How To Find a Lost Cat or Dog
For many of us, our pets are parts of our family. Many of us care for them almost like we would a son, daughter, or best friend. When they are sick, we nurse them back to health. When they are hungry, we feed them. So, when they run away or get lost, we must do everything we can to get them back, safe and sound. There are always stories in the newspaper and on the news about lost dogs and cats that somehow lose their way or run away, only to miraculously find their way back ... sometimes traveling across whole states to find their owners and their homes! These are great stories, but sitting around waiting for your lost pet to safely return is not the best way to go about things.
Hopefully, you'll never be in the position to have to try to find a lost pet, but if you do find yourself in this unfortunate predicament, here are a few simple steps you can follow to help increase your chances of getting your pet back home, and having your family whole again.
Search your property
Many times your pet, especially cats, are just hiding, and aren't really lost. Do a thorough search of your entire home, yard, and even car. Your animal may be hiding behind an appliance, in a heating or air conditioning duct, or under the house. Check under your car, even looking under the hood. Cats are notorious for finding extremely strange places to hide. Search with a good flashlight, making sure to look in all the cracks and crannies. If there are rain sewers check in them also. Be sure to look on the roof, in the trees, and even in the mailbox! Cats love to hide in mailboxes. Leave no stone unturned.
Search the neighborhood
It's possible your cat or dog just went around the block to see some friends, or to have a romantic encounter. Walk through your neighborhood calling your pet's name. Print up flyers with a clear photo of your animal, his name, color, weight, and your contact information. Knock on your neighbors' doors and talk to them. Put a flyer in everyone's mailbox, on light posts, and on bulletin boards in churches, grocery stores, and mini-markets in your area.
Due to the unfortunate fact that there are members of our society who prey on distressed people, The Found Bin does not recommend posting your address, or value of the reward (if you offer one). Just post your first name, telephone number, and email address.
Be sure to talk to everyone in your neighborhood: postmen, garbage collectors, neighborhood kids, crossing guards, and newspaper delivery people know your neighborhood well, and pass through often. Ask if they remember seeing any strange cars or people in the neighborhood recently.
When you go walking in the neighborhood, call your lost pets' name. You should also take a box of his favorite treats, and squeaky toy, and make familiar noises for him to hear. Stop and listen. He may be calling or answering you too!
Keep the flashlight with you, even during daytime. You may need to look in culvers, sewers, or other dark places.
Place items outside your house to attract him home
Animals' senses of smell are much more developed than ours, so place things that smell like home around to help them find their way back. Put some of your dirty clothes outside. Also, place some smelly food, such as fish, liver, or other meat around. Be careful, though - you might attract other animals! If you have a porch or patio, put your pet's bed out, and your cat's litter box.
Work the phones
Call the agencies in your area that work with finding or sheltering lost animals. Call all the local vets, as well as animal control, humane societies, animal shelters, and rescue organizations. Give them your phone number and a photo of your pet, and ask them to network for you. Local vets are in constant communication with all these agencies, and can be a great help in finding your lost pet.
If your lost pet has been injured, perhaps a good Samaritan brought him into a clinic or animal hospital. If a vet says that they have treated any animal that even closely resembles your pet, go there and see the animal for yourself.
As far as humane societies and animal control are concerned, be sure to ask how long they hold found animals. Unfortunately, these groups do euthanize animals, so make sure you check back regularly (even daily) - and in person - to see if they have your lost dog or cat. You should also talk to many different employees to make sure that the entire staff knows you and what your animal looks like. Give everyone photos of your pet.
Look along the sides of the roads
Animals being run over is a tragic, but unfortunately all too common occurrence for some pet owners. Knowing the fate of your pet is much better than living in doubt for the rest of your life. Hop in your car, drive around and look for him. Also, call the Department of Transportation and your local Animal Control office and put out the word to crews that are working in the area. Perhaps they have seen your animal, and if not they can certainly keep an eye out for him. They should call the owner's of any found animals with tags, but they don't always do this. You must be proactive and diligent.
Other options
Post an ad for free at TheFoundBin.com!
Post a detailed ad in the local newspaper, and be sure to check the lost and found sections.
Place an ad in other weekly papers or local periodicals.
Never give up! Many pets are returned weeks or months after disappearing, so don't lost hope.
Preventive measures
There are some things that you as a pet owner can do before your pet disappears, that can increase the chances of finding him. Make sure that he has a secure collar with his current rabies tags, and a tag with your address, phone number, and name. Tattooing of pets is also common, but they can fade over time, and hair can also grow over them.
The best way to ID your pet is to have a microchip implanted. When pets are picked up by animal shelters or control, they are scanned for these tags which tell valuable information about your animal. ID chips are permanent, and the American Kennel Club keeps a database of all ID'd pets.
Make sure your yard is animal proof. Fences should be kept in good condition, and door locked at all times. Dogs like to dig, so check regularly for new escape routes your dog may be working on.
Never let your animal run free, unless it is in a dog park or other fenced in area. Keep him on a lease at all times, and if you are transporting him, make sure that the container is secure. Animals are usually scared when traveling in these containers, so be sure to use caution when taking them out of the carrier.
Spaying and neutering your animal will greatly decrease the urge for them to run off, and also help them to live longer, healthier lives.
When your pet is scared or injured, they may do strange things, and hide in strange places. Look everywhere for them, and always call out to them in a calm, but firm voice. When you do find your pet, bring them home and show him how happy you are to have him back! You should also take your pet to the vet to have a check up done, and also for a nice bath!
Animals do run off, but with a little work and determination, you can greatly increase your chances of finding your pet and getting your life, and family back in order.