Thursday, October 18, 2012

Lost Angel in Michigan, a sad update

On Tuesday, I posted about a lost dog in Cheboygan, Michigan. The unfortunate update from 24 Paws of Love is that Angel's owners found her body by the side of the road.


I can only imagine how very heartbroken Angel's people are, in addition to the writers of 24 Paws of Love (who were Angel's breeder, if I understand correctly). 

Angel's owners did a lot of things right as soon as she was missing. They got the word out, and they searched for her tirelessly. Equipment failures happen; if Angel had never before slipped her collar, there was no reason to anticipate that she would at that time. There are any number of things that startle a dog into running. It's a sad fact, and my heart hurts for them.

"Collar security" as such didn't initially occur to me as a beginner dog owner. Elka in fact slipped her collar once, but it seemed more like it was for fun than any other reason. I talked about an equipment epiphany when I got Elka's new collar, and also Liberty's Attachment, and an EzyDog Harness. I self deprecate myself a bit, calling myself paranoid and a crazy dog lady, but stories like this make me want to wrap Elka in cotton wool and never leave the house ever again. There's just no anticipating what can happen in a day.

My thoughts are with Angel's family, and I hope they heal well and soon.



23 comments:

  1. Prayers for Angel's family and breeder. I've been there and my heart will never fully mend. Be as paranoid as you want, Jen.

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    1. Thanks Roberta; some things are justified.

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  2. We were very sad about the event too. We feel for Angels' peeps. Very sad.
    Best wishes Molly

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  3. All the collars in the world cannot trump a good recall. Sorry to hear about Angel.

    So they "breed" mixes over there? Why?

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    1. I have no idea. I didn't figure it was the right time to ask.

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  4. Oh no! So sad. Sending good vibes to her family Benny and Lily

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  5. I agree with you. I walk the boys in a harness and a separate collar. Both have tags with our numbers on them. If they slip one, they will still have our numbers (plus their microchips). Sometimes, though, despite your best efforts, accidents still happen.

    We were so saddened to hear about Angel.

    Sam

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    1. Yes, accidents do happen, and I do hope my safety details didn't come off as scolding! Some things are just unforeseen no matter what you try to do about them. My coworker's dog slipped her collar the other day (The leash got stuck in the car door), but miraculously, the dog stayed instead of bolting. She was so relieved!

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  6. We read bout Angel in their blog. It was really sad but I am still thankful that they found her. It would have been more awful if they didn't find Angel at all.

    I understand how you feel bout keeping your dogs safe. If I had my way, I would also keep my dogs safely by my side all day long. Peanuts doesn't have a collar so I am quite thankful that she doesn't like wondering off.

    Huggies and Cheese,
    Haopee

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    1. Yes, I do think not knowing would have been very bad as well. It's just so sad, either way.

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  7. How horrifying. I am so sorry to hear such sad news. It's true, it can happen to anyone but knowing that probably doesn't make them feel any better. My heart goes out to them. So sad. :-(

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  8. I'm very sad and I feel for Angel and her family.

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  9. Honey doesn't need her no-pull harness to keep from pulling on a walk any more. But I like the security of a harness compared to a collar. Any dog can slip a collar in the right (or wrong) circumstances.

    I'm so sorry for Angel's family. I can't imagine the pain they must be feeling.

    Makes you want to hug your dog, doesn't it?

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    1. It does make me want to hug Elka, and I did, when I read the news. Good thing Elka doen't mind hugs, and initiates them on her own a lot of the time!

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  10. So very sad. How heartbreaking. I actually use a lanyard as well when I collar Kyuss when we go out 'just in case.' It attaches from one collar to the other, and should something happen to one, the other will be a fail safe.

    As good as his recall is, there's no telling what one might encounter when out in the real world.

    Rest in peace dear Angel.

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  11. Sleep tight sweet Angel, and you do right to be like that with Elka, better to be safe than sorry.


    Slobbers

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  12. How sad for Angel and her peoples. The only good thing is that they found her, and don't always have to wonder what happened. :-(

    Even though me and Leah don't try to slip our collars, my peoples put martingales and or harnesses on us in new places, just in case. They also use a double clip leash on Meadow and attach it to a harness AND a martingale...because she IS an escape artist.

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    1. Martingales are something I suggest to people once in awhile, if they're talking about collars slipping. Not for the corrective nature, but because of their snug fit.

      A friend of mine has a beagle who she can't keep in a harness, because the beagle will twist herself and chew it enough to get loose!

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  13. I was so saddened to hear about Angel, My thoughts are with her family.

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  14. That is so terrible :-(

    I had a collar malfunction once too. Rocco got spooked and slipped his collar, he took off running. I chased after him, but considering he was a husky on the run...slim chances. So I ran home (a 30min walk across 4 VERY busy streets). He was waiting at the house with only a small cut on his paw pad. Ever since then, I am paranoid about checking his collar for a snug fit.

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