SUPPORT
Stay calm.
Take the right steps.
If the dog has run away from home, someone the dog knows should wait at the spot where it disappeared. Many dogs return to the place where they ran away within minutes or hours.
If the dog has run away near home, the same applies; additionally, it would be helpful if the dog had free access to the house or apartment.
Please do not search over a large area: Many fresh tracks can make it harder for the dog to find its way back. For dogs on a leash or retractable leash, in case of injury, or after 12–24 hours without a sighting, a pet tracker can be very helpful.
Report to
In addition to contacting Pettrailer Switzerland, relevant authorities should be notified.
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Police
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Game wardens / hunting supervisors
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Local municipality and neighboring municipalities
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Local veterinarians
The recommended procedure
From the initial report to the animal’s capture:
clear, calm, and tailored to the specific situation.
1
Contact
Initial consultation by phone to gather the most important information.
2
Analysis
Assess the location where the dog went missing, its behavior, sightings, and risks.
3
Planning
Select a search dog, drone, feeding station, camera, or trap.
4
Search
Structured operation using appropriate resources.
5
Recovery
Calmly bring the dog back and secure it.
What is a pet trailer?
Pettrailers are dog-handler teams that are specially trained for animal search and rescue.
In addition to searching for people (mantrailing), some tracking dogs are also trained to find animals. Every furry animal has a unique scent that is carried by tiny particles and flakes of skin. This allows the search dogs to pick up and follow the scent trail.
To do this, the dog needs an item that carries, as far as possible, only the scent of the missing animal. Suitable items include brushes, sleeping pads, toys, or collars.
The fresher the scent trail, the greater the chance of success. That’s why those affected should ask for help as early as possible.
Our teams must pass tests before they are ready for deployment.
When are search dogs helpful?
Search dogs aren’t always the right solution. Frightened dogs may run away when they sense the search dog. Using search dogs makes sense, however,
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if the dog has run away while on a leash or retractable leash and there’s a risk that it’s stuck somewhere. This is likely if there have been no sightings after 12–24 hours.
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if the dog was injured in an accident or is elderly and therefore cannot stray too far.
For other situations, there are additional options, such as setting up feeding stations with surveillance cameras or using various live traps; we have these resources at our disposal and also have experience handling such cases.