A guide on what to do if your pet is missing or if you find a lost pet.
Many pet parents have had pets slip out through open windows, speed through the front door, or even wander off when chasing wildlife. Even the most responsible guardians can experience the stress of a missing pet. Pets go missing for multiple reasons, even when preventive measures are in place. Events like barbeques, fireworks, and vacations increase the risk of your pet going missing. So, what can you do to ensure your pets are safe?
HOW DO PETS GET LOST?
- Escaping from your property is a common way for your pet to get lost. Watch for property escape opportunities through an unsecured gate, under a fence, or through broken window screens to ensure your pet’s safety.
- Loud noises are another common trigger that can lead pets to run away, especially pets with anxiety. Fireworks, thunderstorms, and road construction are a few common triggers.
- Sometimes your pets are curious about things and get carried away while exploring. This can land them in situations where they get lost. Wandering into someone’s yard or a park, following or chasing a small animal, and so on.
- Pets tend to hide when they are scared, sick, or in pain, and even though the best hiding spots prevent predators from finding them, they can also prevent you from finding them.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS MISSING
- Search your immediate surroundings and neighbourhood, calling their name
- Check all your pet’s favorite hiding spots
- Post on social media, especially in neighbourhood groups and missing pet groups
- Put up flyers about your pet with a photo and your contact information near where they went missing
- Notify local animal shelters, animal control, and surrounding vet clinics
- Contact your microchip company to have your pet flagged as lost if your pet is chipped
HOW TO PREVENT YOUR PETS FROM GETTING STOLEN OR LOST
- Keep your pets on a leash
- Secure doors, windows, and fences
- Teach your pet a command or emergency recall that brings them back to you or prevents them from running off
- Know your pet’s hiding spots
- Inform all visitors of proper delivery methods or ways to open the door so they don’t create an opportunity for your pets to run off
- Consider using trackers on your pets—trackers come in wearable devices like collars with your phone number on it, airtags, or implanted microchips
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A LOST PET
- Secure the pet by approaching them gently and carefully and placing them in a secure space like a crate or blankets
- Check for injuries and look for ID tags to reach the guardian
- Take the found pet to a vet clinic or shelter to get scanned for a microchip
- Check social media for any local missing pet posts and post a photo of the pet on social media to help find the guardian
- Report the found pet to local shelters, vet clinics, and animal shelters
Prevention is the best solution.
Not every missing pet situation can be prevented. But taking the steps to ensure that you have an easier time finding your pet goes a long way.
