Call me eccentric, but one of my hobbies is finding lost dogs. This passion began years ago after Carter went missing for several days after an electrical transformer explosion in our back yard spooked him. In that instance, though, my efforts paid off: Carter returned safely home. Luckily for me and him both.

But that was one of the most stressful weeks I’ve ever endured and would never wish it on anyone. If there’s any chance I can assist in finding or at least networking lost pets in my area, count me in.

Full disclosure: Laika and I have not actually found any lost dogs in real life; that may be because she’s not trained as an actual search dog and I don’t qualify as an actual search handler; nonetheless, we give it our best effort. While my physical search skills may be less-than-stellar, my online skills have proven more successful; through cross referencing groups on Facebook, Craigslist, and shelter websites I helped reunite 6 lost pets through search. Am I changing the world with this hobby? No way! But it does feel meaningful to use my free time while helping animals out there who need homes.

Michigan Lost and Found Resources was developed so I (along with anyone whose lost their pet in Michigan) can easily find helpful lost & found groups in one location. If you’ve ever Googled “lost pets in (insert location here)” then it will make more sense why I created such a list; searches typically reveal hundreds of individual sites & groups which may or may not offer assistance; overall it can be quite confusing!

So I spend much of my time on lost & found pet groups online hoping I can offer assistance, while drama always seems to ensue due to it being the internet and all. Why does there need to be any drama when dealing with lost & found pets? Honestly I don’t understand this needless drama; the internet brings all sorts of trolls out into the open; today I wanted to address such foolish individuals head on.

“Open Letter to People Who Harass Others on Lost and Found Pet Groups
Sometimes we need a quick reminder about the purpose of lost and found pet groups – they exist simply to post lost/found pet notices; not as an opportunity to harass other members with insulting comments and shame them publicly.

Unfortunately, moderators of these groups tend to act quickly in deleting any inappropriate posts (hence why I do not have screenshots), but they still annoy me every time they’re posted.

Since you appear to be disregarding the guidelines of these groups, I would like to take this opportunity to outline why your shaming needs to go elsewhere.

Lost & Found Pet Groups Shouldn’t Shame People
Lost & found pet groups should be used to aid others, not shame people who have lost a pet. From your posts it appears you believe anyone who loses their pup was irresponsible; perhaps before losing my own I might have agreed with that statement but since experiencing my own loss as well as witnessing similar losses I now understand sometimes things just happen that way.

My dog Carter ran off from my backyard years ago while we were playing frisbee together. A transformer I hadn’t given much thought to in the very back corner blew, sending Carter running for cover – just in time. A kind gentleman found him and called us via his collar number to bring him back a week later – an unforgettable week indeed!

If you have never spent hours driving and walking the roads within five miles of your home searching for your dog and hoping that he doesn’t turn up on the side, I can tell you: it’s no fun. Before the internet became prevalent, we relied on canvassing and making flyers; each step leaves one emotionally exhausted; every day adds more despair to their experience.

So when I see people shame others in this same situation I become outraged. While you might not feel any connection or feelings towards an animal on an internet photo gallery, for me it can still feel very personal. By leaving comments like “why wasn’t your dog on a leash,” these people only cause more suffering to an already struggling individual.

Not Every Dog Lost Is Due to an Irresponsible Owner Some dogs become lost due to car accidents, theft or anxiety issues which cause them to break through windows & escape – not every animal that becomes lost can be blamed on irresponsible owners.

I understand your motivation is noble – posting something like: “Why are so many pets getting lost? So many irresponsible owners without leashes on pets, it’s sad” after every listing of a lost pet will help, or maybe your super important message will prevent future lost animals. Either way, I don’t understand your reasoning – you are probably just being rude.

What I am certain of is that your message is irrelevant when it comes to finding lost pets and that it only adds distressingly more sadness for people in an already difficult situation.

Imagine telling someone whose home has burned down that batteries should have been installed in their smoke alarm – without knowing why or when the fire started! As there could have been numerous factors involved in creating it – battery running out doesn’t guarantee fire will start spontaneously; sometimes accidents just happen! Even if some lost pets had leashes attached, they can still become lost!

Your message to someone that they should have done A to avoid B has already occurred; therefore, any point you try to make becomes meaningless.

Don’t Assume Everything
Remember when participating in lost and found pet groups that the people involved could have lost their pet for various reasons and don’t assume all you know. Be careful making assumptions & showing your superiority over others’ struggles when making claims in these threads — no sense in being rude about this matter when people need help and seeking assistance for lost pets!

If you find anyone who loses a pet irresponsible, that’s fine – your opinion is entitled to be expressed – but please take a second to remember who might read your comments about “stupid people always losing their pets”.

One of the recent hateful remarks I witnessed was directed at a hospitalized woman who had just experienced a bad car accident with her dog, who took off. To try and get him back she enlisted help from friends searching along interstate highways while family combed shelters while posting in every lost & found group she could find; unfortunately this story had an unhappy ending as his remains were eventually located several days later.

Are you glad that you made that harsh comment now? Did it hit home for her? Your comments only serve to reveal your own lack of compassion for anyone involved, proving only that there is nothing meaningful happening in your spare time.