What
to Do When Your Pet is Lost
- Prevention,
of course, is the best approach to keeping your pet safe. ALWAYS
have your pet wear identification. Any pet can "slip out"
and get lost, and proper identification could save his life.
- Contact
your area animal shelters and your animal control department
(municipal and county). Someone who picks up your animal may
not take her to the shelter closest to you.
- Visit
the shelters regularly if at all possible. Many animals enter
shelters, and your pet may not be recognized. Submit a picture
and description of your pet.
- Post
a lost ad in area newspapers. This service is often free of
charge. The JCAPL "Lost and Found" volunteer committee
checks lost ads against shelter animals.
- Post
lost ads at area veterinarians. Someone finding your pet may
take him to a veterinarian - again not necessarily your veterinarian.
- Make
a flier with your pet's picture and description and pass it
out to neighbors, postal workers, delivery persons, meter readers,
pizza delivery persons and others who my frequent your area.
Also put them up in pet stores, grocery stores, schools, and
on poles in the neighborhood (don't forget to take them down
after your pet is found).
- Follow
the route that you frequently take when walking your pet and
his favorite places. Think of other spots your pet may be attracted
to. If you recently moved, check the old home and neighborhood.
- Let
local children know about your lost pet so that they may keep
an eye out while playing or riding their bikes.
- Post
your lost ad with description and a picture if possible on JCAPL's
website.
- Don't
give up too soon! Pets have been reunited with their families
after some time has passed. If they escape during a storm, fireworks,
or other unfamiliar circumstance, dogs in particular can run
quite a while in a state of fear. Their instinct is to run away
from the source of fear.
You
can contact JCAPL for contact
information on area shelters, newspapers/media, and veterinarians.
This
page was updated January 21, 2003
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