Every Single Time” — What Our Strapline Really Means

nicky733
Jul 23
3 min read

Updated: Aug 24

KEEP THEM SAFE – BRING THEM HOME – EVERY SINGLE TIME

Most of the 13 million dogs in the UK will never go missing, and most of those will be found safe, and often quickly. But for the ones who do get lost, everything changes in a heartbeat. One moment they’re with us, the next they’ve bolted. Vanished. Disappeared. A

You are thrown into a world you never imagined being part of.

Our strapline at Safe Paws Network is more than a slogan. It’s a purpose. A mission. A philosophy. And here’s what it really means:

KEEP THEM SAFE

We believe prevention matters. Not in a way that ruins the joy of dogs running free—no, but in a way that gives them the freedom to do it safely. We want every owner to learn how to map their dog’s world, to understand risk, to secure the garden gate, to use the right equipment, the right day and holiday care and to know what safety means in their dog’s specific life. Because the safest dogs are the ones whose owners are just that bit more prepared. I failed in that. Not because I’m uncaring, or a bad dog owner, but I failed to double-check the trackers were charging, before that fateful morning when Milo ran off. I must add to0, that we were profoundly unlucky; this isn’t meant to scare people. This was a very shy and ‘hidey’ dog. It was a terrible time of year. We were a few steps behind our boy all that time.

BRING THEM HOME

If a dog does go missing—and it happens thousands of times a month, albeit often for just a scary hour or two—we want everyone to know exactly what to do from the very first moment. Not hours later. Not tomorrow. Immediately.

Stay calm. Stay put. Use scent. Don’t chase. Know your local DogLost page or best local search and rescue team, ahead of time. Have your digital pawprint ready. We advise all of that, because when you act wisely in those first few minutes, you massively increase the chances of getting them home quickly and safely.

EVERY SINGLE TIME

We know that not every dog will be found alive. And this part matters most.‘Every single time’ doesn’t mean every story has a happy ending. It means every story deserves a conclusion. No dog should vanish without trace. No family should live with the aching “what if?” for the rest of their lives.

I know this, because I lived it. My own beautiful boy, Milo, ran off one cold December day in Somerset. We searched for 7 long weeks, driven by love and hope, and yes, considerable expertise from our amazing search team. Eventually, his little body was found. And while it broke my heart and shattered my life for a time, it also, eventually, gave me peace. He’d lived wild. He’d been free. But we brought him home.

So that’s what our strapline means.

It means we do everything we can to prevent dogs from going missing. possible.

It means we act smart and fast if they do.

And it means we don’t give up—until they are home. One way or another. Every single time.