MARCH 2009: LOST AND FOUND PETS
Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay awhile and leave
footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same. Anonymous
Over Christmas, my daughter took in an emaciated and wounded little hound
cross and nursed her back to health. In January, we were heartbroken when she
escaped and, though we search, we haven’t found her. I’d like to share what we
learned about lost (and found) pets and, hopefully, spare others the heartbreak
of losing a pet
On average, most dogs are found within one week; cats in about two. Always
have two current photos (one standing side view and one sitting face on) of
your pet available to transfer to a ‘Lost Pet’ poster. Be sure that your dogs,
and, if allowed outside, cats, have identifying tags, even if micro-chipped*.
Following are some reasons tags are important:
v There
is only about a 10% recovery rate for pets without identification.
v People are much
more likely to approach a pet that’s wearing tags.
v Pets with tags are
considered lost rather than abandoned, and, should they be delivered to a
pound, less likely to be destroyed on schedule.
In the event that your pet goes missing, act immediately by:
v Leaving
a blanket, towel, or something with your pet’s scent outside the door most
frequented by her. (Don’t leave food; food will attract other animals that
could scare off your cat.)
v Conduct a foot (or
bicycle) search, a mile in all directions for a dog, a ½ mile for cats. You
also may be providing a scent trail for your pet. While searching, be sure to
have a favorite toy or treat, collar (in case the one worn is lost), and a
leash. For cats, take something with its scent and dry food in a container you
can shake, along with a cat transport.
After (or before) 24 Hours:
v Call local pounds,
shelters and humane societies, along with Animal Control. Ask shelters if
there is a local lost and found pet registry. Hand-deliver fliers (see below)
to all area shelters.
v Call veterinarians
within five miles from where you lost your pet, and also hand deliver fliers.
(Ask the staff if you can call every day, along with the best time.)
v Prepare a LOST
PET flier to distribute, door-to-door, along with all commercial and public
bulletin boards or areas with high visibility, with the following:
The two photo images, and a complete description. Phone
numbers (be sure to change your answer message to include your lost pet,
along. If your pet is on any medication, include as an encouragement
(which can also be a deterrent to someone who might otherwise keep the pet) to
call. If you want to include a reward, pre-determine the amount and
include ‘No Questions Asked’.
A rule-of-thumb area of distribution is a mile radius in more commercial
areas for dogs, and a half-mile for cats. Rural areas require a wider
distribution radius. Other avenues of ‘Lost Pet’ notification are newspapers
and radio & TV stations.
Remember to act promptly, but don’t feel panicked. A healthy and
well-nourished pet can go 2 weeks without food.
If you find a lost pet, and are able to offer temporary shelter while
looking for the owner, following are some recommendations:
v Since
you know nothing about the pet’s reproductive, medical and mental history,
confine him away from your own pets.
v If
you can keep the pet while searching for the owner, and it’s affordable,
consider having him checked by a vet before releasing with your pet population.
v Give the pet
temporary identification of ‘Found’ with the date found, area and your
telephone number.
v As
with losing a pet, immediately call local pounds and shelters, humane
societies, veterinarians and Animal Control.
v Prepare and
distribute a ‘Found Pet’ flier much like what is recommended, above,
when losing a pet.
v If and when you
get calls, ask for some kind of identifying description to be more certain that
you’re talking about the same pet.
v If
a caller seems fairly certain that the pet is theirs, ask that they bring some
kind of authentication, i.e. a photo of the owner with the pet, veterinary
records, current rabies certificate, adoption papers or sales receipt, etc….
v Remember
to keep a log of costs in finding the owner and ask, if possible, to be
reimbursed.
If, after one or two weeks, your search has been unsuccessful, and you can’t
keep the pet, before trying to find a home yourself, contact an animal shelter
or adoption agency for assistance and placement advice. Hopefully, efforts to
find a pet or owner will be successful. If not, try not to feel bad or guilty;
remember that you can only do what you can do and you can’t always save the
world of lost and found pets.
*Featherle in
Our shop in
~ Written by Rebecca Nilson-Owens ~
703-378-9500; featherlepetcarechantilly@
703-430-0414;
featherlepetcaresterling@
703-221-3647;
canineclipperschool@verizon.