The protocol for the incident every pet care owner fears most
A dog going missing is one of the fastest ways a good day turns into a frightened client, a public complaint, or a claim. This 30+ page protocol draws on 15+ years of pet care experience and Brooklyn Bark, the company founder Rachel Bowers grew to hundreds of visits a day. It gives owners and managers a clear plan to train their team on and to run when it counts.
What you train your staff on:
A first-actions quick-reference page: exactly what to do in the first, highest-stakes minutes, split by whether the dog is still in sight or gone
Active-pursuit guidance: what actually works to recover a scared dog, and the instincts that make it worse
A staged search protocol for when the dog is out of sight
Setting-specific notes for a walk, a yard or home, transport, and boarding
A documentation checklist (voice note, photos, timeline, security camera flags) so nothing gets lost in the moment
Escape-prevention practices to build into every visit
What you run:
Word-for-word scripts for two of the hardest calls: notifying the owner, and handling a third party who finds the dog. Plus guidance for coordinating an expanded search and verifying a sighting before you mobilize
Recovery logistics: confirming a find, setting a humane trap, and reuniting the dog safely with the owner
Insurance and liability guidance, including what to say and never say if the dog is hurt, killed, or not recovered, plus a claim-file checklist
Public visibility guidance: when to lean into a public search, and how to handle it if the story turns negative
A ready-to-use incident report form
A decision tree for what changes afterward: gear, procedure, property, or staff coaching
Staff support guidance for after a hard search
A manager checklist tying every step together
A fill-in chain-of-command and key contacts page, so a search never stalls waiting on one person
Format: Printable PDF (30+ pages). Written for owners and managers of pet care businesses with staff. Adapt it to your local laws and insurance requirements before you adopt it.
Some sections reference Beyond Bark's Dog Bite Response Protocol, a separate document coming soon and sold separately.
The protocol for the incident every pet care owner fears most
A dog going missing is one of the fastest ways a good day turns into a frightened client, a public complaint, or a claim. This 30+ page protocol draws on 15+ years of pet care experience and Brooklyn Bark, the company founder Rachel Bowers grew to hundreds of visits a day. It gives owners and managers a clear plan to train their team on and to run when it counts.
What you train your staff on:
A first-actions quick-reference page: exactly what to do in the first, highest-stakes minutes, split by whether the dog is still in sight or gone
Active-pursuit guidance: what actually works to recover a scared dog, and the instincts that make it worse
A staged search protocol for when the dog is out of sight
Setting-specific notes for a walk, a yard or home, transport, and boarding
A documentation checklist (voice note, photos, timeline, security camera flags) so nothing gets lost in the moment
Escape-prevention practices to build into every visit
What you run:
Word-for-word scripts for two of the hardest calls: notifying the owner, and handling a third party who finds the dog. Plus guidance for coordinating an expanded search and verifying a sighting before you mobilize
Recovery logistics: confirming a find, setting a humane trap, and reuniting the dog safely with the owner
Insurance and liability guidance, including what to say and never say if the dog is hurt, killed, or not recovered, plus a claim-file checklist
Public visibility guidance: when to lean into a public search, and how to handle it if the story turns negative
A ready-to-use incident report form
A decision tree for what changes afterward: gear, procedure, property, or staff coaching
Staff support guidance for after a hard search
A manager checklist tying every step together
A fill-in chain-of-command and key contacts page, so a search never stalls waiting on one person
Format: Printable PDF (30+ pages). Written for owners and managers of pet care businesses with staff. Adapt it to your local laws and insurance requirements before you adopt it.
Some sections reference Beyond Bark's Dog Bite Response Protocol, a separate document coming soon and sold separately.
