Packleader+PetTrackers

• Call a scent professional for an initial phone consultation to assess your case. The steps to take can vary depending on a number of factors including: where the pet ran away from, age, temperament, health, wearing harness or dragging a leash, the terrain of the area, and the general environment (city, suburban, rural), and others.

• Do not immediately post signs offering a reward. This is a strategy that should only be employed once the case has been assessed and isn’t appropriate for most situations.

• From the moment your pet is lost, the only concrete link between you and them is the scent trail they are leaving as they travel. If this trail is contaminated – or ruined completely, then you will have to rely on posters and the chance that others see these and call in sightings.

No. Having an initial consultation with a scent and tracking professional is an important step to determine how we might be able to help. We encourage you to call and get all of the information so you can make an informed decision for you, your family, and your pet.

Feel free to contact us here: (401) 787-7432

Yes, your pet loves you! Pets run away for a variety of reasons. The typical reasons a pet runs away or disappears:

• Chased after wild game. This usually means that something caught it’s attention – a chipmunk, rabbit, bird, deer, fox, coyote, etc. Most dogs are not Lassie and may not find their way back home depending on many factors – how far it ran, how well it knows the area, etc.

• Something scared your pet and it fled. This is most commonly thunder, fireworks or other loud noises such as motorized equipment, trucks, buses or other vehicles.

• Frolic and curiosity. This is the desire to leave the yard and explore other scents, sounds and animals – such as domestic pets in heat.

• Predators nearby. Even in more suburban areas, these days there is no shortage of owls, hawks, fisher cats, foxes, coyotes and even coy wolves.

We don't recommend using your own dog or untrained dogs to search for your missing pet. They aren't trained to follow a specific scent and could contaminate the search area, making it harder for professional search dogs to do their job. If you've already done this, wait a day or two before bringing in trained search dogs to give the area time to air out.

Volunteers can be a great help in spreading the word about your missing pet. Accept their assistance with tasks like hanging posters and sharing information. However, to maximize your chances of success, we recommend also working with a professional pet tracker who can provide expert guidance and support.

When your pet goes missing, you'll likely receive a lot of advice from well-meaning people. Not all of it will be helpful. It's best to contact a professional pet tracker for clear guidance. Sometimes, expert advice might seem counterintuitive, but it's based on our extensive experience and training. Trust us to help you navigate this challenging time.

Our scent-specific trailing dogs can follow the scent trail of your lost pet using a scent article, such as their collar, bedding, toys, or food dish. This helps us locate your pet even if they are hurt or stuck somewhere.

The tools are the same, but the methods, strategy and execution of the search process will vary based on these varying environments.

To learn more about the best search tactics in all terrains, check out our breakdown here!

No! Snow is 90% air and our dogs can smell scent through snow cover. As for rain, moisture typically holds scent (which is mostly bacteria) and thrives in moist, damp areas. This means rain typically does NOT wash away the scent trail unless it’s been very heavy over an extended period.

Surprisingly for many pet owners, a lot of the techniques recommended and employed by professionals run counterintuitive to what the owner wants, or their heart tells them, to do.

If you know the area where your pet is located, it is better to put out a trail camera and food to quietly lure them in and try to keep them in the location, than it is to intrusively have people searching the area and calling out for the lost pet, which can spook the animal, causing it to flee the area or further hunker down and hide.

This approach can require patience and a lot of self-control, but is important to keep the pet as safe as possible.

Posters and social media can be effective, but they may not work in every case. Using scent dogs from the beginning can help narrow down your pet's location, allowing you to focus your efforts more effectively. The longer a pet is missing, the harder it can be to find them, and the greater the risks they face.