- Protect Yourself: Do not put yourself or others in
danger trying to catch a pet that may be injured or frightened.
Use caution.
- Protect the Animal: Time is important. It only takes a
minute for a scared animal to get hit by a car or run from sight.
- Secure the Animal: Put the animal in a safe area. Be aware that they may try to escape from garages. Try to secure a dog with a leash (even your belt can connect to the collar as a temporary lead). A cat carrier or secure box can contain a cat.
- Provide Water: If you think that the animal has been on his own for more than two hours, provide a fresh water supply. Cats and dogs can dehydrate quickly if they have been outside.
- Check for Injuries: Look for obvious signs of injuries, cuts, limping, or cuts. If the animal is cooperating, lightly touch them all over and be alert and careful of reactions.
- Check for TAGS and collar: The primary goal is to reunite the animal with his lost guardian. Look for identification tags and call as soon as possible. In addition to personal tags, many animals carry licenses (all SJC dogs are required to be licensed) or tags for database groups like the American Kennel Club.
- Have Vet or Shelter Scan For Microchip: An increasing number of owners are microchipping their pets which identifies the animal and its owner information. It is important that the animal be given every chance to be reunited with his family. Southern California Shelters, including OC Shelter and most local Veterinarians have scanners capable of reading the microchip and locating its owner through the chip registration center. This information may include the owner’s pager, home phone, work phone, relative's contact number(s) and/or the animal’s Veterinarian. Those that track this information will only provide it to the Shelter or Vet.
- Take him to the Appropriate Shelter: Time is important and he needs every opportunity to be reunited with his family. Owners will check their local shelter (for SJC that is currently the OC Shelter in Orange). Many shelters allow a rescuer to place a "first adoption hold" on an animal that they have turned in, if it is not claimed by its owner. The sooner a lost animal is turned in to their local shelter, the sooner an owner can claim it. If a good Samaritan keeps an animal in an attempt to locate the owner themselves, the owner may give up searching the appropriate shelter and stop looking.
- Check Local Shelters: You can increase the chance that he will find his home by notifying other local shelters in the area.
- Post Flyers: Create and post flyers in the following:
- Download our MS Word FOUND PET templates below if that helps you make the flyers.
- Six block area of where he was found
- Local Shelters
- PETsMART, PETCO, and other pet supply stores
- Leave flyers with local Veterinarians.
- Place Found Pet Ads: Place found pet ads in local papers, the PENNYSAVER and SHOPPER.
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