By Lauren Malmberg, Peoria County Animal Protection Services
Pets go missing every day. Dogs and cats alike can wander away from their yard or escape out the front door. The animals often become frightened and disoriented and, when panicked, can run quite some distance. They then find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Sadly, many of these lost pets don’t find their way home, but you can improve your chances of finding your missing animal.
Lost Pets
As soon as you notice your pet is missing, start 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.
- Contact your local veterinarians in case someone took an injured pet to them.
- Search the immediate — including your own yard, garage, etc. 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!
- Print a notice with a good picture of your pet, the date and area the pet was lost, and several contact numbers. Have plenty to hand out.
- Place an ad in area newspapers asking anyone who found or saw your pet to contact you immediately. Continuously check “found” ads.
- Post notices in local grocery stores, laundromats, shelters, convenience stores, and other businesses near the area where the animal was 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 haven’t actually made it outside.
- Someone may have seen your pet. Talk to your mail carrier, newspaper carrier, street crews, and neighborhood children. Ask everyone!
- Offer a reward for the safe return of your pet.
- Check out social media sites or other websites (i.e. Facebook or Craigslist) for people posting they’ve found a pet. 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
As always, preventing your pet’s loss is much easier than finding him. Take the time to ensure that your pet is protected and can be easily returned if he gets away.
- Protect your pet with a rabies tag. A dog or cat with a rabies tag can find its way home with a simple phone call. (Be sure to keep your information on your rabies registration up to date with animal control.) And, when animal control impounds an injured pet wearing a rabies tag, the animal receives veterinary care.
- Put an identification tag on your pet with your current address and phone number.
- Keep your pet confined to 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, and if roaming, they can cause nuisances or hazards.
- Have your pet microchipped. Veterinarians and animal shelters can scan pets for this permanent identification.
Found Pets
If you’ve found a lost pet, be sure to report it immediately to your local animal control, animal shelter, or police department. Most people who’ve lost their animal start looking at shelters and may not come to your house. You can also take the animal to a shelter or local veterinary office to have it scanned for a microchip. Even if the animal isn’t wearing a tag, he may be microchipped and you won’t know it.
Losing a pet can be very traumatic — for both the owner and the animal. Should you lose your animal, don’t give up hope! Start looking right away and keep at it. If you’ve found a lost pet, please make sure the authorities know about it so he can find his way home. There’s nothing better than seeing a pet and owner reunited!
Local Shelters
Peoria County Animal Protection Services
PAWS/Peoria Animal Welfare Shelter
2600 NE Perry Avenue
Peoria, IL 61603
309-672-2440
Tazewell County Animal Control
21314 Illinois Route 9
Tremont, IL 61568
309-477-2270
SAMS
328 South Pinkerton Road
Hanna City, IL 61536
309-565-4821
TAPS
100 TAPS Lane,
Pekin, IL 61554
309-353-8277
The ARK
505 N. Fulton
Lacon, IL 61540
309-246-4275
Local shelters
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!