Your precious pet is missing... or maybe you've come
across a lost-looking animal who can't seem to find
their way home. Here's some tips to maximize your chances
for a happy ending:
PREVENTION & PREPARATION
If your pet is still safe and sound at home, take steps
now to prevent a future tragedy. Get out the camera
and take clear identification photos. Note any distinctive
markings or scars that would make the animal easy to
identify. Make sure they have tags that include their
name and a phone number where you can be reached.
Get them microchipped (a process in which a tiny computer
chip containing information is planted just beneath
the skin), just in case they lose their tags. As an
alternative, get them tattooed and be sure to register
the number. Make sure that they're neutered or spayed,
so that more homeless animals aren't brought into the
world.
If you find that you're rescuing a lot of animals,
write down the numbers and addresses of emergency animal
clinics and rescue facilities, and keep them in your
car or wallet. Get some basic roadside rescue tips here.
Always carry a large towel that can get dirty. Most
animals are calmer once their eyes are covered. Be on
guard against suffocation or overheating.
A thick, heavy-duty pair of gloves are good to have
on hand. If you can afford it, consider long,
highly puncture resistant gloves to protect from
teeth and claws.
Folding
carriers are available at most pet supply stores
and fit easily into the trunk. If that's too expensive,
carry a folded down, sturdy cardboard box with air holes
punched in it and some duct tape. Carry a leash and
adjustable collar as well. Learn some basic
animal first aid and put
together a kit for your car.
IF YOUR PET IS MISSING
First, thoroughly check the house and yard. It's amazing
the tight spots animals can get themselves into. Look
in the bathtub, check the toilet bowl for small pets
(really!), shine a powerful flashlight under the house,
etc. Once you're sure your pet is no longer on your
property, walk (don't take the car) around the neighborhood
calling to them. Ask anyone you see outside if they've
spotted your pet.
Don't stop there. Take further action immediately.
The longer you wait, the greater the risks to your pet.
Put up easy-to-read signs at all entrances to your
neighborhood. The text should be large and dark enough
for someone in a car to read while driving by. Include
the type and breed of animal, whether it's a male or
female, is an adult or baby, its name and a number where
someone can be reached at all times.
Offering even a small award, like $10, is a great way
to get every kid in the neighborhood on the lookout.
Here's a sign example:
Lost Dog - REWARD!
Adult female chow
Name: Dolly
555-555-5555
While you're out putting up signs, don't forget to
read any signs previously posted. Someone may already
have found your pet.
Call the daily newspaper. Most will let you place a
Lost Pet ad for free. You can provide slightly more
detail than your sign gave. List a distinctive feature
that others can use to identify your pet. For example:
"Limp on back right leg. Spayed."
Don't forget to note that you're offering a reward.
This may result in some calls that you should never
have gotten, but it may also motivate someone who's
seen the animal to contact you.
Look at the current ads. Someone may already have placed
a Found ad for your pet. Check to see if other Lost
& Found organizations are listed and call to leave
your details (you shouldn't have to pay for this service).
Call the local pound (often listed as Animal Control
or Animal Care Services in the blue pages of your phonebook).
Call all the local shelters. Do this every day. Don't
assume that they'll remember your first call should
your pet show up. Many pounds and shelters don't hold
animals very long before euthanizing them, so staying
on top of this is crucial.
Call Pet Finders/Pet Club Of America at (800)666-5678
and leave a Missing report. They keep a national database.
Keep in mind that animals can travel faster and further
than you'd ever expect when frightened. And there's
always the possibility that someone stole your pet.
Call the local AM radio stations. Some provide free
on-air Lost Pet announcements. Put up notices at the
offices of local vets and pet groomers where other animal
lovers are likely to see them. Include a picture of
the animal if at all possible and expand on your description,
including personality traits.
Visit the USDA's
Missing Pet Network online to see if your pet
is listed and to leave a free report. This service
is for
animals of all types, even horses.
If it's a bird you've lost, also check with The
Bird Hotline, an international lost and found service.
IF YOU FIND A LOST PET
Check for tags. If they include vaccination information,
but no phone number, call the pound and have them look
up the ID number on the tag. If the tags list a veterinarian's
phone number, call their office and have them look up
the ID number on the tag. This should get you the phone
number of the animal's owner.
Do a quick examination. See if the animal has a tattoo,
usually found on the abdomen, inner thigh or ear. If
you find one, check with the following to see if the
pet is registered:
1. Your county or city Animal Control office
2. National Dog Registry: (800)NDR-DOGS
3. Tattoo-A-Pet: (800)828-8667
4. AWOL
Pet.com (scroll down for tattoo number entry)
Note its sex. Check for a spay scar if the animal is
female or see if a male has been neutered. Check the
nails to see how flattened and worn they are. Check
the pads of the feet to see how tough and calloused
they are. This can give you an idea of how far the pet
may have traveled and when it was lost.
Feel the animal's sternum and rib cage to get an idea
for how long it's been since they've eaten regular meals.
There should be a little padding, but remember that
some breeds are naturally lean.
Put up easy-to-read signs at all entrances to your
neighborhood. The text should be large and dark enough
for someone in a car to read while driving by. Include
the type and breed of animal, whether it's a male or
female, is an adult or baby, a distinguishing characteristic
(if possible) and a number where someone can be reached
at all times. Example:
Cat Found!
Male tuxedo kitten.
Red collar.
555-555- 5555.
While you're out putting up signs, don't forget to
read any signs previously posted. The owner may already
have put up a Lost Pet sign.
Visit the uSDA's
Missing Pet Network online to see if the animal
is listed and to leave a free report. This service is
for animals of all types, including stolen horses.
If it's a bird you've found, also check with The
Bird Hotline, an international lost and found service.
Call a local vet and see if they or another vet can
do a free scan for a microchip. If found, this should
provide the info you need to return the animal to its
home.
While you're getting this done, ask if the staff could
tell you what breed the animal is. Purebred animals
have their own rescue groups. These give you a place
to turn if you can't find the owner, because they often
provide shelter and adoption services. The vet's office
or local animal shelters may be able to give you contact
information for these groups. Also try here:
Call the daily newspaper. Most will let you place a
Found Pet ad for free. You can provide slightly more
detail than your sign gave. List a distinctive feature
that others can use to identify the animal. For example:
"Limp on back right leg. Spayed." Also look at the current
ads. Someone may already have placed a Lost ad for the
pet. Check to see if other Lost/Found organizations
are listed and call to leave a report (there should
be no charge for this).
Call the local pound (often listed as Animal Control
or Animal Care Services in the blue pages of your phonebook).
Call all the local shelters. See if they've received
a call from the pet's owner. Some keep this information
and some don't.
Call Pet Finders/Pet Club Of America at (800)666-5678
and report the animal found. They keep a national database
of lost and found pets. Keep in mind that animals can
travel faster and further than you'd ever expect when
frightened.
Call the local AM radio stations. Some provide free
on-air Found Pet announcements. Put up notices at the
offices of local vets and pet groomers, where pet owners
are likely to see them. Include a picture of the animal
if at all possible and expand on your description, including
personality traits. Even if you don't find the original
owner, this may help you find a new home for the pet.
If
you can't find the pet's owner and you can't keep the
animal yourself, ask your friends and family if they
might be interested in adopting. If you still have no
luck, try this list
of no-kill shelters (scroll down).
Sometimes
shelters change hands. Make sure that they're still
no-kill. After all, you'ved worked so hard. You wouldn't
want to lose your animal buddy after all you've done.
We
wish you the best of luck. Thank you for caring!
