The Southwest Voice

All > Columnists > Pets > Dear Daphne
Dear Daphne: When a pet goes missing
Topics: daphne, pet, lost, missing, Internet, cat, dog, advice
Posted by daphne Wed Aug 2, 2006 12:03:05 PDT
Viewed 490 times
0 responses 0 comments

For people who are very attached to their pets, there’s nothing worse than when one of them turns up missing.

Whether it’s an indoor cat who found a way outside or a dog slipping through an open gate, a missing pet strikes panic in the heart of a pet owner. If you find yourself in this position, there are some steps you can take to maximize your chances of having your pet returned to you.

Always get in touch with your local paper to place a “lost” ad. These are usually free, for at least the first three days. If your budget allows, pay to keep it running, on the weekends, if nothing else, for at least a month. People finding lost pets (including yours truly) first look in the local paper’s “lost” section to see if they can facilitate a quick return.

Next, make sure you have an updated, clear photo of your pet. It’s actually best to have at least two, one good headshot and one whole-body profile. This is also a handy excuse to take new pics of your critter, and I, for one, am always looking for an excuse. 

Put together a “lost dog” poster, giving the information that is most relevant for your pet’s return –– age, breed, sex, whether it’s altered or not; whether it has a collar or not; and the date and area where they went missing.

I’d shy away from listing things like your pet’s name or the color of the collar, if they are wearing one. Why? Because those details can be used as further identifiers if someone calls claiming to have your pet. Plus, you want to keep the poster simple and clean.  Most people are only going to see it for a few seconds while sitting at a stop sign or streetlight. You want what you write to make a maximum impact. 

Once you have a poster, make sure you distribute it far and wide. In addition to posting it on light poles, make sure you’ve covered veterinary offices, groomers and pet supply stores that are in the area. Also check grocery stores and markets and see if you can leave copies there. And no matter how far away from your neighborhood you think you’ve covered, go farther. Animals can travel farther than you think and faster than you think, especially when frightened and disoriented. I once spent 15 minutes on the phone trying to convince a dog owner that I found his pet because he refused to believe his dog could travel that far (about 10 miles away from his home). 

After the posters are out, use the power of the Internet and community Web sites (like ours) to further your search. These sites can reach people who might not otherwise see your poster, and oftentimes will allow you to post a lost pet announcement at no charge. Plus, you have the added benefit of then being able to e-mail the link of your Internet ad to friends and co-workers, further expanding your search circle.

With notifications out, now is the time to start making the rounds at the local shelters, rescue groups and animal control facilities. It’s not enough to just call, as all of these agencies have far too many animals coming in and out of the door to be able to tell you with any assurance whether or not your pet is there. You must physically go there, at a minimum of once every three or four days. Make sure you tell the people at the front counter that you are searching for a lost pet, as recent arrivals are kept in a separate part of the facilities, away from the general public, than pets up for adoption. You need to talk to the front office people to make sure you’re looking in the right area.

Finally, don’t give up hope after a week or two. I personally have been involved in two different scenarios where pets got back to their owners after more than a month had passed. Cats, especially, can lurk around the edges of society for a long time before finally deciding to try their luck with people. You may find your patience pays off with a reunion.

Here’s hoping we never need to take my advice.

Bow-wow for now,

Daphne

Send to a Friend

Report a Violation