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Private
Pet Detective
Vicky Vaughan
Frequently
asked questions:
(Some not so frequently asked
but I posted them anyway)
Do you allow your clients to come with you when
you search for a lost pet?
YES! We strongly recommend
that the people bonded closely with the pet come
with us to search. A properly trained dog will not
be distracted by people who follow along on
searches. It is not recommended that you bring along
your other pets though.
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Do you always find the lost pet?
No.
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If you don't find my pet do you still charge me?
Yes...You are paying for time and
effort.
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What is your success rate?
Around 80% of the pets that we
search for are recovered, of these slightly less
than half of the
searches result in walk-up-finds (meaning we find
the spot where the pet is). When we
don't get a walk-up-find we use the information that
we get from the dogs, witnesses etc to develop a
plan to get the pet back. This plan often included
the setting of humane traps. If you keep in mind
that most Search and Rescue dogs never find their
target during a real search mission you will
understand how impressive our walk-up-find rate
is. Owner co-operation is also key in the
recovery of the lost pet.
The number one factor for a
successful find is getting on the scene as EARLY AS
POSSIBLE.
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Do you take every case that you are offered?
No, I am only available on a
part-time basis.
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Will my pet come back on his/her own?
Sadly, less than 25% of lost pets
return home on their own. Most people who find
a lost pet will make the assumption that the pet was
abandoned or abused. Once this assumption is made
they WILL NOT look for the owner. These pets end up
being kept, adopted out or humanly euthanized.
Some people are so convinced that the pet was ill
treated that they ignore contact information on the
pets collar. Other factors that hinder your
pet from coming home include; traffic, fear,
predators, other pets and very often they are simply
disoriented and they can't find their way back.
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Are you and your dogs always right?
No. It is impossible to be
right all of the time. We use a professional
approach that includes the possibility of errors in
theory or trails.
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If the pet was lost for 36 hours, how do you find
it in an hour or so?
Our dogs are trained to cross over to
the freshest scent, so we use a method that combines
the use of tracking and trailing the lost pet...this saves a lot of time and we
get to the pet faster. Also, very often we get
a lead from a witness that can place us on very
fresh scent, thus we get a very fast find. My
dogs are also trained to air-scent so if the wind
blows strong scent of your pet, my dogs will go up to
the source.
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Why do you charge more according to how long the
pet was lost?
The longer the pet is lost the harder
the case is to work on. Longer trails pose more
of a threat to the search team, remember that pets
don't tend to travel along streets and in places
that are easy to trail, instead they run in peoples
yards, through wooded areas, along train tracks,
they cut across busy traffic and they go into places
that are not accessible to my dogs or myself.
Scenting conditions change as time goes on too.
Unfortunately, when I charged one price for the
searches far too many people waited too long, and
they were extremely disappointed when I told them
that the I would not take the case.
Like any
investigation it is always best to respond within
the first 48 hours.
My starting price, for a pet
that has been missing for 48 hours or less,
is the same as the non profit group that works out
of the USA.
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What if I want to book an appointment and it is
after 9:00 pm?
If you send me an email requesting a
search, I will set the price according to how long
the pet was lost and the time the email was received
in my mailbox.
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What if you are not available when I call?
If I have another search booked for
that time, you will get the price according to the
first contact that you make to us indicating that
you want to hire us. ie if your pet has been
missing for 43 hours when you call and I can't come
out until the next day, you will get the first 48
price. So under those circumstances it is best
to call before 9:00 pm or email after that
and you will get the first 48 price.
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What do you think about
other Pet Detectives out there?
If you have
concerns about any Pet Detective (including me) it
is OK to ask for references. Most of us would be
delighted to provide them for you.
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Should I call the RCMP, local Police, SAR worker
or a State Trooper and have them use their search
dog to find my lost pet?
Unfortunately no. The dogs that are
used for that work are specifically trained to do
their jobs and that involves the discipline of
ignoring the scent of other animals and pets.
Just like mine are trained to ignore human scent.
Their handlers have spent countless hours training
and they could completely confuse the dog if they
suddenly introduce pet scent for the dogs to follow.
The last thing they want to do is destroy all of
that training and have their dog follow the scent of
a pet when they are working a search mission for a
lost person or a fugitive.
Please understand that as much as
they may want to help you they simply cannot.
It is also important to understand
that a lost pet investigation is A LOT more than
just tracking a lost pet. If the wrong method
is used on the wrong animal more harm could be done
by a tracking dog who is handled by someone who does
not know about lost pet behaviour. For example
they could flush the pet farther away or out in the
path of danger.
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Why do you use traps?
Most lost pets are in a very
frightened state of mind and they will not let any
people come near them. The best way to return
these pets to safety is to humanly trap them.
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How do you know what kind of trap to use?
I am the only certified Pet
Detective in the world who is also a professional
certified trapper. I know how to set traps
that have a higher probability of capturing the pet
and a lower probability of capturing non-target
animals such as coyote.
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How long did it take to train your dogs?
It takes about 2 years to train the
dogs. We still run practice trails on a
regular basis to keep their noses sharp and ready to
work. It is a very long and grueling process,
but when we find a lost pet it is so very worth
while.
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Can your dogs work in the rain?
My dogs have successfully worked in
light rain, after heavy rain, and after nasty
winter conditions.
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What is the most common mistake
your clients make?
Unfortunately, the
most common mistake that is made is that people wait
too long before hiring me. Hollywood paints a
picture of tracking dogs that is NOT based in
reality. Some people think it is best to wait
and see if the pet comes back, and they call me a
week or more after the pet has gone missing. Critical clues,
environmental factors, the behavior of the pet and scent conditions change,
so the sooner I am on site the better.
Like any investigation, once the case has gone cold
it is a lot harder to solve.
If you have waited too
long to call me there is a good chance that I will
refuse to take the case because longer trails
present more dangers to me, your pet and my dogs.
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Do you charge more if you recover the pet?
No. I lost too much equipment
when I tried to work that way. I found out
that some people will not call me back and tell me
that the trap that I set worked because they would
owe me more money for the successful capture of the
pet.
My fee is the same amount charged by the
non-profit group working out of the USA.
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How do you know where to
look for my pet?
I develop a probability of area
(POA), based on a pet profile, developed from the
information I get from the owner of the pet and that
includes the general behavior of your animal. I
also factor in the following; Species, temperament,
history, physical evidence, environmental factors,
point last seen, eyewitness accounts, etc.
From there my scenting hounds and I get to work.
The fact that we show up with a
vehicle that is decaled with “Pet Detective” on it,
the use of a search dog and high tech equipment will
very often spark interest from people in the area.
That alone often brings people out who have
important information about your lost pet, and it
also causes others keep their eyes open for your
pet. I mean really, if you hired a Pet Detective,
your neighbors know you are serious about getting
your loved one back.
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Can I rent your dog?
No my dogs are not for rent.
The dog and handler relationship is very complex.
It takes months and in some cases years for us to
determine how to read our dogs. Sorry, it is
not just a matter of my dog dragging me up to the
target, as much as I wish it was! When I see
certain movements from my dog I know what I need to
do to recover the trail.
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Should I offer a LARGE reward?
Please do not offer large rewards, like the one in
the news for 15K, without the involvement of law
enforcement. Large rewards can bring con-artists
out of the wood works. After you get your pet back
others may take your pet in hopes of making a lot of
money. It is best to just use the word REWARD
without an amount specified. NEVER pay the
money before you get your pet back.
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How long
should I keep looking in the shelters?
Cats have amazing survival skills.
The same instinct that leads them to hide in fear
also keeps them alive for very long periods of
time. Given the fact that they have extraordinary
hunting skills, eyesight, night vision, scenting
ability etc. they can remain lost but alive for months,
so I would keep up the shelter checks for at
least 6 months if it were my cat.
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Your dog
alerted to a spot that I had checked a hundred times
before. Why didn’t I find the cat?
Sometimes it takes us 15 minutes or
longer to see the cat after we get an alert, so
don't feel badly about not seeing the cat.
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I found a dog but he looks
frightened and abused. What should I do?
This information also applies to
found cats!
First and foremost understand that the animal has
likely spent a long time on his own without food,
water, grooming etc. Temperament along with the
environmental factors that the animal has
encountered will have an effect on the appearance
and the actions of the animal. Among other
things, the animal may have
been in a fight with another animal and is wounded
as a result of that, or it could have been hit by a
car and limping as a result. If it has been away
from home for a long period of time its coat might be
dilapidated (most cats will still groom when they
are outside). And many pets have skittish
temperaments to begin with. If you make a
determination that the pet was abused you may very
well stop a loving family from getting their beloved
pet back.
If you want to do what is best for the animal please
place found ads, post FOUND pet posters, place found
pet ads, contact me to let me know you found a pet,
etc. You can ask the owners any questions
that you like before you turn the pet over to them.
You will find in the vast majority of the cases the
pet has been gone for a very long time and the
owners were sick with worry. You will be their
hero!
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Do you work alone?
I often work with my dog
(Dakota) and my husband Mario Audet. Mario has over
25 years of military experience. Mario has an
abiding love for pets and he understands that they
are members of your family. Mario and I stay in
contact with each other using hand held
communications devices throughout each search. I am
also very fortunate to have other volunteers who not
only help me but they provide training assistance.
Randy Chapman and his dog Duffy have been
wonderful. Randy will join us on many of our pet
hunting adventures.
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What kind of equipment do
you use?
We keep up-to-date equipment
for the searches that include, infrared night
vision, animal control pole, humane traps and some
forensic equipment. We are in regular contact with
other investigators so we are up-to-date with our
equipment.
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Do your dogs always find the pet they are looking
for?
No.
My dogs are specifically trained in different
disciplines. They are used as one of my
investigative tools. As with a police investigation
sometimes the dogs have a walk-up-find, other times
they can provide critical information that may lead
to the recovery of your pet and there are times when
no scent trail can be found.
Because of our knowledge of lost pet behavior, along
with our dogs and tools, our recovery rate is very
impressive. However we could never guarantee the
return of any pet. We can, however, assure you
that when you call us, you are giving your pet the
BEST chance of recovery using up-to-date
equipment and investigative techniques.
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I just got my cat back after 15
days !!! I'm so happy!! Should I bring him to
a veterinarian?
YES! It is always best
to have your vet do some tests and a physical
examination on your cat. This could prevent
serious illness and some very expensive vet bills
down the road.
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Where did you get Dakota?
Dakota was adopted from the SPCA. He is a wonderful
dog!!! He is very much a part of our family and we
are blessed to have him. When he is not out
training or rescuing other animals he is a regular
dog who does regular things. We love Dakota and we
would never put him in harms way.
We highly recommend the SPCA for the adoption of
wonderful pets. Their number is 1 902
468-7877. They are also in need of donations so
please consider donating today.
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My dog was stolen by a back
yard breeder. Can you get him back for me?
Any matter that involves a
criminal offence should be referred to the RCMP or
your local police department. They have the proper
authority to get your pet back and press any
criminal charges that are appropriate for the crime.
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Do you investigate cases of
animal abuse?
No, any animal abuse MUST be
reported to the proper authorities. In the HRM the
number to call to report such cases is 1 902
835-4798. Please check your local listings for your
area. And remember if you don’t help an abused
animal, who will?
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What is the difference
between locating a lost person and a lost pet?
There are many differences but
I will give a short answer. Searching for a lost
pet is by far more taxing than searching for a lost
person. A lost person is likely to recognize that
the rescuers are there to help them, and they are not
likely to hide in fear or run away as animals tend
to do. There are highly skilled professionals who
are trained in working together to locate a lost
person, and the funding is generally provided by the
government, therefore, resources’ are abundant.
The media will also broadcast a story about a
missing person, but a missing pet will not likely
make the 6 o’clock news.
My years in the field have given me
the expertise to do all aspects of the
search, therefore increasing the chance that your
pet will be found. I am experienced in pet search and
rescue strategies and techniques. We use analytical
methods that include search probability theory,
deductive reasoning, physical evidence, eyewitness
accounts. We also own and operate high tech
equipment that has proven effective in lost pet
recovery. We will place missing pet posters based
on the point last seen and the direction the pet has
traveled. As well as the use of my highly trained
K9s, Dakota and Montana.
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Do people laugh when they see
“Pet Detective” on your car?
Yes, some people do laugh but I think it is great!
We tend to remember what makes us laugh. Let's say
that you use my service and the people in your
neighborhood see my decaled car, me with a K9, the
high tech equipment, etc. and my car decaled with
signs and www.petdetective.ca . That is so easy to
remember!! If they see your pet there will be very
little effort involved in contacting me. They will
remember it for a long time and that increases the
chances of you getting your pet back. The easier it
is to contact me the better the chances we will get
your pet back. Also if you have the neighborhood
taking about the fact that you hired a Pet Detective
that will mean more eyes are looking out for your
lost pet.
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I found a cat or dog but I don’t
want to turn it over to the SPCA What can I do?
Post
FOUND pet posters around the area that you found
the pet and also post found pet posters at the
shelters, Vet offices, etc
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Sorry, I do not fly my dogs in commercial aircraft to
work cases.
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Pet
Detective Inc
Canada's leader in
lost pet recovery,
provides this information to you free of charge.
We are not responsible for any damages or harm that
may occur when following our advice. Do so at your
own risk. You are responsible to know and follow all
of your local laws.
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