How To Find A Lost Pet

How To Find A Lost Pet
Author: Diana L. Guerrero
Copyright ©; 2005 Diana L. Guerrero. All rights reserved.
This article may not be reprinted or distributed without written permission from the author.
Looking for lost pet finding tips? If you have lost a pet you are probably in a panic. Iďż˝ve included valuable information to help you in a search for a lost pet and eleven tips to help you on your quest for your beloved critter.
1. Flyers
Posted Fliers can be put up on telephone poles, trees, bulletin boards at grocery stores, post offices, and public gathering areas. Local businesses and other establishments may help by placing them in windows or posting them for staff awareness. Be sure to include a reward announcement and/or medical alerts on the papers.
2. Local Media Advertisements
Newspapers and some radio stations will provide free public service ads to announce lost and found animals. Make sure you contact those in your area and slightly outside you city limits. This is important in case someone picks up your animal and transports them another location outside of your normal stomping grounds.
3. Incentives
Rewards are incentives, but decide on a figure and stick to it. Blackmailing or lack of incentive could be a problem. Some people actually make a habit of preying upon lost animal owners. Make sure you are not tricked into sending money to someone, even if they say your pet is hurt and requires veterinary medical attention. This type of story is a ploy of some unscrupulous people that take advantage of unsuspecting pet owners.
4. Caller Tips
Gather return numbers and request a photograph of the pet if they are far away. Donďż˝t send money until you have your pet back in your custody. A list of questions concerning your pet, markings, and habits can verify if it really is yours. You can ask the caller to describe in detail what the animal is like. Questions asked about items not included in your posters and advertising help you determine if the animal is yours or not.
5. Animal Agencies & Pet Facility Visits
Daily visits to every agency that works with animals. Again, animal control and the places that shelter and manage strays in your area are essential to visit daily. Many will only hold an animal for three to five days and then euthanize those without identification. Ask for referrals to other local shelters, animal control agencies, humane societies and pet rescue agencies.
Why go in? People answering phones donďż˝t always know what new animals arrive. Some may have a different idea about what the animal you are describing looks like. Take the time to look yourself, or have someone familiar with the animal go look for you--if you cannot. Make sure you take photographs into these agencies to give to staff members so they can assist you in finding your pet. Just in case, take your pet passport or identification file to help prove the animal is yours.
Each pet organization is a separate business responsible for their own rules and operations. Many facilities or organizations will provide sheltering for owner relinquished animals only and will not take strays; others will contract with local cities and provide animal control and sheltering functions also. Some will not have facilities but will provide foster homes for animals in their area or raise funds for animal related projects. Asking for lists of other agencies when you visit pet services will help you locate all related facilities.
6. Enlist Pet Professionals
Pet professionals will be people and businesses such as kennels, petsitters, groomers, mobile groomers, animal transporters, veterinarians, dog trainers, feed stores, pet playgrounds (parks), and pet daycare agencies, etc. Take in flyers and ask them to post them and help with inquiries about your lost animal. They might also have more suggestions and a network of other people you might contact.
7. Dead Animal Retrieval Agencies
Although this sounds morbid, it is best to cover all bases and contact clean up crews for your area. You can often supply a photograph or go down and search for your pet to have closure on the situation. Every area can have different agencies responsible for this function. Highway services or road clean-up, public disposal agencies, waste management agencies, disposal contractors, or actual dead animal retrieval agencies exist. Check in the phone book and also with local animal control for the numbers.
8. Pet Detectives & Other Options
Pet detectives are in business to help search for animals. They have an effective network of sources to use. Be sure to check for references and what the charges will be. Fees vary greatly, be sure to ask about charges in the event your animal is not found. Many may just do work involving pet theft so you need to ask what services they can provide.
There are also some pet psychics that specialize in lost animals. The same rules and questions apply as above.
9. Keep Searching
Donďż˝t give up. Many animals can disappear for months and then turn up. Search daily and check your phone book for other ideas. Look under government agencies, pets, dogs, cats, animal behavior, zoos, feed, and anything else you think relates to your pet or animals in general.
Also, parks, malls, resort areas, grocery stores, post offices, businesses, schools, and other high traffic visible areas are good places to post flyers. Ask for permission first.
10. Grief
If you have not found your animal after several months then the outlook is bleak--and you might not ever find your pet. Allow time for you and your family to grieve and process this loss before considering getting another pet. Also, use this situation to help you learn how to prevent animal loss in the future.
11. Moving On
I personally donďż˝t advise getting another pet right away. However many people find it therapeutic. You can take time to look around at the animals at the rescue agencies you have been visiting. Who knows, you may find another animal that you can save. Many of those animals have been displaced by their families and will need a secure and loving home. Perhaps you can heal your losses together.

About The Author:
Our critter columnist, Diana L. Guerrero is an animal expert, professional speaker and author. This pet pioneer shares over thirty years of revolutionary techniques and innovative services. She is the author of many books including, ďż˝What Animals Can Teach Us about Spiritualityďż˝ and ďż˝Blessing of the Animals.ďż˝ Guerreroďż˝s distinctive areas of expertise are animal disaster preparedness, animal and pet careers, animal personality styles and animal kingdom etiquette. Readers are invited to subscribe to her FREE monthly electronic newsletter, enroll in her classes, explore wild and domestic animal behavior, or learn more about pet training at:
http://www.arkanimals.com

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