- Search Your Home: Frequently pets get upset about
something and hide, especially cats. Strangers in the home, a new
addition to the family, not enough play time, etc. are just a few of
the events that can trigger a hiding episode. If doors have been left
open, close them and have one person search the inside while another
looks outside.
- Ask Neighbors: :Ask your neighbors to be on the
lookout for your pet. Show them a picture if they are not familiar
with him.
- Call Your Local Shelter: Your shelter wants to reunite
the two of you. Contact them daily, with site visits if possible.
Check other local shelters
- Turn on Your Answering Machine: Your pets tags and
microchip are the best tools that you have for a happy reunion.
All pets should wear tags or have a clearly marked phone number on the
collar, even if they do not normally go outside. High winds,
earthquakes or intruders can result in broken windows and pets scared
enough to flee.
- Prepare LOST PET Flyers: You can use our downloadable
MS Word templates below if they help you. CARE recommends that you
always keep multiple photos of your pet in the health history booklet
or folder you keep of your animals history. Use this picture or
a JPG/GIF image on your computer with the template.
Download our MS Word LOST 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.
Show your flyer to your mail carrier, gate greeter if gated
community and others that spend considerable amounts of time in your
neighborhood.
Keep flyers in your car to give to those who walk their dogs in your
neighborhood and at the local parks.
- Post on PETS911: Use our link below to post
with PETS911 database. Post in several local zipcodes.
- It is Very Important That You Check and Re-Check Your Local
Shelters: It is your responsibility to identify your animal at
the shelters. Do not count on telephone calls.
- Read Found Pet Ads Daily: Search the found
pet ads in local papers daily, the PENNEYSAVER and SHOPPER.
- Place Food, Water and Litter Box Near Your Door: It is
possible that your pet will return. Keep these items available outside
for them near a door if the animal is missing. You may not always be
able to tell if it is your pet using them. However it may help protect
them from injury by encouraging them to stay near the door should they
find their way home.
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- 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 to get hit by a car or leave your sight.
- Secure the Animal: Put the animal in a safe area. Be
aware that they may try to escape from garage doors. Dogs are good at
this, cats are better. Try to secure a dog with a leash, even
your belt can connect to the collar as a temporary lead.
- 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 cruising outside.
- Check for Injuries: Look for obvious signs of
injuries, cuts, limping, cut ears. 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) and tags for database groups like the American Kennel
Club.
- Have Vet or Shelter Scan For Microchip: An increasing
number of guardians are having their Vet implant microchips just
under the skin that
uniquely identify the animal. 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 then calling an 800
number to receive one to five different contact numbers for the
animal. These may include the guardian's pager, home phone, work
phone, relative's contact and Veterinarian for the animal. Those that
administer 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. His
family will check the local shelter (for SJC, that is currently the OC
Shelter in Orange). Many shelters allow you to place a
"first opportunity" notice on adoption
- Check Local Shelters: You can increase the chance that
he will find his home by checking other local shelters in the area. Most
have a binder with lost/found/available pets.
- 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 PENNEYSAVER and SHOPPER.
- Post on PETS911: Use our link below to post
with PETS911 database, even if he is at a shelter. Post in several
local zipcodes.
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