Dirty Socks Draw Lost Dog Home

If you’re like me and continually scan the Lost Pets posts on social media – just in case one is nearby and you can lend a hand in the search – you’ve probably seen the many recommendations that suggest putting out a piece of clothing so the missing pet can pick up on its human’s scent.

In fact, its even a tip that's recommended for those who vacation away from home and regularly have to pack their pet up for travel via cargo. Simply including in their crate, an unwashed t-shirt or sweat top that carries your scent is known to bring comfort to a nervous pooch or kitty.

Well, for a senior in California, it was dirty socks – several pairs of them – that did the trick. You see, 93-year-old Norm Feigenbaum needed to go out to do a grocery shop. And, like we often do, he decided it would be easier to leave the fur-kid at home this time. Now, his seven-year-old rescue dog named Sunny wasn’t too impressed with this decision, so he decided to scale the backyard fence and go find his person.

Unfortunately, the yellow Lab got lost and over the next several hours, and then days, Sunny wandered well out of his neighbourhood... and comfort zone.

Per Norm, the house felt absolutely empty without his furry sidekick (we've all been there), and he soon reached out to a local search-and-rescue organization for help. Posters immediately went up, but it was a full week before they received their first lead. Sunny had been spotted about a mile from home in a nature preserve known to be rife with coyotes. An affable Labrador retriever is definitely no match for a pack of hungry coyotes, and with a limited water supply in the reserve, the urgency to find the wayward pooch amped up.

And that’s where Norm’s dirty socks factored in. You see, the rescue organization had set up a trap, but the trick was to lure the likely frightened and hungry dog into it. So, they laid out a trail of dirty socks that provided Sunny with a familiar, comforting scent.

And it worked. 30 minutes later, Sunny was in the trap and being picked up for delivery to his area vet for a good once-over.

The lesson here? When people suggest introducing a piece of unwashed clothing with the owner’s scent… they’re on the right track. Put up posters, track sightings, and be immediately on-scene to introduce a piece of worn clothing to a humane trap. Because unlike food, which will attract all animals, including wildlife, socks smell like humans. And because dogs can track scent from miles away, when they pick up one that’s familiar, you can bet it will be a more natural draw than any food item.