Tips for Finding Your Lost Pet or for When You Find a Lost Pet

Have you ever lost your pet? If you have, you know that when it happens not much really comes to mind for what to do. You become frantic, panicky, and just all around stressed. Over the past few months, I have heard different tips from different people on what they have done to prevent loss, what they have done to find a lost pet and what they have done upon finding a lost pet. I thought these would be a nice thing to share.

• Always put some sort of identification on your pet. There’s many different types, but at the least, your pet should have a nametag.
• If your pet has some sort of disability that may make it seem like your pet is abused or abandoned, you can list it on their nametag or microchip. For example, if your dog is deaf or blind, adding this could help someone who comes across them.
• Make sure you have updated pictures of your pet. Most people have a camera on their phone, and snapping a photo could make it easier to start the search for your pet. If your pet has markings or other traits that will make them easy to identify, make sure to have a picture that shows this.
• If your pet isn’t found in an initial search, don’t waste time driving around looking. Make flyers and get out door to door. Talk to neighbors, or people in the area where you pet had been lost.
• Post pictures of your pet online in places where your local community may see them. Facebook is a great tool for this. The more people you can reach with the news of your lost pet, the faster your pet could be found.
• Always make sure to inform local authorities (police, shelters, animal control, etc.) so that if your pet is found, they can be returned to you more quickly.
• If you are in search of a lost dog, using a companion pet of the dog could help bring them back close if they are skittish.
• Remember that many pets, especially dogs and cats, are smart and can last out in the world. Just because your pet has been missing for an extended period of time, and people are telling you it might be time to give up; doesn’t mean that your pet isn’t okay somewhere. There’s a multitude of possibilities, and you might find your pet after months of them being lost. Giving up hope isn’t always necessary.
• If you come across a lost pet, remember, they could be scared. If you approach a lost pet you encounter incorrectly, you could make them go on the defensive and attack in a worst-case scenario. This can cause you unneeded pain and expense, and also put the pet in a bad situation. Calling local authorities or animal control is the best idea.
• If you are in possession of a lost pet, and have put up posters, callers should be able to list identifying marks that you didn’t list on the poster. When creating a poster for finding an owner, put enough information for them to be able to know it could be their pet, but not enough that the incorrect person ends up with the pet.

Do you have any additional tips that could help? Share them in the comments section below. Remember, no pet parent ever wants to go a moment longer than they have to without their baby.

Other Posts You Might Enjoy:

• The Importance of Pet ID Tags
• Vehicle Safety for Dogs
• Must Know First Aid for Pets

Claire is a mom to two children. She has owned dogs and cats in the past. Although never owning them, she is very interested in reptiles, and has assisted friends in the past who owned a reptile store.