Hi all
Fairly new to boards as far as leaving a messasge goes but have been reading and "lurking" for a while
I feel really torn as my dog was "stolen" about two months ago. he was microchipped had a collar and tag but still no trace and the park seems to have a "reputation" for dogs going missing....just wish they had told me that BEFORE  I started walking there!!! Amazing what you find out after the event!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But hey if ifs and ands were pots and pans.... he was snatched less than 100yds from me!
Anyway, my heart has been ripped out by this happening but a teeny piece of me yearns to have a dog back in my home..............but i am scared. i always imagined it to be a wonderous experience.....well except the hair and slobber :-) and i did not actually think there was anything wrong with being in a local park and letting your dog off the lead for a sprint around...like hundreds of others do....................but am I wrong? my boy has gone, vanished without trace and even staying in the park five hours after the event noone saw anything :-( Every time i consider getting another dog I feel wracked with guilt that i am betraying him, i would hate him to think i have given up on him but sadly speaking to locals he will have been stolen.
So do i approach another breeder about a pup. Home all day etc etc so have time and commitment but is that enough?? and what i am really worried about is will a breeder think i am irresponsible having my dog run around off lead and then getting stolen? I have seen a few pups I might like but am scared to contact breeder for what they might say
Any help gratefully received
Thank you

Hi,

Sorry to hear what has happened to you and your dog. Dog napping is something that seems to sadly be on the increase.

All i am going to say is, if it was me who had lost one of mine i would be doing whatever possible to try and find my dog and not giving up. The last thought on my mind would be replacing them or what

a breeder might say if i enquired about another pup. Is that really what you are thinking about?

Have you explored all avenues? Contacted relevant organisations such as Doglost etc.

Same thing happened to a friends dog in London, Doglost were great, they and all the volunteer's made that dog so hot to handle that within about 3 weeks she had been returned to the owners, of course for the reward as they happened to find her, but i would still be trying everything to get mine back

How horrible for you both, I hope somehow you get him back. We don't have this problem here yet, but my youngest dog has never been outside off the lead yet and won't be till he is as good as the older two. The two older boys had to be as bombproof as I could get them in terms of whistle recall--they are never more than 10m from me and even that is too far for my liking. How could anyone steal a dog...it's so cruel.

I don't think you should give up searching for your boy, even if he has been stolen he might turn up somewhere.
Many people seem to think stolen dogs are gone forever and are pretty negative when it comes to finding the dog... but many have been found.
Have you made sure his microchip details are up to date?

A dog was lost near where I live, he was gone for 7 days and the owners were going mad from worry, no sightings at all! They get a phone call from a vet, somebody had found him the day he was lost, kept him and taken him to a vet after having him for a week. Not to get him checked for a chip but a general check up as they were going to just keep the dog! Never even thought about the fact that there might be a worried owner somewhere! So I would keep at it, keep his picture/details in people's mind. Maybe email a lost poster to all vets near and little further, ask them to put it up and keep an eye themselves. It is amazing how dog owners notice a new dog in the area...

If you go ahead and get a puppy, would you have room for both of them if your boy is found?
I see nothing wrong in getting a puppy or going on a waiting list of a litter, if you can accomodate both.
Two months without a dog in a house is a long time if you are used to have one.

It was not your fault he was stolen so I see no reason why breeder would think you are not suitable for one of their puppies. Especially if you do point out you are still searching and will be able to have both if the happy thing happens and your boy returns.

Oh my goodness I thought that would go without saying of course I have registered him with Doglost and missing pets bureau, posters everywhere I and my family can think of and advert in papers and on radio!! Yes he is microchipped with up to date details. I know it has only been 2 months and I am not heartless to forget him and move on. The space he has left is heartbreaking and I am slowly going insane without him. I am certainly not trying to replace him just trying to ease the pain a little and have something to focus on rather than traipsing the streets trying to find him. I have thought about the fab day he comes home and yes OF COURSE there would still be room for him, not sure what you take me for??

I understand that you are feeling a gap where he should be and you just want to fill it .
How about looking at a dog which would fit in with your lost dog if/when he comes home ?  Some people would say a bitch is better with a dog , look at which breeds may be more compatible .
However , you also have to consider whether you could afford to keep 2 dogs and what you would do if they didn't get on .

Let us know what you decide .

Please don't take us the wrong way, i for one never ment to sound nasty, i hope i'm never in your situation.

Sorry, I really did not mean to offend... I did not mean to imply you would have forgotten him or replacing him!

Sometimes people do simply give up and feel the lost pet will never return and do not plan for their return.
I suppose it could make it easier to deal with the feelings, deciding the pet is gone for ever instead of keeping their hopes up.
It must be heartbreaking and so difficult to deal with losing a pet like you have, not knowing what has happened and trying to keep positive and searching.

I lost our only pet few years ago and the empty house absolutely killed me.
It was due to him dying(suddenly and young) so different, but we were still left with no animals and nothing to concentrate on...
In the end it was my partner who went and got another baby for me.
I was just moping around and not wanting to "re-place" him,which the new baby was obviously never going to do anyway!
I know I was being silly and would now if being faced with the same situation, go ahead and get a new baby a lot sooner,as I know how good it was for us to have a glimpse of happiness and silly baby in the house again!
It gives you energy and lifts you up so might even help you with your search and keeping positive.

I wish you good luck in finding your boy and if you go ahead in getting him a friend for when he returns, good luck with the puppy too :)!

I was not meaning to offend you either.

I was just coming from the angle that getting another dog would be the last thing on MY mind after him only being gone for a relatively short period of time.

Everyones different though, so whatever helps you get through this difficult time.

I really do feel for you. a very differcult position.
If I may throw my pennyworth in.. if you do get another pup then I would sugguest you get a bitch pup. that way should your lost boy ever be returned it is more likely the two dogs would get on as in my experience a dog and bitch are more likely to make friends then 2 males. 

if he is chipped then I would imagine at some point if he has been taken in by someone they will want to register him with a vet, I would contact every vet near and far with a photo to ask them to scan him . I would contact radio stations, local news tv programmes, local papers to do a piece on him (if you contact them enough times they get fed up with you and cave!, do hand outs at large supermarkets like asda ,tesco etc poster in pet shops and local shops , walk through the park giving handouts ....
difficult one this but I will say it anyway..contact local railways stations in the area to make sure he hasnt been hit by a train they keep records of these kind of incidents (network rail) I know this as my OH work on the railways and deals with this kind of incident on occasion so I know its logged.)You can do it via email on thier website.
This is where I think vets let down the microchip by not scanning reguarily dogs that they dont know. A dog warden I know told me that they should scan every dog to make sure if chipped that the chip can still be located apart from any other reason.

You must be heartbroken but I would focus more on finding him than considering a new puppy for a while longer yet .
What breed is he and what area are you in ? (thats if you want to say of course)

Some vets are better than others at scanning new dogs, be it owners they have known for ages or not.
I moved vets when my youngster was about 10 weeks old. New vets didn't know me from adam and scanned my youngster and i soon moved my eldest across to the new vets and they scanned him also.. I thought that was great!!

How about doing a piece on your missing dog on here and other forums, some people in the area you live may know something or wish to help in some way.. The more people helping the better your chances.. Spread the word.

Good luck in getting your dog back, and as for another one, well only you know if its a good idea deep in your heart or not.

Awww I just wanted to say that I really feel for you.......I actually have nightmares about loosing mine or them being stolen, the wondering must be heartbreaking.

Poor you, hugs.

Whatever you decide do not feel guilty. It sounds like you have done everything that you can to try and find your boy, and I hope some day soon that he is reunited with you.

Nicki xx