[News] Snowbirds and Lost Dogs - YorkieTalk.com Forums

fasteddie · 02-09-2005, 10:45 AM

LEESBURG — It’s something that officials with the Humane Society of Lake County say happens every year.

Cooler temperatures in Florida feel like warm summers to snowbirds who flock from the North fleeing frigid climates or to visit friends and family members who have moved to the state.

And every year, according to the Humane Society’s J.R. Medell, snowbirds lose their dogs.

This year, Kathy Weber of Parma, Ohio — a suburb of Cleveland — has lost her youngest Yorkshire terrier, Belle, a show dog.

Kalyn’s Kentucky Belle is the two-year-old’s registered name. She’s one show away from being a United Kennel Club champion, and Weber had big plans to show her pride and joy in obedience trials, too.

It’s been more than a week since 2.5-pound Belle disappeared, but Weber hasn’t given up hope.

She’s called all of the groomers and veterinarian’s offices in the phone book, knocked on doors in her neighborhood and recruited mail carriers, furniture-delivery people and others who might have the opportunity to spot “Baby Belle” in a home.

She’s even contacted “pet communicators,” who have told her that her dog is safe and that she was taken by a man.

Weber has offered a $1,000 reward for Belle’s return — $500 of her own money and $500 contributed by a friend.

Weber said she’s been coming to Leesburg to visit family for about 17 years and has been traveling with dogs for two decades.

“It’s the first time I’ve had anything really bad happen,” she said.

She brought seven Yorkies on this trip and is afraid she will return to Ohio with only six.

Medell said it’s not uncommon for people from out of state not to realize threats to their animals that are unique to Florida.

There are ponds and wetlands along the Leesburg cul-de-sac where Weber stays every year with her father. Not only are alligators a danger to small, wayward dogs, said Medell, but birds of prey are as well.

“An eagle nearly carried off my dachshund once,” he said.

In addition to natural threats, Medell said small dogs like Weber’s are particularly desirable to people.

“Nine out of 10 people who walk into our shelter are looking for little dogs,” he said. “When they’re lost, we very seldom have a little dog brought to the shelter.”

He personally has witnessed fist-fights break out at the Humane Society’s shelter when word gets out that a litter of small dogs is there.

“We have to hide them,” he said.

His advice to visiting pet owners is never to let their small dogs out of their sight and to make sure they wear identifying tags.

He said Weber’s best bet is that a conscientious animal-lover finds Belle. The second-best is that someone spots her reward fliers.

Those who stay in local RV parks for parts of the winter should go straight to their respective clubhouses when searching for lost pets.

If anyone finds a dog matching Belle’s description, Weber asks that they call her at (440) 781-2588.

http://www.mywebpal.com/news/partner...ews609344.html

Hercules Dad · 02-10-2005, 07:05 AM

Sad to think that a $20.00 microchip would solve all this womens worries. Suprising thing though is that its a championship dog and she never had one put in?

Higgin's Mom · 02-10-2005, 03:10 PM

If someone who finds the dog decides to keep it, the microchip won't help. Unfortunately, little dogs are very tempting to just keep and not look for the rightful owner. But chips are still a GREAT thing! They are proof of ownership. And most people will try to find the pup's rightful owner, so the chips are invaluable.

So far, at our RV park here in Crystal River, FL (not too far from Leesburg), there have been two lost dogs. One found it's owner and another has been adopted after local humane officials were notified.

bettyeanne · 02-10-2005, 03:45 PM

If Toto ever got lost/stolen, I don't think we would have to look for her! After a few days of meeting HER demands ... they would be so tired of "catering, pampering, carrying that darned silver platter, etc.", they would find US and BEG us to take her back!!!

No kidding ... as cared for and spoiled as our babies are, how could that happen? I don't understand it!!

Hercules Dad · 02-11-2005, 05:51 AM

Correct me if im wrong but cant you track the chips? As per a GPS signal or something like that? If you can get a cell phone with one it why not a dog?

fasteddie · 02-11-2005, 09:27 AM

Technology hasn't quite gotten to that point yet, Hercules Dad. Though soon I think it will. The main thing is that usually GPS signaling devices aren't small enough to be implanted yet (plus it needs a power source), thus the only option is wearing it around the collar, which anyone can easily take off.

josieb · 03-07-2005, 09:53 PM

I Can Tell You A Wonderful Story With A Happy Tails Ending. Two Years Ago October 2002, I Had Just Picked Up My Three Dogs From The Groomer. I Was Off From Work And Had Been Cleaning The House. I Let All Three Dogs Into My Fenced In Backyard And With In Minutes I Could Hear The Gate Opening And Then A Car Door Shut. I Went To The Front Door And Could See My Two Big Dogs At The End Of The Driveway. I Went Out And The Car Took Off And Gone Was My Little 5 Lb , 1 1/2 Year Old Yorkie Named Gizmo. I Thought I Would Have The Advantage Because I Worked In A Vet's Office. I Contacted All The Shelter's. Groomers, And Vets In The Area. I Even Went As Far As Manhattan To Look For Our Gizmo. My Children Were Devestated. We Posted Ads In The Newspaper And On The Internet. No Luck And We Searched For A Year . Well This Past February 2005 , We Recieved A Call From A Vet In Florida And Guess What . She Indeed Was In Contact With Someone Who Found The Dog Christmas Eve 2004 . Indeed It Was Our Little Gizmo. 2 1/2 Years Later. To Make A Long Story Short , We Are Now Reunited With Our Loveable Yorkie. It Is Like He Never Left And Was Excited When We Pulled Into The Driveway . He Still Has His Cute Personality And Continues To Do Everything He Did Before He Was Stolen. He Never Forgot His Name . When The Person In Florida Purchased A Crate To Ship Him Home In, She Said She Could Not Put It Together Fast Enough. He Knew He Was Going Home . Mircochip Does Work . It Is Not That Much To Save That Extra Part Of Your Family . If Only Dogs Could Talk. From New York To Floridaand Then Back To New York Again , Never To Leave Our Side .

bld2751 · 03-08-2005, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by josieb

I Can Tell You A Wonderful Story With A Happy Tails Ending. Two Years Ago October 2002, I Had Just Picked Up My Three Dogs From The Groomer. I Was Off From Work And Had Been Cleaning The House. I Let All Three Dogs Into My Fenced In Backyard And With In Minutes I Could Hear The Gate Opening And Then A Car Door Shut. I Went To The Front Door And Could See My Two Big Dogs At The End Of The Driveway. I Went Out And The Car Took Off And Gone Was My Little 5 Lb , 1 1/2 Year Old Yorkie Named Gizmo. I Thought I Would Have The Advantage Because I Worked In A Vet's Office. I Contacted All The Shelter's. Groomers, And Vets In The Area. I Even Went As Far As Manhattan To Look For Our Gizmo. My Children Were Devestated. We Posted Ads In The Newspaper And On The Internet. No Luck And We Searched For A Year . Well This Past February 2005 , We Recieved A Call From A Vet In Florida And Guess What . She Indeed Was In Contact With Someone Who Found The Dog Christmas Eve 2004 . Indeed It Was Our Little Gizmo. 2 1/2 Years Later. To Make A Long Story Short , We Are Now Reunited With Our Loveable Yorkie. It Is Like He Never Left And Was Excited When We Pulled Into The Driveway . He Still Has His Cute Personality And Continues To Do Everything He Did Before He Was Stolen. He Never Forgot His Name . When The Person In Florida Purchased A Crate To Ship Him Home In, She Said She Could Not Put It Together Fast Enough. He Knew He Was Going Home . Mircochip Does Work . It Is Not That Much To Save That Extra Part Of Your Family . If Only Dogs Could Talk. From New York To Floridaand Then Back To New York Again , Never To Leave Our Side .

What a great story with a happy ending!! I'm so glad you got Gizmo back. Did the people that took him get caught???

josieb · 03-09-2005, 04:16 PM

I Never Found Out Who Took Our Gizmo, And I Have Been Searching The Web To See If Anyone Advertised Him Lost, I Wante To Call Them To See Exactly How He Got Into Their Hands But No Luck Yet. I Would Love To Catch The Person Who Did This. It Is Terrible, Not Only For The Family But The Dog They Steal. I Know His Missed Us Like We Missed Him. The Person Who Found Him In Florida Said That He Just Never Seemed To Be To Excited About Anything , Like He Was Missing Something In His Life, Us Of Course. Now He Is Back To Sleeping With My Son And He Is Happy Again.

whispersmom2 · 03-10-2005, 07:17 AM

I am so glad to hear about Gizmo. Losing one of these babies is like losing a member of your family. I started to say like losing a grand child, but did not want to offend any grandchildren. But, in my case it would be more terrible than I can imagine.
I do wish technology could locate dogs AND humans who are lost. I think the time is not far off when that will happen...

02-10-2005, 03:45 PM	#4
bettyeanne Donating YT 7000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alabama, etc. Posts: 9,031	If Toto ever got lost/stolen, I don't think we would have to look for her! After a few days of meeting HER demands ... they would be so tired of "catering, pampering, carrying that darned silver platter, etc.", they would find US and BEG us to take her back!!! No kidding ... as cared for and spoiled as our babies are, how could that happen? I don't understand it!! __________________ Toto's Mom - http://www.dogster.com/?206581 Yorkie Rescue Colorado - http://www.yorkierescuecolorado.com/ "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." -- Albert Einstein

03-07-2005, 09:53 PM	#7
josieb YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	Found My Yorkie Because Of A Mircochip I Can Tell You A Wonderful Story With A Happy Tails Ending. Two Years Ago October 2002, I Had Just Picked Up My Three Dogs From The Groomer. I Was Off From Work And Had Been Cleaning The House. I Let All Three Dogs Into My Fenced In Backyard And With In Minutes I Could Hear The Gate Opening And Then A Car Door Shut. I Went To The Front Door And Could See My Two Big Dogs At The End Of The Driveway. I Went Out And The Car Took Off And Gone Was My Little 5 Lb , 1 1/2 Year Old Yorkie Named Gizmo. I Thought I Would Have The Advantage Because I Worked In A Vet's Office. I Contacted All The Shelter's. Groomers, And Vets In The Area. I Even Went As Far As Manhattan To Look For Our Gizmo. My Children Were Devestated. We Posted Ads In The Newspaper And On The Internet. No Luck And We Searched For A Year . Well This Past February 2005 , We Recieved A Call From A Vet In Florida And Guess What . She Indeed Was In Contact With Someone Who Found The Dog Christmas Eve 2004 . Indeed It Was Our Little Gizmo. 2 1/2 Years Later. To Make A Long Story Short , We Are Now Reunited With Our Loveable Yorkie. It Is Like He Never Left And Was Excited When We Pulled Into The Driveway . He Still Has His Cute Personality And Continues To Do Everything He Did Before He Was Stolen. He Never Forgot His Name . When The Person In Florida Purchased A Crate To Ship Him Home In, She Said She Could Not Put It Together Fast Enough. He Knew He Was Going Home . Mircochip Does Work . It Is Not That Much To Save That Extra Part Of Your Family . If Only Dogs Could Talk. From New York To Floridaand Then Back To New York Again , Never To Leave Our Side .

03-09-2005, 04:16 PM	#9
josieb YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5	microchip I Never Found Out Who Took Our Gizmo, And I Have Been Searching The Web To See If Anyone Advertised Him Lost, I Wante To Call Them To See Exactly How He Got Into Their Hands But No Luck Yet. I Would Love To Catch The Person Who Did This. It Is Terrible, Not Only For The Family But The Dog They Steal. I Know His Missed Us Like We Missed Him. The Person Who Found Him In Florida Said That He Just Never Seemed To Be To Excited About Anything , Like He Was Missing Something In His Life, Us Of Course. Now He Is Back To Sleeping With My Son And He Is Happy Again.

02-10-2005, 07:05 AM	#2
Hercules Dad Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 24	Sad to think that a $20.00 microchip would solve all this womens worries. Suprising thing though is that its a championship dog and she never had one put in?

02-10-2005, 03:10 PM	#3
Higgin's Mom YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 852	If someone who finds the dog decides to keep it, the microchip won't help. Unfortunately, little dogs are very tempting to just keep and not look for the rightful owner. But chips are still a GREAT thing! They are proof of ownership. And most people will try to find the pup's rightful owner, so the chips are invaluable. So far, at our RV park here in Crystal River, FL (not too far from Leesburg), there have been two lost dogs. One found it's owner and another has been adopted after local humane officials were notified.

02-11-2005, 05:51 AM	#5
Hercules Dad Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 24	Correct me if im wrong but cant you track the chips? As per a GPS signal or something like that? If you can get a cell phone with one it why not a dog?

02-11-2005, 09:27 AM	#6
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Technology hasn't quite gotten to that point yet, Hercules Dad. Though soon I think it will. The main thing is that usually GPS signaling devices aren't small enough to be implanted yet (plus it needs a power source), thus the only option is wearing it around the collar, which anyone can easily take off.

03-10-2005, 07:17 AM	#10
whispersmom2 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MD Posts: 2,985	I am so glad to hear about Gizmo. Losing one of these babies is like losing a member of your family. I started to say like losing a grand child, but did not want to offend any grandchildren. But, in my case it would be more terrible than I can imagine. I do wish technology could locate dogs AND humans who are lost. I think the time is not far off when that will happen...