Posters display information about Luna, a dog who was missing from July 6 to 9. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
While Rob, a British resident of Seoul, was away from home, his landlord paid an unannounced visit to his apartment on July 6, and his dog Luna escaped while the apartment door and front gate were left wide open.
The disappearance of the beloved beagle mix triggered a massive search in central Seoul's Haebangchon, as well as neighboring areas where she could have fled to.
There are many things that one can try when searching for a lost dog. The first thing should be to spread the word, and get more people looking. Posts about Luna went up around social media, as well as on the neighborhood-based secondhand goods selling platform Daangn Market, also known as Karrot. One of Rob's friends opened a Kakao group chat, and dozens of people — friends as well as strangers — joined so they could help with the search. Someone designed a bilingual poster, and volunteers helped Rob put them up around the neighborhood.
"That helped keep me busy when I was out of my mind," said Rob, who said he felt helpless for the three and a half days that Luna was missing.
A poster for a missing dog is placed at the entrance to an underpass between central Seoul's Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan, July 10. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
As well, during this critical time, there were other important steps to take.
It is useful to contact local veterinary clinics. When finding and catching a runaway dog, most people opt to bring the animal to the nearest veterinary clinic. The vet can scan for an RFID chip or may even know the dog as a patient. Since Luna ran away on the weekend, Rob had to wait until Monday to contact the local vets to see if she had been brought in.
One helper recommended Rob keep his front gate open so Luna could find her way home on her own. He also encouraged the same action from people who have had Luna stay over, as well as any former homes where Luna has lived previously.
Meanwhile, two sightings of Luna were reported early Monday morning — one uphill from home after 2 a.m. and the other only a few hours later all the way in Gyeongnidan, suggesting Luna had entered an underpass, climbed stairs at the other end and crossed a busy road.
Searchers cast a wide net, with one person suggesting putting up signs across the river in Banpo-dong. It appeared Luna was emerging from hiding late at night, perhaps when fewer people were about, but also possibly during breaks in the rainfall that washed over the city throughout the weekend.
Rain is bad to dogs because it erases the scents they rely on for navigation. This would make it even harder for Luna to find her way home. It also may have led her movements to become even more random.
The neighborhood had too many nooks and crannies, made more complicated by open gates, parking garages and various other dog-sized hiding places. In many apartments, there is a space beneath the bottom balconies that is perfect for a dog to crawl in and hide from people or rain. I checked as many of these as I could. I also hoped that Luna knew she was too big to try wriggling under a parked car.
After an animal was sighted wandering in an alley of central Seoul's Haebangchon early in the morning of July 8, the creature was tracked to a parked car, where it turned out to be a cat. Korea Times file by Jon Dunbar
The search was made complicated, especially at night, out of concerns of intruding on neighbors' privacy. To mitigate this, it is helpful to carry a poster, as well as other items increasing credibility — such as dog treats or animal carriers — but be forewarned that actual burglars could use the same objects to avert suspicion while snooping. It can be hard for others to discern the difference, which is a position some of the helpers found themselves in.
Additionally, apartment security guards seemed to be of no help. In the times when I approached them asking if they'd seen Luna, all of them would confidently tell me she wasn't on their property, clearly without having looked or knowing for sure.
I found my electric scooter to be an ideal vehicle to increase the search. It is silent, suitable for narrow alleys and equipped with a powerful LED headlight.
In the heat of the search, some members referenced G Happy Dog, a nationwide network for people sharing information about lost dog searches.
Currently with a membership of 351, it's an informal group, tracing its beginnings back to a search for a missing dog named Grace. After several months, she turned up in a different province. Her travels resulted in people from various localities joining the search, and after she was rescued, many of the people remained in the group chat, helping to recover other missing dogs with the tips they learned.
An infographic was shared in the group chat containing tips for how to aid in the physical search for a runaway dog.
1. They advise against searchers going around calling the dog's name. This may frighten the dog. "The search should be done quietly and carefully," they recommend.
2. They recommend not calling the dog's name even when the dog is found. "The dog thinks it can't go home because it did something wrong," they said. "If you call loudly, the dog will think you will scold it and run away."
3. If you find the dog, they suggest lowering your posture as much as possible. Sit down, or even lie down if possible, which may induce the dog to approach.
4. When the dog is sighted, it is vital not to give chase. "When the dog starts running, it is already out of reach," the flyer said. "When chased too hard, it increases the dog's risk of accident."
They advise making a note of the direction the dog is going, taking a picture if possible and using a map to indicate location and route.
"Most missing dogs are panicking and don't react as usual. We need to share her location and follow her without scaring her by running or yelling. If the dog is chased or called loud multiple times it may leave the area and run far," said a member of the group who shared the G Happy Dog poster.
The person further clarified that it is best only for the dog's owner to be the one to approach. When the dog's location is reported, it is best to put flyers up around the location. "If she's seen multiple times, then you can decide how to get closer or catch her depending on her condition," the person said.
5. Last, the flyer mentions important equipment to bring on the search. This includes dog treats or cans of wet food, water, a leash and a flashlight. A handheld flashlight is better than a phone — it gives a stronger beam, and you can have light while carrying out important tasks on your phone, such as taking pictures or calling in a sighting.
Helpful advice for how to search for a lost dog / Courtesy of G Happy Dog
Post-rescue
Not all run-away dog stories end well. But this would not be the case for Luna.
Rob poses with Luna on the way home after her recovery, July 9. Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar
Ultimately, Luna was found higher uphill on Mount Nam's Sowol-gil, late Tuesday night, more than three days after she went missing. Ultimately, this time it wasn't the Kakao group chat or the posters that led to her return, but her collar.
"It was the collar that saved her," Rob said. "Her name and my number are on the collar, and that's how she was identified."
Tips for what to do if you spot a lost dog / Courtesy of G Happy Dog
Once Luna was safely home, a G Happy Dog member shared an additional infographic, giving three important steps to take upon the dog's safe return.
1. First, it is important to take the dog to a veterinary clinic for a checkup. The dog may be suffering malnutrition or dehydration. As well, the animal won't need strenuous exercise for the following week or so.
2. Once the flyers and posters are no longer needed, they should be taken down. Having done this, it is surprisingly satisfying to collect the posters after the mission is accomplished. This seems important not just so people know to call off the search, but also to remove personal contact information from public view.
3. Online postings about the missing dog should be updated so everyone knows the dog has been found.
Advice for follow-up steps after a missing dog has been found / Courtesy of G Happy Dog
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Now, Rob is looking into a device called Tractive, which is similar to Apple AirTag, to attach to Luna's collar, or keeping her on an extended leash when he's out in case a similar situation happens again.
Rob added that all the activity to secure Luna's return has turned her into a bit of a local celebrity.
"Since she’s been found, at least two people that I don’t know have come up to me every day asking if my dog was Luna," he said.
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