The following tips are offered to help you find your lost companion.
Contact
Animal Agencies
Immediately telephone all humane societies, animal care and control
agencies, and animal protection organizations within a large radius to file
a lost-pet report. Pets often stray farther from home than their owners
believe possible. If there is no shelter in your area, contact your local
police department. Visit your local shelter every 24 hours to search.
Several of the local shelters and veterinarians are listed at the end of
this page
Notify
Others
Call your local veterinary clinics, especially those that offer boarding.
Injured pets are often taken directly to a veterinarian for care prior to
transfer to an animal shelter.
Search
The Neighborhood
Walk and/or drive through your neighborhood several times every day. The
early morning hours and sunset are prime times for finding lost pets.
Question neighbors, joggers, postal carriers, garbage collectors and
newspaper carriers and ask them to keep an eye out for your pet.
File
a Report
Even if there have been suspected cases of pet theft in your area, don't
assume that your pet is the latest victim. Pets are far more likely to stray
from home and get lost than be stolen. However, if you have evidence that
leads you to believe your pet has been stolen, notify your local police and
animal control departments immediately.
Use
The Power of Scent
Place a recently worn article of
clothing in your yard; for cats who usually stay indoors, place their litter
box outside. Familiar scents can bring them home.
Don't
Give Up
Keep searching even when you have little hope left. Animals who have been
lost for months or years have been reunited with their owners. Visit the
Animal Shelters at least every two days and check in with lost & found staff
so they can take you to all areas of the shelter.
Advertise
Post fliers at all public places - grocery stores, community centers,
churches, etc. Place an ad in the classified section of your local paper.
Offer a reward if possible. Caution: To protect yourself from pet-recovery
scams, leave out one of your pet's identifying characteristics so you can
verify the honesty of any caller who claims to have found your pet.
And
The Next Time.......
Protect your pet from getting lost again. Always keep a collar and
identification tag on your pet. An ID tag is a lost pet's ticket home.
Permanent methods of pet identification, such as tattoos or microchips, are
readily available from most veterinarians. License your pet as local law
requires. Other important steps include keeping your pets supervised at all
times and having them spayed or neutered. Finally, keep a photo of your pet
on file in the event he or she strays again.
It's The Difference Between Lost and Found!!!
