By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Even the most responsible pet owner could lose his pet. Maybe someone left a gate open, or perhaps your pet panicked and rushed out an open door. However it happens, dogs and cats get lost every day. Animal shelters get lots of lost pets waiting for their owner to come looking for them. If you’ve lost your pet, here are a few tips to hopefully locate him right away.
As soon as you notice your pet is missing, begin looking. Don’t wait — it could make the difference between finding your pet or losing him forever.
- Visit local animal shelters immediately and view the animals. Check the shelters in your area every day — don’t rely on phone calls. Only you know what your pet looks like. Shelters handle thousands of animals and may not immediately recognize your pet. Sometimes, particularly with mixed breed animals, their breed or description may be different from yours. It’s imperative that someone who can recognize the pet visit the shelter to look at the animals.
- Place an ad in area newspapers asking anyone who found or saw your pet to contact you immediately. Continuously check “found” ads.
- Check out Internet sites where you can post your dog’s picture and information. Facebook and other social networking sites have pages dedicated to lost or missing pets.
- Post notices in local grocery stores, laundromats, shelters, convenience stores, and other businesses near the area the animal was lost.
- Contact your local veterinarians in case someone took an injured pet to them. Notify your veterinarian that your pet is lost.
- If you’ve lost your cat, be sure to check inside the house thoroughly. Sometimes cats get locked in closets, cupboards, or basements and may never have left the house! Look under beds, behind appliances, in the garage, and anywhere that might provide the cat with a hidey-hole.
- Search the immediate area outside your home. Lost pets may be frightened and hide under porches, in bushes, or garages. Cats, in particular, will often be found under your own porch, in the bushes, or up a tree!
- Walk the neighborhood and knock on doors. Sometimes nearby neighbors will take a lost pet inside and expect that you’ll come knocking on their door. Talk to your mail carrier, newspaper carrier, street crews, and neighborhood children.
- Check parks, schools, and other homes — any place the animal may go for food or shelter.
- Ask everyone!
- Offer a reward!
- Talk to local dog training clubs and pet supply stores. Someone may have found your pet and might be looking for a new home for it.
- Talk to the highway, street, or garbage department. Your pet may have been killed and the body removed. It’s better to know for sure.
Above all, never give up hope. It may be a few hours, a few days, or even a few weeks before you find your pet. Your success depends upon your continuous effort.
Prevention
Of course, the best thing we can do for our pet is protect them from getting lost. Follow these best practices to keep your pet safe:
- Don’t put the rabies tag in a drawer — put it on your pet’s collar. A dog or cat with a rabies tag can find its way home with a simple phone call. And, pets wearing rabies tags receive veterinary care if found injured.
- In addition, put an identification tag on your pet with your current address and phone number.
- Never take your pet’s collar off and leave it off. It’s Murphy’s Law — the time your pet’s collar is off is the time he will go missing with no identification.
- Keep your pet on your property at all times, except when walking him on a leash.
- Keep your cat indoors. Outdoor cats are very easily lost and can become victims of torture or abuse. It’s difficult to keep cats confined to your property, but if you take your cat outside, supervise him or keep him leashed.
- Have your pet microchipped. Veterinarians and animal shelters can scan pets for this permanent identification.
- If you’re traveling, be sure your pet’s collar has a rabies tag and an identification tag with home, cell, and alternative phone numbers.
Hopefully, you’ll never have to use this information, but if you do lose your pet, start looking right away!
For more information, call Peoria County Animal Protection Services at 309-672-2440. Looking to find a furry companion? Think adoption! Visit our adoptable animals today!
This article is sponsored by Waggin’ Tails Doggy Daycare and Resort, Goodfield, IL. Email waggintailsresort@gmail.com or call 309-642-9299 for your dog’s boarding, doggy daycare, and grooming needs.