Lost my dog, jumped out of window!

[Roly Nelson]

I Rescued a 9 lb West Highland White Terrior (a Westie), 2 weeks ago from the animal shelter and took her on her first TD outing over the weekend where she fit in just fine with the friendly TD bunch. She loved exihibing her "please hold me" face and created no problems. However, as I left a parking lot in the city, while she was looking out of the car passenger window, she inadvertly pushed the button which lowered the window, and before I realized it, she was out of the car and out of sight, right in a busy intersection. Searching on foot was to no avail, but also there was no indication that she had been hit or run over within blocks of her disappearance. She had a collar, a name tag, dog license and a micro-chip. However, no one has reported finding her and I've filled out a lost dog report at the shelter and on their web-site.

My car has a child-proof button to secure the rear windows, but nothing to disable the passenger window. A simple downward pressure on the tiny door button was all that was needed, and now my sweet little Dixie is gone. I 've never heard any mention of this ever happening, or any suggestions on how to prevent it. If and when Dixie is found and returned, I will definately disable that window button somehow. I hope this is a warning to all tiny dog owners, and I wish I had known of it sooner. Come on Dixie girl, come home to Daddy.
Roly ~~

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Oh man Roly! Sorry to hear!! My beagle did that once - 2 days after I picked him up from the SPCA. Just driving along, and out he went. I looked in my side mirror and saw a little Beagle standing on the sidewalk looking around, and thought to myself "that really looks like Fred." Sure enough, Fred was no longer in the back seat. Turned around and picked him up real quick. Was a long time before I drove with the windows down again. I think he learned his lesson though.

Good luck finding Dixie! My family had a Westie when I was younger and they're great little pooches! Hoping she comes home!!

[eaglesdare]

[legojenn]

My beagle did it too. I got a second beagle at the SPCA that day. We were heading to Fish Creek or Rollins Pond in the Adirondacks. Gordon liked Frank at first, but both dogs insisted on sitting in the front seat. Eventually they settled on an uncomfortable truce and shared the front seat. Their leashes got tangled, so I undid them. At Lake Clear Junction, where NY30 and NY68 merge, Gordon jumped out the window. It's a busy road in the summer, so I was scared. I park the car, put on the flashers and start looking for him. Then a state trooper stops to investigate an abandoned car with a dog in the front seat. Of course, el Gordo gets excited at someone new and runs at him.

Embarrassing all around. The new beagle and Gordon became buddies, and learned how to push out the living room window of my house and go wandering.

My old car did not have power windows. My Aveo does and Gordon knows how to open them. I thought maybe that he maybe it was an accident that he opened the window, but when I lock them, I can hear click click click on the switch, so he knows what he's doing.

[Verna]

Oh doggone it, Roly I would be so devastated if Sunny Day did that. Here's hoping Dixie finds her way back home. If I were closer, I'd be out there helping you look for her. GOOD LUCH

[Kathy53]

So sorry to read this. Since you have the collar, the license, name tag and micro chip there is a good chance that some one might find her and check it out. Maybe you could post a lost dog add on Craigs List in the town that she got lost in.

Good Luck

[RonS]

I 've never heard any mention of this ever happening, or any suggestions on how to prevent it.

Sorry to hear about your dog, hopefully someone finds her and get her safely back to you.

As far as prevention, I'd think it would be a good idea to keep pets in crates when traveling. Not only to keep something like this from happening, but I would think that in the unfortunate instance that you're involved in an accident, I would think your pet (dog, cat, whatever) would be safer in a carrier. Especially if said carrier is somehow secured with a seatbelt, or the anchor points for a child's car seat. Not to mention, how much cleaner it'd probably keep your car.

[Aaron Coffee]

When I get to accustomed to hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock I will find a lid from an spray can or whatever fits over the button and tape it on, sounds unrelated but an idea that may work.
Hoping for the safe return of your dog.

[DragonFire]

Roly...hoping Dixie is found safe and sound soon!!

I always wondered if this kind of thing happened..I see so many dog owners with little dogs and big ones up on the armrest..at least the HHR doesn't have them where a dog can step on them, and oh, yeah, no dachsund anymore.

Gee Roly..I don't know what to say. I wish I could help..hopefully someone will find her safe and turn her in to check for a microchip..

Craigslist was a really good idea. Do people post fliers anymore? I look at them when there is a lost animal. Maybe you can try that, too.

Good luck and I hope you find your buddy soon...

[Gary and Cheri]

Roly,

We have had two different Brittany Spaniels which are about the size of your dog. You may have met Finn at the last IRG. Both dogs were never allowed to wander around the car but were belted in. They make a belt that has a strap that goes around the front of his front legs and is has a second strap that goes around his chest. The two straps are connected betwwn the front legs and on his back. There is a bigger loop on his back which you run the car's seatbelt through. Finn can sit up and see out the window or lay down and can turn around. In the event of an accident he will not hit the back of the front seat or hit me in the back of the head. You could keep the windows open and not have to worry about your dog jumping out. Ask at any pet store for a dog seatbelt. They come in differnet sizes based upon the weight of your dog. My dog is important to me and desires the same protection I give the rest of my family.

Heres a bunch of belts that are similar to mine. http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.js ... Id=3245635

Gary

[DragonFire]

Hey..that's right..my sister had a special seatbelt harness for her lab! when you get Dixie back, find one that fits, then you don't have to worry anymore!

[mezmo]

Here's hoping for the best outcome Roly. With all the identification
on her -license, microchip etc.- odds are she'll be returned.

By coincidence, my little canine companion is also named Dixie,
she's a Boston Terrier and Manchester Chihuahua mix. I don't
take her in the car often, but I always keep her on a leash when
she's not home, even in the car. I just tie it to the headrest
support. On long trips we use carriers/cages.

We cage train all our dogs as it helps in controlling them and
makes them feel more secure. They sleep there at night and go there on
their own when they want to also. It's never used for punishment
as it's their little secure Den when they want or we need it to be.
Another hint is to cover it with a large towel or cover at night
or when you are out of the room for a long time and/or need them
to be there awhile. That really seems to make them feel even more
secure then. It's not cruel to use cages this way. If it's too small,
or you keep them there 24/7, then that it is a problem, but using
them for control and security is very beneficial.

I hope when I look tomorrow at the forum I'll see your post
saying she's back, If not then, then very very soon.

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[PKCSPT]

I sure hope you find her Feel just sick thinking about it.

[S. Heisley]

I'm so sorry that you lost your dog, Rolly. I hope you find her. You might try calling the local shelters as they don't always check the collar or call the dog owner. It sounds like the dog might be an "Escape artist" and that might be the reason that she was in the shelter in the first place.

FYI: There was a little know law passed in California a couple years ago that states that dogs are no longer allowed to travel "free". They have to be in a container or tethered in some way even if they are inside the auto/truck cab. This is because there have been too many accidents caused by loose dogs distracting or otherwise causing problems for the driver, including setting on the gas or brake pedal. For my dog, I went to Walmart and got a fold-up nylon kennel that sits on the seat with the seat belt threaded through the back straps and clasped. I think they cost between $14 and $17 and have "windows on all 4 sides. Alternately, there is a dog halter that can be threaded/clipped into the passenger seat belt.

I hope you find your dog soon!

[Wild Bill]

I hope that someone finds her and realizes she has a home and takes her to a place where they can scan the chip. Really depends on who finds her and their knowing right from wrong. That can at times depend on the town and the neighborhood. Good people are everywhere along with a few not so good ones. Best of luck to you. Bill