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by Chrilstie del Amo Johnson
Pam Fisher has raised her 3-year-old Chihuahua, Chico, since he was four-weeks old. For her, he’s not just a pet; he’s family. So, when Chico escaped from their house on a cold evening, Fisher and her family were devastated. “We were calling and looking all over the neighborhood and couldn’t find him,” she said. “I immediately got in the car and started riding the streets, calling him. I didn’t sleep well. I kept thinking I’d hear him at the door. I’d go and he wouldn’t be there.”
Stan Lane can relate to that feeling. His Brittany spaniel, Peaches, and two other dogs dug out of their yard. Lane says they found the other two quickly, but they searched for Peaches for almost three weeks until someone finally matched their “lost” poster with a dog at a local shelter. “We had just about given up hope,” he remembered.
“Anyone who considers a pet a beloved friend, companion or family member knows the pain that goes with the loss of that friend,” said Dr. Rene Lefranc with 2nd Avenue Animal Hospital. He adds that there are many reasons pets run away. If they are not spayed or neutered, they will often go searching for mates. Also, owner negligence or fear from storms may cause a pet to run. Whatever the reason, he says, it is important to begin the search for your pet immediately.
For Lost Pets:
• Search your neighborhood and surrounding areas. Talk to your neighbors and ask them if they’ve seen your pet. Local children are also good resources as they often notice animals and may help with your search.
• Walking or riding your bike while searching leaves behind a scent your dog or cat may be able to follow. Take along their favorite toy or treat and call their name often. Animal experts say the early morning and late evening hours are the best times to search.
• Create a flier using a recent picture. Be sure to use descriptive language and list your contact information. Include pet’s name, breed, color, sex, age, collar color, special markings, microchip number, area last seen, date lost, your name, phone numbers and email address. “When describing your pet, leave out one identifying characteristic and ask the person who finds your pet to describe it,” Lefranc said. “If you can, offer a reward, but do not state the amount of the award on a flier. In order to avoid harassment, do not include your address or your full name.”
• Put fliers and ads everywhere you can. Marnee Stallone with PAWS Humane says families come into their shelter every day looking for their lost pets. “We have a bulletin board devoted to photos of lost and found pets, which staff and visitors alike regularly check in hopes there may be a match,” she said. Both Fisher and Lane say they created fliers and posted them in grocery stores, vet offices, shelters and other places with bulletin boards. Some newspapers will allow people to post “lost pet” ads for free or for a small fee.
• Contact local shelters and animal control offices immediately. Consider filing a lost pet report with every shelter within 60 miles of your home. “Often, a pet from a neighboring community will be brought to a shelter that is more convenient or familiar to the finder,” Stallone explained. “Don’t just call and ask if they picked up a pet matching the description. Go in yourself and have a thorough look around.”
For Found Pets:
• Confine the pet. Animals are unpredictable, especially if they are unfamiliar with their surroundings.
• Call animal control, shelters and local vet offices. Give a description of the animal to see if its characteristics match any reports of missing pets.
• Put up “found” fliers using the same information suggested for “lost” fliers. Distribute fliers door-to-door to private residences and to every commercial establishment with bulletin boards.
• Verify claims of ownership. Ask the owner to be present when picking up their pet and to bring some sort of ID like a rabies vaccination certificate or veterinary papers.
Experts say there are things you can do to help prevent your animal from becoming a lost pet. Start by making sure they wear some sort of identification like a name or rabies tag. Always supervise your pet when they are outdoors.Make sure to keep dogs confined in a fence.
You can also put a permanent ID on your pet by using a subdermal microchip. About the size of a grain of rice, the chip can be implanted just under the skin, usually between the animal’s shoulder blades. The procedure is virtually painless. A handheld scanner reads the chip and displays your contact information and the veterinarian office information. It is available at most shelters and vet offices and costs from $20 to $50.
“It’s like a GPS system for pets! It doesn’t cost a lot, and it is worth the small investment,” said Lefranc. While implanting a microchip greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet, owners also need to remember to keep their information current.
“Another important factor to remember is to be persistent and don’t give up quickly if your pet is not found right away,” said Stallone. When someone finds a lost pet they sometimes will keep the pet for a couple of weeks while looking for the owner and then take the pet to a shelter. Don’t give up, animals have been found months after they initially became lost.”
It’s something Fisher can attest to. Chico was gone three months before he was eventually found at PAWS Humane.“Somebody was about to adopt him and one lady who recognized him from our flier said, ‘Well, this looks like Chico.’” Fisher laughed, “When they brought him in he went wild all over us."
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