A country tradition in this area is for people to shoot their guns as the New Year rings in. Often this results in panicked lost and missing dogs. If your gun-shy pooch disappears we usually see the same behavior patterns as the panicked dogs that run away during the fireworks in the summer. The dogs tend to get out and run blindly for some distance. Depending on the breed and individual characteristic your pup may run in a straight line. IF there is a lot shooting lost and frightened pooches may ping pong back and forth away from the noise. In some cases the dogs may run in big loopy circles ending up almost where they started. If you know you have a skittery pet bring him inside for the holiday. Make sure the tags or other identification is on the collar. If you lost your dog, some pointers to help you recover him as soon as possible include.

• If your pooch is microchiped contact the company.
• Get the word out locally Most Veterinarian hospitals will be closed the first but you can usually fax or email them a flier about your lost pet. (Chances are also good that if someone picks your pet up they will be unable to contact anyone to read a chip until the second or even later if they are back to work first thing on the second.)
• Put up posters (Posters are big and bright and have minimal information. A photo of your dog and your phone number large enough to read from the road.) Use them as you would “yard sale posters” on big busy intersections and along commuter routes. If your dog is one of the types that runs in a straight line, is in good health and is physically able you may need to get these posters as far as ten or more miles from your point last seen. (Make sure you check with local regulations so you are not violating any laws posting signs and fliers. And when your dog is home again, don’t forget to go back and remove your posters!)
• You may want to go to your immediate neighbors with fliers, small signs with more information about the dog where he is missing from and your contact information etc. If your dog is the type that may loop back toward the starting point chances are good the neighbors will see him and start calling you. At least your information will hopefully have them watching for him, and they will know who to call if they see him.
• Contact the community papers and post your fliers at popular areas coffee shops, gas stations etc.
• Use the Internet Craigs list, and several lost and found resources that are available.
• Go out and look and call your dog even though we are not surprised when dogs do not respond when lost and scared many of them do.  So try it.
• If you are not getting sightings and you have no idea where your pet may be, a trained pet detection dog may be helpful in determining the direction of travel or the area your dog may be hiding in.

Feel free to use the article previously posted on this site about techniques for managing a lost pet search.

GOOD LUCK!!

Laura & Chewy