Lost Pet Guide
Finding your lost pet
It is every owner’s nightmare if you pet has gotten loose and you don’t know where to find them. Don’t panic! Here are steps you can take to help locate your pet. Swift action and neighborhood networking can increase your odds of locating your pet.
Precautions
Identification can be a lifesaver for a pet. Its a good idea to have a collar with an ID tag that includes your name, current phone number, and relevant contact information. Even if your pet is exclusively indoor having an ID tag is a good idea. If you have a microchip for your pet keep in mind that the chip is only as good as in the information provided by the chip’s company. If you have moved or changed your phone number make sure to update the chips information. Pets with ID tags or microchips are much more likely to find their way back home if lost.
If your pet is missing: Act Fast
Search your home first. Ask family members or housemates where they last saw your pet. Search your home carefully under beds, in closets, small/dark places, even drawers (for cats). Your pet could still be hiding or sleeping somewhere. Try shaking a food dish or treat jar which can sometimes lure out an animal in a hiding place. If you aren’t sure if your animal is inside the home take a slow walk or drive around the home in your neighborhood. Bring a recent photo of your pet along and ask neighbors if they have seen your pet. Check under porches and in shrubs or bushes. Call your pets name. Lost pets will often hide during the day so make sure to check at night.
Help your pet find their way home with smells and food. A lost cat will often move in wide circles around an area they think is their territory. Place food outside as it may lure them back home. A blanket with their scent may also help their identify their home.
Call your local animal control agencies, veterinary hospitals, shelters (both municipal and private) and rescue groups in your area. One of them may already have your pet in custody. Keep your phone nearby in case you get a call from someone with information that spotted an animal that might be your pet.
Social Media send an email about your lost pet to local friends, colleagues and family members and ask them to pass on information to anyone they can. Share the news with your social media networks. Most communities have local “Lost Pet” pages. Try the Nextdoor App, as well. Place ads in a local newspaper and offer a reward in case someone found your pet. Watch for found ads in the local newspaper or on social media or the Nextdoor app.
Visit your local shelter daily and go in person with photos of your pet to distribute to staff. Shelters are often very busy and different workers may not make the connection between a found animal and your pet.
Create lost pet flyers that will stand out and get noticed by people who may have seen your pet. Repeated viewings of a consistent message will help stick in someone’s mind so use a consistent design. Use bold headlines that people can read from a distance like “LOST CAT” or “MISSING CAT”. Provide a recent photo that is clearly printed and include text that describes breed, sex, age, coloring, weight, and any distinguishing features or personality traits. Put your flyers up all around the neighborhood and in high traffic pedestrian areas. Put of flyers around a local school at eye level for children as children might be more observant than adults when it comes to animals.
Don’t Give Up! Many lost animals have found there way home.
Where to report found animals:
https://www.columbushumane.org/lost-pets
https://u.osu.edu/pets4life/lost-pet/
Lost Dogs:
