Lost dog found and lost again

I must admit that I am feeling a bit upset tonight.

Driving towards my home I saw a dog running loose through gardens and along paths, he nearly ran in front of my car but fortunately had some road sense. I pulled into my drive and walked to meet the dog, (which I have never seen before), patted my knees "come here boy" and he did. I laid hold of his collar and looked at his ID tag (a very strange red one), and he growled. I reassured him, stroked his head and ears, good boy good boy in a soothing voice, stood for a few seconds looking around for an anxious owner (none in sight) then gently tried to lead him by my hand on his collar towards my house which was SO near. But he immediately twisted round and tried to bite my hand; I thought OK I'll keep my hand behind his head and he won't be able to bite me, but he twisted again and his collar was so loose around his neck it just slipped off and came away in my hand, and the dog was off - collarless.

I really am too old and with cronky legs to chase after an aggressive (OK, it may have been fear) dog, now without a collar, and I feel terrible about it.

So I took the collar into my house and looked at the ID tag with my reading glasses on. Oh heck, very dirty and worn and hardly readable and seemingly registered with a company called dogid.eu, presumably in Poland as there were Polish names on it. I left an email message on the site (all in Polish) explaining what had happened. There was a strange phone number on the tag, which I phoned (twice) and left messages on the resultant voicemail with my contact details. I also registered the dog on Dogs Lost.

I feel dreadful. I have a lovely tapestry collar with a seemingly useless ID tag, and an unhappy dog is running the streets and presumably distraught owners are searching for him.

You've already done more than most would, you've no need to feel bad. I hope he finds his home soon.

Thanks Lorraine. I've still had absolutely no response at all from the two voicemail messages I left and the email I sent to the dog ID site in Poland.

Oh if only people obeyed the law of this country and put clear ID on their dogs' ID disk. Otherwise what on earth is the point of an ID disk.

Oh dear - you really couldn't have done anything more.

Have you seen him since? Maybe he found his way home?

Well, there have been some developments, thanks to Doglost.

A standstill has occurred, thanks to the weekend, but I (and his potential former owner) are still working on the case.

I'll update you if and when we make a breakthrough, or a dead end.

Have you made contact with the owner?

Yes, she contacted me and sent me photos of her dog that was stolen 12 months ago in Kent (I am in Hampshire). I am 99% sure it is the same dog. I am waiting to hear back from her after she has contacted the dog warden after the weekend.

I hope someone can reunite the dog and owner soon. Did you say DogLost are involved? They're usually pretty good

Yes Doglost are working on it. I've got a feeling that the original has not contacted our local dog warden (although I gave all the details) so I will phone them myself tomorrow and put up posters if they haven't got him.

Any news?

No, nothing. I've done my best.

What a shame - you did what you could.

You did amazing!! I know this was a while ago but you did what many would not.