How to Find Your Missing Dog

One of our hard-working Board members arrived home recently to discover the gate to their fenced backyard open and her two Labs missing. Of course, panic and anxiety set in immediately. The good news is Charlie and Buddy had been picked up by Animal Control and were safe and sound. The bad news was the bail fees amounted to over $100.00, plus the jail-birds had to spend the night until the Shelter opened the following morning. Fortunately, the story ended happily.

Listed below are a few tips if your beloved Lab(s) ever turn up missing.

• Call your local Animal Control Shelter and Humane Society ASAP. Visit them in person. Conduct follow-up visits at least twice a week. Some organizations are required to hold stray animals only 96 hours, although most try to hold them longer. Stray animals sometimes arrive days or weeks after they first disappear.

• LOOK through the stray, adoption, isolation and quarantine kennels yourself. Collars and tags are easily lost, and you are the only one who can positively identify your pet.

• CHECK the "Found And At Vet" book at the front counter.

• FILE a "Lost Report" with the Shelter. Update the report whenever you visit the shelter and place it in the front of the Lost book to keep it current.

• CHECK all neighboring animal shelters as soon as possible. Your pet can run fast and far. pets are often found by people and taken to the shelter nearest their home.

• CALL your local "Lost Animal" recording daily if available. The recording is usually made daily and includes animals that were brought in during the previous 24 hours. It may not be a complete listing of all animals in the shelter.

• SEARCH for your pet. Canvass your neighborhood on foot, by car, during the day, and at night. Look in garages, yards, basements, closets, under cars, in shrubbery, and at neighbors' homes, as well as your own.

• CALL and whistle to your pet. He/she may be injured, frightened, or trapped and unable to come to you. Hearing your voice may encourage your pet to answer you. Remain in one place long enough for your animals to find you after you call.

• TELL friends, neighbors, kids, babysitters, mail carriers, etc., that your pet is missing.

• POST lost pet notices on bulletin boards in stores, churches, libraries, and around your neighborhood. Include the pet's name, description, a photograph, and your name, address, and phone number.

• ADVERTISE in all local newspapers. Some run free lost pet columns, others will charge. Offer a reward, but don't specify the amount.

• WATCH the found pet columns in the same newspapers.

• CONTACT local radio stations. Some will make an announcement for you.

• LISTEN to those radio stations that make found pet announcements.

• CONTACT Lab Rescue in your area and inform them your dog is missing.

REMEMBER TO:

• Train your pet to respond to your commands.
• Keep ID tags/license on your pet at all times.
• Be sure your current address and phone numbers are listed on all registration records.
• Keep him/her confined and walk your Lab on a leash.
• When filling out lost reports or writing a newspaper ad, remember to include the following:
  • Pictures of your pet (where applicable).
  • A description of what your pet was wearing (collar, harness, etc.).
  • A description of your pet's physical characteristics (breed, color, identifying marks and any physical abnormalities.
• When you find your pet, examine him/her thoroughly for hidden injuries, or signs of illness.

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