Tips to find a lost pet
Losing your pet can be very stressful and heart breaking. The following
suggestions may help you be reunited with your pet sooner than later.
-
Visit the Wayne County Animal Shelter frequently. Daily would
be ideal, but if this is not possible, try to go at least three times
a week, especially Thursday early morning. They are open from
7:30
through 4:30. You can call, but they are swamped with dogs and
cats and may not be able to identify your pet. As heartbreaking as
the experience
will be, it is imperative that you go look for yourself. You
know your pet better than anyone!! While you are there, take mental
note of the
other animals there. You may be able to identify another lost
pet. While there, I was able to identify another family’s lost
pet and they were reunited!!!
-
Post signs with a description and photo
of your pet starting with the area in which they were last seen.
Then expand out. Post
signs wherever your pet was reportedly seen. If you are offering
a reward,
use large print type. People will notice REWARD before they
even take a look at the photo. A REWARD is great motivation for people
to be
on the look out. Attaching smaller fliers (print four per sheet)
to the large flier helps your poster stay put. This offers people
an opportunity
to take one with them. Otherwise they may take your larger
flier.
Be relentless with your postings. If you feel your pet was taken,
post
signs everywhere!! The person who took your pet will eventually
feel that they have no other choice but to return your pet.
-
Place
an ad in the lost and found section of the News Argus. A photograph
will draw the reader’s eye. Specifying the area
in which the pet was lost is okay, however, a lot of people will
not report an animal
if it is far away from the area reported. A friend from Goldsboro
found her dog in Princeton!! Post everywhere were they allow
it…stores,
churches and schools. Churches are wonderful places to post.
Sunday’s
are packed with people and they will also pray for the safe
return of your pet. There are people out there that have experienced
the loss
of a pet and religiously look at the lost and found hoping
to help someone else. I call them my angels in waiting.
-
Fax a
copy of your flier to all the vets’ offices. Ask them
to be on the look out. Your pet will eventually need to
have vaccinations.
-
Email your friends and relatives. Ask them
to forward
your plea to their contacts. Email your flier to www.wooff.org.
They too will
be on the look out for animals turned into them.
-
A buddy
system works great. Have friends in different areas to be on call.
If you can’t get to the area
in which your pet may have been spotted, call your
buddy to run check it out. It is important
to be there as quickly as possible.
-
Once you have found
your pet, be considerate and take down your posting. Call or
visits the stores etc.
and
let them know
that they
can take down your signs. They will share in the
joy with you.
I truly hope these suggestions help. It is very time
consuming and stressful to do all of the above.
Don’t
hesitate to ask friends and family to help. They
are more that willing to help you out…all
you need do is ask. Unfortunately it too can
be expensive…but
your pet is worth it!!! They want to come home
just as much as you want them to come home.
Check your photo album as well. Make sure you have
a photo of your pet that is current, showing
any special markings.
In this day, a digital
photo is especially a wonderful thing.
Spaying
or neutering your pet will help them with their desire to wander. It
also cuts down
on the
population
of unwanted
animals. We have so
many that need homes!
Most importantly, I can’t
stress how important it is to have your pet properly
identified with
a collar that has a rabies tag and
an identification tag with at least two phone numbers.
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