- Look for your pet. Cats that are normally indoor cats don't go to far and are usually hiding close by. Animals can also be injured, and may not be able to come to you.
- Call the local Animal Shelter and register your lost pet.
- Setting traps for cats is encouraged - they hide well and will not come to you if they are scared.
- Find that great picture of your pet (maybe a couple) and post them on your facebook page, community pages (like the Leesburg page) and any fan pages of local animal companies or organizations (like rescue organizations, the local shelter, vets, and groomers). Ask that they all "share" the announcement.
- Notify your vet.
- Make flyers and posters. See tips here.
- Hand out your flyers to neighbors and visit the local pet stores, vets, groomers and shelter. If the pet was lost in unfamiliar territory (while on vacation, after a recent move, etc). Be sure to do this kind of outreach in areas where your pet may go, as well as where they were lost. **
- Put up your posters. See tips here.
- Tag your car. See tips here.
- Visit ALL the local animal shelters, even a few counties away, and continue to revisit the local pet stores and pet adoption organizations. *
- Register your lost pet online pet finder services like these: http://www.petfinder.com/, http://www.petamberalert.com/, http://www.homeagain.com/.
- Contact local papers - often they will put free ads for you to announce your lost pet.
Thanks Vicky;
That's some great information, you have really thought that out.
Johnny
Very good information! Wow - what are the chances of someone showing up with your dog?! (Did they give the dog back?) I just went to the shelter yesterday and I just know some of them are not strays are are being looked for. It broker my heart!
I know - can you IMAGINE the chances of my sister being at party with someone who adopted her dog several counties away? Mind blowing. Yes, she got the dog back. My sister saw her dog (named Zero) and yelled for him. The dog jumped out of the car before they were parked and ran to my sister and her kids and started jumping on them... the whole family was crying and then the couple who had just adopted him walked up and was explaining they'd just adopted him.... and then realized what was going on. I don't think they had a choice but to give the dog back. It was clear the dog was not going anywhere ever again without them. My sister finally realized that "technically" it wasn't there dog, and when it crossed her mind that they might not give her the dog back, it was sort of scary. But her husband stepped in, apologized, and offered to pay the adoption related fees and begged for them to turn the dog over. The couple happily complied, and has since adopted another dog. A heart warming story indeed.
Comments(4)