Finding a lost pet: calls and searches

It's a horrible feeling to realize that your beloved pet is missing. All you want is to find them, and as fast as possible. Before you allow panic to set in, take a deep breath and a moment to organize your plan of attack and strategy to finding him. This will increase the chances of your recovering your friend. The following is a guideline and checklist that you can go by, to make sure you are not missing any opportunity that can help you reunite with your lost pal.

Calls:
Call your local animal control agency and report your dog as lost. Depending on where you live, animal control might be its own department of local government, part of the police department, part of the sheriff's department, a local humane society, a local ASPCA chapter (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), or a private contractor. To find out for sure, call your local government's administrative offices, or ask your local law enforcement agency.

Be very polite and organized on the phone. Remember that if your dog is turned over to these people, his life will be in their hands. Try to be the sort of person they will want to help.

After you've made an initial search of the general area, also call all the humane societies, kennels and animal organizations in a 30-mile radius. Don't skip out on some because they seem too far away. As you speak to each animal control department, give them the dog's description and ask them how long their impoundment period is (how long they hold a stray until it is available for adoption or euthanized; most impoundments are 3-7 days). Be sure to go in person to the shelter at LEAST that amount of days. Ask for their address and their business hours.

Call each and every one that you can find in the phone book. If you live near the border of another county, state, or town, make sure to get a copy of their phone book and call each listing there as well. Don't leave any shelter or rescue organization out of your calling range. It can never hurt to contact too MANY, but it can hurt to contact too few. Animals can get very far away in a short amount of time, especially if they are chasing something.

Although this is a personal tragedy in the making for you and your family, to most of the people you will be talking to it is just part of their day's work. Make it as easy for them as possible. Give them a succinct description of your dog (color, coat type, breed, sex, height, weight, distinguishing features) and a telephone number where they can either reach you or leave a message. Make your description brief (10-12 words) -- in many places, lost and found reports are entered into a log book that has one single line for description. If they have more room, they'll ask you for more information.

Searching:
Before you leave the house for your initial search, make sure that you have a collar and leash and a selection of your dog's favorite treats. If you might be out after dark, dress safe: Wear light colored clothing and carry a flashlight. If you have business cards with your name on them, carry a good supply; if they only have your business number, add your home number as you hand out each card. Make sure you have a lot of change (for making phone calls) and paper and pen (for writing down information). Find a picture of your dog to carry, or find a photo of a dog of your breed.

If your dog escaped from your car or from somewhere far from home, put something that is heavily scented of you in the area you last saw your dog. An old shoe, dirty laundry, anything that smells like you. Check that area frequently for the first 72 hours, and ask people to keep an eye out for you. Many times, a dog will return to the spot they last saw you.

Make your initial search on foot from your house. Make a loose spiral around your house. Look under bushes, next to houses, around trash cans, etc. If you have an intact male, try to look into as many yards as possible (he may have left to play Romeo). Tell as many people as you can what you are doing and why (after all, you don't want to be reported as a burglar!) Make a special effort to talk to children; they are more likely to notice a dog. Show your dog's photo, and hand out your business cards. Each time you hand out a business card, write a brief reminder on the back such as "looking for Rover." Be as personable as you can; try to leave people with the feeling that it would be worth it to make the effort to call you if they think they saw your dog.

If your dog has a chronic health condition, make sure to mention it and tell people that your dog does need daily medication. If someone helped themselves to your dog because they thought he or she would make a great pet, this will give them second thoughts.

Check with as many of your neighbors as possible. Introduce yourself, explain the situation, and ask permission to check sheds and garages.

The longer a dog is gone, the more involved and wide-ranging the search becomes. If your initial search is fruitless, start calling family, friends, and anyone you can think of who might be willing to help.

The vast majority of dogs are found within a mile and a half of their homes. For the first 24 hours, concentrate your physical search in this area. After eight hours or so, visit each shelter within a five-mile radius of your house (if possible). Be polite, but look at the dogs yourself to make sure your dog isn't there. Even if your dog is a type representative of his breed, shelter personnel are notorious for not being able to identify breeds. Other descriptions are subjective; medium-sized can mean anything from 15 to 90 pounds to different people!