I have a 13 yr old schnouzer/ yorkie mix that escaped from our back yard last Monday evening. We live in MN and it was about 40 degrees that night and kind of drizzling so I don't think she was too cold when she first left. That's the only reason she leaves and not comes straight back in cuz she is usually cold having somewhat of a short haircut. Anyway, the temp dropped dramatically the next day and by Weds a snow storm moved in with blowing snow and it got to -10 for three nights in a row. We searched for her and called the shelter they would bring her too if she was picked up by the city. No luck. Friday it started to warm up. it got to about 40 and at noon the neighbor girl came to our door and asked if that was our dog and pointed a few houses down. I was shocked! I was for certain she had froze, was hit by a car or someone took her in (which was what I was hoping someone took her in). She was just stepping down from someones door just three houses down from ours. Like she was going to the door to get in. In the past she had come back after about three hours and had scratched at the front door. I think this is what she was doing and may have been lost and confused. She was skinny, and stumbling like her hips hurt and I'm sure she was dehydrated. My question..what could she have done out there to survive?! I have heard of dogs surviving in situations like this. Any ideas how? It was a miracal! She is acting more and more like herself now. I was almost sure she would come down with pneumonia or something
Why don't you go out and look for her when she escapes? And if she's done it before, why didn't you secure the fence?
She probably did get taken in, or fed by someone. There are a lot of places small animals can go for shelter, such as under bushes, in garages or under cars. Snow provides water and some dogs dogs can hunt when hungry, but if you live in a populated area, there's always food lying around somewhere.
I hope you took her to the vet for a once over after you got her back.
Tags: Yorkie
She maybe got into someone's garage, shed, etc. and hunkered down.
"In the past she had come back after about three hours and had scratched at the front door."
Dogs should only be outside when the owner is out there to supervise. That way they don't get loose.
But I'm glad the dog's ok.
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Dogs have natural instincts and better survival skills than we probably do. Its a miracle but I'm sure she found some place to hide and take cover from the cold weather plus their fur is a natural blanket. I'm glad she's back and ok!
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First of all: why are you not outside with the dog or watching her while she is out there?? doge have a tendancy o esape just to wander. you douldn't let them. it is dangerous! they could get hit by a car, get in a fight with a stray, wander too far from home and bever find their way back, some else could take them as their own and you never see thm again… from now on keep a close eye on your dog especially since he is older now!!!!!!!!!
how he survived? he most likely got into someones garage or shed. hose areas are not often heated but there is no wind or snow so it would be much warmer, maybe he was taken in by someone durring the storm, but when it was over thy sent him back out and he found his way back to your neiborhood.
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why was the dog outside anyway?
when its cold dogs should be inside not outside!
Glad your dog is ok!
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Why don't you go out and look for her when she escapes? And if she's done it before, why didn't you secure the fence?
She probably did get taken in, or fed by someone. There are a lot of places small animals can go for shelter, such as under bushes, in garages or under cars. Snow provides water and some dogs dogs can hunt when hungry, but if you live in a populated area, there's always food lying around somewhere.
I hope you took her to the vet for a once over after you got her back.
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I think it was a miracle and you are very lucky! She is a survivor!
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Dogs are, regardless of breed or haircut, dogs and before they are a dog they are an animal. Every animal – including humans – have the basic instinct to survive deeply hardwired. Without idiotic human intervention more dogs would have survived Katrina (some drowned at the ends of their chains because they were tied).
In the midwest it USED to be common practice when a tornado was coming to let the farm animals loose. They have a better chance of survival on their own and will come back to where the food is.
Your dog survived because she has the basic animal instinct to keep herself alive.
If escaping is something common with your dog it's time for you to look for a better containment method for your dog or next time she will be stolen or hit by a car. The odds are against her and you need to be a responsible owner.
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She peobably dug a hole in snow and staied there where it was warm.
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Well you need to keep a really close eye out for any illnesses, but here's the thing…
You're so lucky to have her back..
She got cold, she got confused…She probably got up under the warm motor of a car…That's what her confused mind told her to do..
Relish the fact that she's home…I'm sure that you already do…:-)
And please keep a very close eye out, o.k. ? Because something got her confused…I'm sure, like you, that she really wanted to come home but something just wasn't right in her mind…So keep a close eye…
Ofcourse, there's always the possibillity that she somehow got locked in someones garage..
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That's happened to one of my cats on 3 seperate occasions..He's a dork..lol