There are a lot of reasons a pet may run away: boredom, they get frightened by something (like fireworks), curiosity, confusion, etc. No matter the reason, it is always scary when your pet is suddenly missing.
There are a couple of things you can do to make it easier for you and your pet to get reunited quickly:
- Keep a collar and tag on your pet with your name and phone number. Periodically check the tag to see if it is still legible and the information is correct. Most people who find a pet with contact information will call that first.
- Microchip your pet. Animal shelters and veterinarians have scanners that can read the microchip number from your pet. Make sure your contact information is current with the microchip company so you can be reached. Everett Animal Shelter offers microchipping service. No appointment necessary – just bring your pet to the shelter during open hours. All of our dogs and cats are microchipped before being made available for adoption.
Of course you aren’t going to sit around and wait for someone to call you, so what can you do? Here are a few tips to help you recover your pet:
- Consider your pet and your neighborhood. Have you lost a cat or a dog? Cats are more likely to hide than dogs. If you lost a dog, is he small (less likely to run very far) or large (may go further)? Is he friendly (likely to stop around people or head to other dogs) or shy (likely to hide in bushes)? Is there a nearby park where he might go?
- Take a picture with you and walk and/or drive your neighborhood. Stop and talk to everyone you can. Show them the picture and see if they have seen your pet. The more eyes you have looking, the more likely someone will see your pet and you will get back together quickly.
- Cats are more prone to hide than dogs. Take tasty, smelly treats with you and call your cat’s name often. Listen for mewing, and remember to look up – they may be stuck in a tree. Leave food and water outside for them.
- Check with your local animal shelter(s), and keep checking. The Everett Animal Shelter posts pictures of found pets (from all over Snohomish County) on our website: www.everettwa.org/default.aspx?ID=256.
- Contact your veterinarian and let them know your pet is missing
- Make big, colorful signs with your dog’s or cat’s picture and description and your contact information. If you don’t have a picture of your pet, you can often get one off the internet that you can use. Make lots of copies and put the signs all over the neighborhood where people will see them: in coffee shops, at bus and school bus stops, in grocery stores, pet stores, parks, at local veterinarians – anywhere in a big area around your home.
- Run an ad in the local classifieds, and/or on craigslist.com. You can also check craigslist.com and other online forums for a posting from someone who may have found your pet. There are also online resources where you can post your pet’s information and check for found pets. Two of those are: www.helpinglostpets.com and www.petfinder.com/dogs/lost-and-found-dogs
Be diligent: many people are reunited with their lost pets within a few days. Hopefully these tips will increase your chances of getting your pet back quickly.
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter: Plan a visit today, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets: www.everettanimalservices.org. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel: www.youtube.com/thecityofEverett.
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