We do search and rescue for lost pets.

Vicky Vaughan Pet Detective

Our methods are much the same as a police investigation of a missing person along with tracking, trailing, hunting and trapping skills.  We have one scenting hound that is specifically trained to follow the scent of a lost pet, and another one, Dakota,  who is a Feline Territory Analysis K9… FTA-K9  He is currently the only dog in the world that is trained in this specialty.   Dakota scans the area and through his unique ability he is able to communicate the cat activity in the territory.  If a kitty is in the search area Dakota will alert to the cat.  If there is significant activity in the territory Vicky will analyze the information received from Dakota and she will develop a plan based on current conditions in the territory, cat activity, physical evidence etc.  As Vicky says “Dakota allows me to see the territory from the cat’s perspective”.  Vicky’s unique ability to understand cats and their behavior in each environment has lead to a very impressive success rate for her clients. 

We profile the pet, much in the same way as a police officer will profile a missing person.  The investigation of the teenager who is a straight "A" student would be conducted in a different way than that of a teen who has a history of trouble with the law.  We use similar profiling when looking for lost pets, the key factors include history of the pet, habitat where the pet was lost, temperament, age, health and the appearance of the animal.

We use analytical methods that include search probability theory, deception deduction, behavioral profiling, deductive reasoning, physical evidence, eyewitness accounts, forensic evidence, etc.  On some cases we need to use our high-tech equipment and humane traps. 

Examination of the territory and terrain where the pet was lost is very important too.  Knowing what lives in the habitat that the pet is lost in is critical, in the city or in the woods, in determining how we set out our traps. Our exceptional trapping skills have worked to bring countless pets back to the safe and loving arms of their people.

In the event of a horrible tragedy, our dogs are also trained to find and alert to the decomposition of pets.

Although our success rate is very impressive, it is extremely important for you to understand that it is always best if we can get to the scene of a lost pet as soon as possible, somewhere within the first 48 hours.   We are able to work cases that are older than that, but we like to get on the scene before your pet has gone too far, and before your pet meets the dangers that face a loose and wandering pet.  The use of scenting hounds is NOT miracle work; fresh scenting conditions are always the best to work but our dogs are trained on aged trails too. Yes, we have an extremely high success rate but we can never guarantee that we will find your pet.  Please understand that the earlier we get on the case the better the chances are of a successful recovery.

We only do local searches in the Halifax, Dartmouth and surrounding areas.

 

    CSI - Lost Pet Investigation

         (Some examples of investigative techniques)  

 

Please note: It is up to the sole discretion of the investigator what methods and equipment will be used. For security reasons not all equipment is brought to site.  Your suggestions will be taken into consideration but you cannot lead the investigation.   

 

                              

High tech listening device

Photo by Companion Imagery

       

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Snake camera

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 Highly Skilled K9

 

 

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Search for and analyze physical evidence

 

 

 

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                    IR and Regular Photo Surveillance

 

 

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Vocalist Sniffer

Any warm-blooded animal sends out heat in the form of infrared rays. The VOCALIST SNIFFER detects these infrared rays (from 7 to 14 µm), which remain invisible to man because human vision does not go over 0.6 µm. 

 

 

 

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 Thermal Image Technology

 

 

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                                   Humane Trapping

 

 

The placement of the trap is usually based on the information gathered during the investigation. (i.e. dog had strong scent at a particular location)

 

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