When Your Pet is Lost
It is a scary time when a pet goes missing, but there are many things you can do to prevent it.
- Do not leave your pet unattended outside your home.
Checked fenced areas regular to make sure they are secure. - Keep your pet on a leash with a proper fitting collar when not in an enclosed area.
- Train your pet to come when called.
Not only can these tips keep your pet from going missing, but may save their life. Before your pet goes missing, there are measure you can take to help them return home more quickly if found.
- Keep a tag with current contact information on their collar.
- Have your pet microchipped.
(Make sure to update information if you move or change your phone number.) - Take pictures of your pet regularly should you need to make flyers.
When searching for a missing pet, get the word out as quickly as possible.
- Contact local Animal Control, Sheriff Office and Shelters with a description of your pet.
- Make flyers to hang in local businesses and hand out in the area.
- Run an ad in the local newspaper.
- Use social media to alert friends and ask them to share.
- Report a missing pet to Petco’s Love Lost site
When You Have Found a Pet
If you have found a stray pet
- Use caution approaching unfamiliar, frightened or sick animals; they may act unpredictably.
- If possible, safely restrain the animal from leaving using a barrier, carrier or leash.
- Transporting unfamiliar unsecured animals is not advised, they may become frightened and aggressive.
- Contact local animal control or sheriff office to aide in transporting if help is needed.
- If you take the stray home, contact local animal control, sheriff office and shelters with a description.
- Have the animal scanned for a microchip at a veterinary office.
- Avoid contact between the stray and your pets and family, it may be sick or aggressive.
- Take a picture and create a flyer to post in local businesses and hand out in the area.
- Run an ad in the local newspaper.
- Use social media to find the owners, ask your friends to share.
- Report a found pet to Petco’s Love Lost site
