Lost Dog, Found Lessons with Honey Potter

A few weeks ago our dog, Honey, went missing while we were on vacation. She and her sitter were attacked by another dog while on a walk. We were devastated when we heard this and searched for her as soon as we returned home.

Impressively and miraculously, our small, spoiled indoor dog was lost on the streets for 13 days and was found!

Now that we have her back we often talk about the miracle of finding her. We prayed and prayed and prayed and we searched and searched and searched. People told us that we needed to just let it go and accept that she is gone. However, we learned that one of the main reasons dogs aren't found is because their owners give up too soon. And, apparently, 2 weeks is too soon.

We worked with a professional dog catcher to find her. She taught us about displaced dog behavior and best practices when searching.

As someone with a background in marketing, I can't help but look back and also think about how important marketing was in this search. LinkedIn seems like the most appropriate place to share these thoughts. So here they are:

1. Understanding "Prospect" Behavior: Displaced dogs behave differently. We learned they turn nocturnal after two nights, go into fight-or-flight mode, and stop responding to their names. They establish a three-mile parimeter, creating safe camping spots they return to regularly. This will likely be near water and food. In marketing, understanding your target audience's behavior is key. What drives their decisions? What are they "afraid" of and how does that influence their behavior? What are they searching for? Where are they located? Tailoring your approach starts with deep behavioral insights.
2. Choosing the Right Channels: Just like a successful marketing campaign, finding our dog depended on using the right methods to reach our “prospect.” We had to target people who could help us spot her, so we placed posters strategically within the three-mile perimeter. The posters needed to be highly visible and speak directly to people’s emotions, so we designed them to look homemade, evoking empathy and urgency. We used fluorescent colors and simple yet effective messaging: “LOST DOG” in bold, followed by “Don’t Chase” and a large call to action with our phone number. In marketing, choosing the right channels and making sure your message stands out and resonates is crucial.
3. Crafting a Clear Message: Our posters had to deliver information quickly, as we knew people wouldn’t have time to read a lot. This taught us the value of concise, impactful communication. In marketing, clarity and brevity are essential — a cluttered message can easily be ignored. Our design was clean and actionable, much like an effective ad or social post.
4. Community Engagement: We didn’t stop at posters. We went door-to-door, handing out flyers, asking neighbors to check doorbell cameras, and requesting they text us with any sightings. We harnessed the power of our community, much like a brand would engage its audience for word-of-mouth promotion or grassroots support.

**Consequences of Not Knowing Your Audience: Imagine if we'd never learned anything about displaced dog behavior. If we thought we'd find her running around during the day and that she'd just come to us when we called her name. Or if we thought, 'she'll just find her way home'. After just a few days we'd probably assume she was gone - taken by coyotes or hit by a car. And we would've abandoned her when she needed us most. DON'T abandon your prospects by not thoroughly learning about who they are. Don't assume you know about their behavior.

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After two weeks of perseverance, receiving several sighting calls, and countless hours of searching, we finally had a lead from a couple who’d spotted her. Even then, we had to approach carefully. She didn’t recognize us right away and kept running, forcing us to adapt, corner her, and slowly close the distance. Eventually, as we army-crawled closer, she recognized us and rushed toward us, overwhelmed with relief and joy. I believe this was the happiest day of her life.

Fun side note, she returned with a lightening bolt scar on her forehead. We now call her Honey Potter - The Dog Who Lived.