What To Do If Your Pet Goes Missing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Finding A Lost Pet” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:40px|text_align:center|color:%23333333|line_height:40px” google_fonts=”font_family:Fjalla%20One%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]

Getting Lost Pets Back To Their Families

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Steps To Take When Your Pet Goes Missing” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:25px|text_align:center|color:%23333333|line_height:25px” google_fonts=”font_family:Fjalla%20One%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]So when one of our beloved pets goes missing it can be a very traumatic experience, one where we find ourselves thinking about every possibility, over and over again. Are they lost? Are they hurt? Has someone taken them in? The list goes on and on: and you get more anxious by the minute[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Your pet may have been brought to an Animal Care & Control (ACC) shelter. You can file a lost pet report, and you should check daily for new lost and stray arrivals on social media and various websites. If you see an animal that fits the description of your lost pet, you must visit the identified shelter to reclaim your pet.

You may not recognize your pet from the pictures and descriptions posted online. Consider visiting a few shelters to see for yourself if your pet is there..

  • Look for your pet right away.Check everywhere, especially places that your pet has been before (for example, parks and neighbors’ yards/bushes). Search your neighborhood during the day AND at night.
  • Put signs around your neighborhood, in local stores (especially pet stores and grocery stores), and in veterinarians’ offices (where allowed) for a 3-mile radius. Your signs should be large enough to be read from 10 feet away.
  • Tell your neighbors(including all neighborhood children), your postal carrier and sanitation workers that your pet is missing.
  • Check listings of local shelters and rescue groups in your area. The website will post ads for your lost pet.
  • Keep searching for at least a few months. People sometimes find a pet and keep it for a while before taking it to a shelter or abandoning it on the street where they found it. Lost pets have been reunited with their families after long periods of time – don’t give up.

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Lost a Pet?

If your companion animal is lost, act quickly

  • Start looking! Don’t assume your missing companion will be back in a day or two, has been stolen, or has “gone off to die.” Begin your search as soon as you realize your pet is missing, and visit the Missing Pet Partnership for specific strategies on how to find lost cats and lost dogs.
  • Visit PAWS or the local animal shelter that services your area. Here’s a list of other animal shelters and agencies in Western Washington.
  • Contact your local animal control to see if they have found your pet. Some communities provide a “free ride home” for dogs and cats who are wearing a current city license, and if you can provide officers with your current contact information.
  • If your pet has a microchip, contact the microchip company to make sure your pet’s registration is up-to-date with current phone numbers and contact information. Some microchip companies take lost reports over the phone. If you are not sure of the microchip brand, contact the veterinary clinic or shelter where your pet was microchipped.
  • Check out the following pet list to see if your lost pet has already arrived at PAWS. If they are at the shelter, be prepared for the reclaiming process when you arrive at the shelter.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]PHYSICAL SEARCH

 

A properly conducted physical search around home or the place last seen is the #1 effective technique for finding a missing pet.

POSTERS AND FLYERS

 

Highly visible posters in public places generate leads, while flyers are good to hand out, mail, or post on bulletin boards.

CAR TAGGING

 

Car tagging is a highly effective way to generate leads and get more eyes on your search.

INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Internet posts can be effective at finding a missing pet, but they can also be a waste of time if done improperly or relied upon as the only search technique.

ANIMAL SHELTERS

 

Countless missing pets sit waiting for their owners in animal shelters. Knowing where to search, how, and when, will increase your chances of a reunion.

MYTHS AND SCAMS

 

Don’t be fooled by myths and scams. There are no guarantees, easy answers, or quick fixes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]