410-236-2788 (based in Gaithersburg, MD--travels widely in DC/Delmarva area)
Lauratotis@gmail.com
Lost Pet Detection
Dog Training
Snifferdog Sport
Laura Totis, a Professional Dog trainer, started working with dogs professionally in 1978. Raising and training dogs to be Assistance dogs, training working dogs for Search & Rescue, Involved in other canine activities also such as breeding, conformation, formal obedience, therapy, detection work and games and just plain fun stuff like backpacking, mushing, day hiking, and canoeing. Laura invented and developed the new sport snifferdog. One of the original people years ago who started pet detection/dog-searches, and, therefore, closely involved with the below, "Missing Pet Partnership." (which is how I discovered Ms. Totis).
www.lostapet.org (from Washington Humane Society website).
Missing Pet Partnership is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to reuniting lost companion animals with their owners/guardians. We offer behavior-based lost pet recovery tips, referrals to lost pet services, and Missing Animal Response (MAR) seminars that train professional and volunteer pet detectives (many with search dogs trained to locate lost pets) to conduct CSI-like investigative searches that bring lost companion animals back home.
Ms. Totis came with her dog, Chewy, who was absolutely amazing in his pet-sniffing duties while searching for Thumper and his "tracks." Chewy first got Thumper's scent from one of his toys, and, then, he was off! He immediately tracked Thumper's scent to my house, and then back and forth along my block's sidewalk (which is where, yes, Thumper walks regularly). Then, Chewy went into one corner yard (again, where Thumper meanders--interesting that Chewy did NOT track along the sidewalk in this section; Thumper does NOT walk on the sidewalk here! hmmm). Anywho, Chewy, did scent Thumper along the usual walking pathways that Thumper took along and around the block, and NOWHERE else in another block, except just one little area along Q Street/southside (between 12th and 13th), in addition to possibly an area along 11th Street just a block away. But, nothing else. As Ms.Totis explained, Chewy definitely found Thumper's usual walk (around the block ONLY, mostly just on MY side of the block, my location). The other areas are just POSSIBLE areas that Thumper had spent some time. These areas give me clues, some 'food-for-thought',.... areas that I and other others can research and follow up with continual survellience for Thumper's current whereabouts. Unfortunately, since Chewy did not find Thumper's scent leading outside my block area, into other street areas ('the track did not lead off somewhere else"), then the next thing to think about is that Thumper was picked up by someone and taken away (which is why his scent is not leading off anywhere, because Thumper was carried off in someone's arms, or put in a car). Bummer! (viewers, see "Sightings-Possible/Stolen" section in this website!).
Though, we didn't find Thumper under a bush (and thankfully, no body!), I do feel that I got some ideas for my searches. At least, I feel that I am covering my bases and using all resources at hand to find Thumper--a resource such as Ms. Totis' search-dog, Chewy, definitely gave me some comfort alongside some actual physical clues that may help find Thumper.