The Incredible Journey: How We Found Murphy

The Search for a Lost Dog: A Community Effort

Some dogs are easy to catch… Murphy is not one of those dogs. Sometimes you can predict how to catch them based on their prior behavior. Murphy? Nope. It takes ALL the tools available to bring a dog home. Surprisingly, the “old-fashioned” methods often work best.

On Wednesday, I received an aerial image in a message from Amy Coon of Topeka-Lawrence Dog Trappers. This is not unusual, as we frequently analyze areas where a dog might have been lost. Initially, I thought it was a sighting of a dog that remained missing. (We never forget the ones that are still missing.) Then, the message from the groomer came in. Murphy was being picked up by her owner when she saw her break to run for it. And run she did! The last sighting was of Murphy darting into the woods at the end of the pasture.

Strategies for Finding Lost Dogs

We met up on-site a few hours later to join the search. The clinic staff quickly made some flyers using our flyer generator, and we set out to work the area. We found a good spot to set up, and I launched the drone to start where Murphy was last seen. We covered about a 1.5 square mile area that night. Unfortunately, there were no sightings yet.

The next morning brought unexpected news. We learned there was a sighting the previous evening, further south than we had anticipated she had traveled. We went out to search. Meanwhile, the family spent the day distributing and posting flyers everywhere. That evening, we continued our search further south again, covering another 1.5 square miles. Still, we found no luck. Lots of turkeys and deer crossed our path, but no Murphy.

Setting Up Feeding Stations

As our search efforts continued, we received a couple of sightings along a road even further south. Based on these sightings, Amy set up a feeding station and cellular cameras. The family began visiting every home on that road to leave a flyer. While we assume everyone knows our dog is missing from online posts, we quickly learn that few people see those posts when you go door to door. They also walked along the road with Murphy’s mom, Lucy the Goldendoodle, to lay down a solid scent trail. We were hopeful that this would get Murphy to stop running and remain in the vicinity. Amy then set a trap and camera at the location of the most recent sighting.

The Emotional Reunion

Saturday morning brought two different sightings, spread out over almost a mile. After a couple of hours of searching, we paused with a plan to reassemble in the evening. That evening, the call finally came in. Someone believed they had Murphy trapped in their yard! We all rushed to the site. The chase continued until her mother, Lucy, was brought into the pasture. Seeing her mother in person made a significant difference. Murphy surrendered to be with her friend, and the family reunited. Many tears of joy and relief were shed in that pasture.

The Importance of Combining Tools

We always try to have as many tools available as possible since we never know how a search will progress until it is in motion. In the end, no matter the high-tech tools we deployed, it was the low-tech methods that prevailed. The finders had recognized Murphy from the flyer delivered to their home. Because of that, they knew who to call. Old-school printed flyers work! They may not work every time, but you never know which tool will be the right one until the search is over.

Tips for Others Searching for Lost Pets

It’s important to remain calm and methodical. Here are some tips based on our experience:

1. Flyers Matter: Always distribute flyers in the area where the pet was last seen. Make sure they are eye-catching and have your contact information.

   
   

2. Involve the Community: Engage the community by asking for help. Neighbors may have seen your pet and can provide leads.

   
   

3. Use Technology: Utilize drones and cameras to cover larger areas. They can reveal places your pet might be hiding.

   
   

4. Stay Positive: It’s easy to feel discouraged, but maintaining a positive attitude helps keep morale up for the whole team.

   
   

5. Be Patient: Reunions often take time. Continue to search and don’t give up hope.

   
   

Welcome home, Murphy!