return no questions asked”. Don’t state the reward amount.
7. Send someone to the animal control shelter in person every other day to visually check for the pet.
Don’t ever accept that the animal shelter or humane society doesn't have the pet without checking. Most shelters are staffed with volunteers and many of the volunteers don’t know exactly which animals are at the shelter.
8. Keep a journal of your search efforts and costs while avoiding fraud from callers and pet detectives.
9. If you spot the missing pet, don’t approach it. The animal is in survival mode and is likely in psychogenic shock. The pet usually won’t even go to its owner at this point. Bring in a professional animal capture specialist from animal control.
10. Never give or send anyone money until you physically see the pet and confirm through scanning of the microchip that it is the same pet.
For more information on how to find a lost pet, go to http://www.k9sardog.com/missing.html

Once my search dog and I tracked a frightened dog who had escaped from a vet clinic until we located it in a dense wooded area. I then let my search dog off lead to go play with the dog, which calmed the dog. While the dogs played, I called the dog’s owner on my cell phone and had him call to his dog on my cellular speaker phone. This enabled us to recapture the dog.

Our search dog teams have a 99% success rate of either finding the missing person or lost pet or determining what really happened to them. We’ve successfully tracked and found both missing persons and lost pets after they have been missing a year with working search dogs. Of course the sooner we respond and start our track with a trained search dog the better our efforts will be in locating the pet.

We are not pet detectives nor do we want anything to do with them. We are search and rescue K9 teams that use our search dogs to track missing persons and pets.

Note: We’ve received dozens of complaints over the years from people who have used M.A.R.S. (Missing Animal Response Services) units with their pet search dogs.
See the following pages, for some of our hundred’s of references.
Our References#1.
Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Hello. My name is Kathryn Bratcher and I live in Snohomish, Washington. I was referred to you by Janos Wimpffen of Redmond in an effort to help me recover my lost dog. He told me of your search dog, Valerie. My dog, Te’ Amo, has been missing since the evening of April 30th and has been spotted (possibly) twice within 2-3 miles of our home in the last two days. As you can imagine, our family is devastated. Please contact me with information regarding your services and whether or not you and Valerie would be able to help us recover our beloved pet. You may respond to this e-mail. Thank you.

Kathryn Bratcher wrote: Harry: Thank you for your quick response! I’ve also heard your voicemail this morning and want to thank you for the tip to keep him in the area. He has been sighted several times within a mile of home (at least five now) and I found out last night that three people saw him AT OUR HOUSE two days ago. That indicates to me that the little rascal is not “lost” but maybe just on an adventure. Nonetheless, I want him home. It doesn’t seem right to call out a team if he’s wandering the neighborhood on his own, though. (He is neutered so I can’t imagine what the attraction is...maybe just freedom from the fence). Do you have any suggestions how I can maybe use socks or other personal items to lure him home?

From: “Harry E. Oakes Jr.” To: Kathryn Bratcher Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 11:32:06 Neutering doesn’t keep the sex drive down for a dog. Does it work for a human male? NO..... :) So don’t assume because he’s been cut that he’s lost his sex drive. GO pee allot. Yup that’s right. now don’t get your britches up in a stir. What I mean is, in all seriousness aside, drink water, coffee, whatever, makes you have to do the #1.

Then put it in a spray bottle and go around to the sightings and spray till your little hearts content. Then drive home spraying the “Special scent” of yours all the way home. This is the strongest scent a dog can track and it’s much more appealing (The spray bottle that is) then the other options.

Try that. The most important thing to be concerned about is your dog getting hit by a car. Try to find someone in the area of the sightings that will call you immediately when they see him. Try this, if it doesn’t work, a live dog trap (Box type) works. but, you may catch raccoons, tigers, lions, cats, possums, and coyotes maybe even Bigfoot???? So that’s the last option. If this stuff doesn’t work, call me and I’ll come up there with my search dog and track the little fella. Thanks good luck and let me know how it goes. Harry

Tue, 08 May 2001 16:10:44 From:”Kathryn Bratcher” kathbrat@hotmail.com To: search dog@iinet.com Dear Harry: I picked up your message Saturday afternoon. I must say I didn’t expect the advice you gave...BUT IT WORKED!!! It took me about nine hours on Saturday to drink enough to make a trail from the area he was sighted to home (of course I led him down the back roads :) I finished my “trail” about 10:00 on Saturday evening and when I woke up at 6:30 a.m. he was in the front yard waiting to be let in! I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR ADVICE and it really does make a great story! Although he is home safe, he’s not exactly sound. He suffered severe knee injury on his little adventure and underwent surgery this afternoon.

He’ll be home from the hospital tomorrow afternoon and our lives will FINALLY regain some degree of normalcy. Thank you again, Harry! I never would have thought of such a trick on my own! Te’ Amo thanks you, too!!!
Ref# 2. Onalee Owass@earthlink.net
Thank you again for finding Pookie for us. I wish so much I had known about your service 3 days earlier and I think we could have found her alive. I know her time on earth was going to be limited but knowing she died all alone without us is hard for me. But it was good to find her so we didn’t have to wonder and worry about her and we could bring her home to bury. I will certainly recommend your services to anyone in our situation. Please send me a picture at your convenience. Thanks, Onalee and Jerry Wasserburger
3). 04-10-06 2006-3794-084(A). Mult. Co. Lost cat. Anita Parth samozoe@comcast.net Tigard, Ore Lost cat MILO. You and Valerie came down, and helped me find my Persian cat all those years ago, yes the one at the horse track in NE Portland. We did recover him a few days later. The woman who had him was hording a lot of cats. Team: H. Oakes SAR Dog Valorie K-9-1.

Ref# 4. Kris Desylvia World Travel.

Ref# 5. Vicki L.Johnson antiquevics@comcast.net 04-15-06.
Harry, Thank you for your efforts and for you and Valorie giving me hope when I was beginning to fall apart. Knowing that Tia was alive and that someone had picked her up encouraged me to continue looking for her. I spent all day Saturday walking around the neighborhood talking to various neighbors and posting new flyers. I was at work around 8 pm making additional flyers when I received a phone call that someone had found my dog and was returning her to me. So they got our address and Tia was returned to us.

My husband & I took her to vet and she is slightly dehydrated and was covered with fleas, but she has been treated and is beginning to perk up like her former self. The vet is Issaquah was very interested to hear about your search & rescue operation too. Thank you again - you can add Tia Maria to your success list!! I’ll email you a photo later of her.
Vicki Johnson

06-16-06 dfalasca@verizon.net Harry, Just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help with finding Rambo. We could not have done it without you!! You provided us with an enormous amount of information and a generous supply of support, which we will never, ever forget. Although we never met in person, I know you would just love Rambo. He is a very mellow Chihuahua, and the sweetest dog we have ever had. He is very happy to be back home in California!! Best Regards, Ron, Doreen & Dana Falasca
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Jud Landis jud.landis@gmail.com Hello: Thank you very much for your prompt response, your informative web site, and your phone call. Our dog showed up at our back door at 6:15 AM today, after we placed a urine trail back to our house Sunday night (we’d laid it the wrong way first). So, thank you so much for that piece of advice. I am telling anybody who asks about it, even if they think I’m strange. Sincerely, Jud Landis Eugene, OR

10-28-07 Lost dog Idaho. Elaine Peoples 10-28-07 Harry, I am very thankful to every one that helped.... I have to mention.... I said a prayer just 10 minutes before I saw Sparky zipping past me as I came out of that gate on the culvert side to the mobile home park..... I called him and he stopped and looked at me.... thought about a minute to see if it was really me....and then came to me.... of course I scooped him up and thanked GOD for answering my prayers and especially so fast.... NOW I also have to give credit to YOU for locating the actual spot that I left him at...and the nice people that called to tell me they saw him..... THEY saw my newspaper add in the Idaho News.... It started on Saturday...and they called Sunday 7 AM to tell me ....and I was already on my way to search again today....Happy ending.... good night......we will all sleep better tonight....Elaine THANK YOU HARRY, WILLOW and VAL.
Andria Squires
We can only guess that whoever picked her up from Quizno’s let her lose in the area or she escaped from them (good girl!) and was found by the right family. I was glad that I had read you note about what to do when you find your dog because I knew what to expect. She didn’t recognize us as first. She was hesitant to come near me and then when she did she had to touch me with her nose before she recognized me. She is acting like she is in shock a bit, but doesn’t have any major injuries. There is a cut under her eye and she is walking stiff, but after a bath and good nights sleep, she looks good. I’m waiting for the vet to open so they can check her out. Thanks again for all your wonderful help!!! Woo Hoo!!! Lucy is home!!! Andria

Sun, 6/13/10, Glorylamb7@aol.com Subject: Re: Lost Dog -Carrolton, GA To: harry98632@yahoo.com Date: Sunday, June 13, 2010, 11:50 AM Harry, Just an update to let you know that my Pom Pom is safe at home after having been missing for two weeks. Someone picked her up off the street and sold her to a couple in another state. This couple saw a flyer I had posted at an animal hospital near the GA/AL state line and called me. We drove to Alabama on Friday evening and were reunited! There are still some honest people out there. She had been well taken care of. Thank you, Jesus! Maybe my story can be an encouragement to others. God bless, Tonya Lawson

07-14-2010. From: Terry Treves
Subject: RE: lost dog ellie To: "Harry Oakes"
Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 8:50 AM Harry Ellie probably traveled in a huge circle thru the mini oaks up the creeks and threw the farm land for the entire 20 days. Bet she covered over 300 miles in those 20 days. I set a wild trap for 4 days caught nothing. She was lost June 21st sighted June 30th crossing a dirt road near a ranch where I lost her. I set the trap close to where I lost her and followed your advise with baiting and the urine.
I sprayed my urine on all the paths I traveled and back to the trap. On July 5th I got a text at 4:44 am telling me my dog (lost flyer mailed to over 30 ranches) had been on their ranch running around their little trailer barking when they came out and saw her she took off. I didn't get the text till 7:30 am immediately began to drive to their ranch over 3 miles away from where I lost her. While driving down a busy main road (rural) on the way to the ranch where she had been sighted I spotted Ellie running along the paved road (bicycle path) I couldn't believe she was right there on the road almost where I lost her (she had already traveled back 5 miles Catahoula/mix are amazing).


I stopped my car got and and calmly called Ellie a few times. She stopped scented the air and stared at me. I kept saying Ellie don't run it is Terry and then (Catahoula style) she began to whine. She was at least 50 feet away with a big field behind her and a busy traffic road where I was parked. All of a sudden she got done on all 4 and so did I she crawled whining on her belly over to my arms. STILL ALL AMAZING TO ME.

She is fine. She had pulled of her collar with the attached flexi, covered with ticks, skinny as a rail and half starved but only a couple of minor scratches. She is home relaxing on my couch and eating like a horse.

Ellie and I say thank you for your advise. I agree don't give up and poster and even mail to people in the area where lost. She kept coming back to the same spot.Again thank you Terry & Ellie "Ellen Currey-Wilson"
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To:
"Harry Oakes"
08-25-2010. Hi Harry, I wanted you to know I finally got the cat back yesterday morning at 4 a.m.! It came back earlier in the day but headed straight under the house. After everything was finally quiet and everyone was asleep, I crawled under the house and carried the cat out. It wouldn't come out any other way. Anyway, every day since you left, I had been using the spray bottle technique (who would have thought!) and so I guess it led Fluff back. Thank you for your help. Fluff is fine. I'm scratched up and bruised from being under the house (a yukky place to be and I just had a tetanus shot) but it's worth it. We're back in Portland and Fluff is so happy. Just wanted you to know. Thanks again. Ellen

From: Una unatbailey@gmail.com Subject: Islay found To: "Harry Oakes"
If you need more info. Please go to our web site at www.k9sardog.com or rmail us at : searchdog@iinet.com or harry98632@yahoo.com

If you wish to make a gift of money to support our Search and Rescue efforts,
Please send a check to I.K.9.S.A.R.S. PO Box# 1472, Longview, Washington 98632 USA.

This gift is NOT Tax deductible. WE are NOT A NON PROFIT 501-C-3 Organization. We are in fact a FOR PROFIT Professional business. We do DONATE our own money, time and efforts during times of disasters.

You can also order Harry’s book available on CD only. $15.00

Because the photos include dead people, this is for persons of the age 18 and above. The reality of our work can be sad.

“Search and Rescue” By Harry Oakes.

Harry’s book talks about his career in Search and Rescue starting with the Boy Scouts, then the sheriff’s office, then working in the military, then for Mountain Rescue, and eventually becoming internationally known for his work around the world with his K9 partners.

He also talks about his own search dogs Kodi, Ranger, Valorie, Willow, and Tyler as well as the 6,500 other teams he’s helped trained around the world.

He exposes the ugly truths of politics and egos and how they’ve cost many innocent people their lives.

He also talks about how to train as a search and rescue person and how to train a search dog. How he finds missing persons, missing children, runaways.

Then Harry talks about pets, lost and found information, and some of his 8.300 cases around the world that he’s work. Oklahoma City Bombing Disaster, Northridge earthquake, Philippine Earthquake, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras,
As well as many other disasters.

www.k9sardog.com

Thank You

Respectfully
Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
SAR Coordinator / Handler / Instructor.
Revised 01-12-2011.

Posted by K9 Search and Rescue at 2:10 PM 0 comments Email This
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Labels: harry oakes., How to find your lost pet, Internatinal K9 Search and Rescue services., M.A.R.S., pet detectives
Tuesday, January 4, 2011Airline employee proceedures to finding lost client's pets. Before you fly with your pet, how to prepare.
Over the last 25 years I’ve been asked to respond to LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, JFK in NY, PDX Portland International Airport, SEA-TAC, along with several other smaller airports to track pets that have become missing from their transport kennels and airlines.

Here are some suggestions for clients who must transport their pets inside a kennel. And, for the airline employees who are looking for the missing pet.

Before you fly with your pet on a commercial airlines a few suggestions to make your pet’s trip much easier and safer.

Make sure the Kennel is large enough for your pet to stand up in, turn around in.
Lay down in. A few months before you fly, put your pet’s kennel inside their sleeping area with the door open and the pet’s bedding inside.

This helps the pet become more accustom to the kennel. Place the pet’s toys inside along with some kind of scent from the pet owner.

Before you fly with your pet, try to de-stress your pet by talking with your vet and maybe giving your pet some ace promizine. (Animal Tranquilizer).

Another way of calming your pet if it’s transported inside a kennel, is to leave some of your pet's favorite toys, rubber balls, chew toys, bedding, and a dirty sock or shirt inside the pets kennel. Make sure it’s toys the pet can’t choke on.

Make sure that you include a soiled piece of clothing that has your scent on it. Something you’ve worn all day, but not washed. Having your scent inside the kennel will help calm your pet.

Before you fly, the pet owner should microchip your pet. This would be a huge PR boost for an airlines if they were to help co-sponsor along with the Humane Society of the USA a major micro chip campaign.

In the Portland, Oregon area, we get about 3,000 dogs and cats back each year because the pet is micro-chipped.

NOTE: Once the pet is micro-chipped. Please make sure you contact the microchip company either by US Mail, telephone call, or on line, register your pet’s information. Breed, sex, age, date of birth, current home address and your next of ken along with your veterinarian’s information.

You should send a copy of their pet's medical records, rabies certificate, vet contact information, microchip info, a combed out sample of your pet's fir, and color photos from different angles of your pet, attached to the kennel.

This should be placed inside a clean paper envelope and then inside a plastic zip lock bag. Marked on the outside as PET ID. And taped to the outside of the kennel.

Should your pet become sick or escape, the airline staff and search and rescue crews like myself now have a scent article, photographs, and a great description of your pet to start our search efforts with.

Airline employee suggested procedures to recapture an escaped pet from a airline transport kennel.

If your pet escape it’s kennel, an airline employee can take part of the soiled clothing (sock, shirt) the client sent with their pet.

Have the employee handling the item wear rubber gloves, cut up the clothing left in the pet's kennel. Soak some of the items in a spray bottle filled with water.

Go to the area where the pet has been spotted and spray the area. Take the remaining pieces of cut clothing (scent) and leave it strewn about in the area where the pet has been hiding or seen. This may keep the pet in the area with their owners scent.

Poster the area in English and Spanish.

Call our professional K9 SAR tracking team in right away. Our web site info is www.k9sardog.com Office: 360-414-8093. Mobile 503-705-0258

For your staff here's what I usually send to our clients on how to search for their pets. Please have them follow our guidelines.

Steps Airline Employees should take immediately to help locate a client’s missing pet.

The airlines employees should search into the wind.
All pets that wander or hunt, head into the wind.

Airlines staff should notify their management right away that a pet has been lost from it’s carrier.

Airlines legal department should contact the pet owners as well as the pet’s vet, microchip company, and local animal control and register the pet as missing.

Staff should check all area hiding spots. Under baggage units, radar towers, inside warehouses. Near sources of fresh water.

Post signs in English and Spanish around the perimeter of the airport.
“Reward for safe return no questions asked”. Don’t state how much the reward is.

Staff should contact Airport security, TSA, airport ground operations services, airport management teams, and airport police and fire departments, as well as other ground staff. Alert them to the missing pet situation.

Make sure you send one of your staff to the animal control shelter in person every other day.

Don’t ever take their word at the animal shelter or humane society, “that they don’t have the pet”. Most are staffed with volunteers and many of the volunteers don’t have a clue on what the shelter has and doesn’t have in their possession.

Never give anyone or send anyone money until you physically see the pet and confirm through scanning of the microchip that it is the same pet.

Click on this URL: http://www.k9sardog.com/missing.html or go to our web site www.k9sardog.com then click on “finding your lost pet” section.
Read the info on scams as well as how to find your lost pet.

Should an employee spot the missing pet, don’t approach it. It’s in survival mode. Most are in psychogenic shock. The pet usually won’t even go to it’s owner at this point. Bring in a professional animal capture specialist from animal control.

One technique I used to recapture a scared dog that was lost from a vet clinic. I brought in my search dog and we tracked the dog until we located it in a dense wooded area. I then let my search dog off lead to go play with the scared dog. This helped calm the dog down. Then I got the dog’s owner on my cell phone speaker and had him call to his dog. Between my SAR dog playing with his dog and his dog hearing his owners voice, we were able to recapture the lost pet.

Read this web site’s information on avoiding scams.

Keep a journal of your search efforts and costs while avoiding fraud from callers and pet detectives.

Rain has no effect on scent. It actually helps keep the scent fresh. It livens it up and keeps it moist so the search dogs can smell it. It also keeps the search dogs nose scent receptor cells moist to they can absorb more scent.

“We’ve successfully tracked and found both missing persons and lost pets after 1 year’s time with their real search dogs”. Of course the sooner we respond and start our track with a real search dog the better our efforts will be in locating the pet.

Our search dog teams have a 97% success rate of either finding the missing person or lost pet or determining what really happened to them. Picked up, injured, killed, where, how, etc. 25 years of experience”.

We are not pet detectives nor do we want anything to do with them. We are real search and rescue k9 teams that use our search dogs to track missing persons and lost pets.

We’ve received dozens of complaints over the years from people who have used the MARS services, regarding their dog handlers from the M.A.R.S. (Missing Animal Response Services) units with their alleged pet search dogs.

I hope this helps you.
Good luck.
If you have any questions feel free to call or write us.
Thank You

Since 1988, I’ve performed over 1,211 Consults regarding missing pet cases.
I’ve personally performed over 5,400 searches for lost pets finding 2,891.

Mr. Harry E. Oakes Jr.
Search and Rescue Coordinator, instructor.
International K9 Search and Rescue Services.
Posted by K9 Search and Rescue at 3:20 AM 0 comments Email This
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Labels: Airline proceedures to finding lost pets lost from kennels, harry oakes., how to prepare your pet for air travel, searchdogs tracking lost pets, transport
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How to find your lost pet, pet searches.
Airline employee proceedures to finding lost clien...
About Me

Harry Oakes
12 years Law enforcement, 25 years as an EMT, 38 years in SAR work, 25 in K9 SAR. Instructed and worked around the world in K9 SAR. Also teach dog obedience for fun and work. I have one son, one grandson.
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