Help! My Pet Is Lost! What Do I Do?

     Unfortunately, we sometimes find ourselves in a situation in which our pet has become lost.  It can happen to anyone.  Maybe there was a hole in the fence in your back yard you didn't know about; maybe your pet scurried out the front door when you greeted a friend; or perhaps you were on a leisurely walk with your pet and the leash got away from you.  It is scary to know your pet is out there, alone and at risk for injury.  Here are some tips to help you become reunited with your best friend!

Microchip Your Pet!

     Microchips are tiny implantable devices that can be easily placed under your pets skin for identification purposes.  These tiny chips can be read by microchip scanners that most shelters and veterinary clinics have on hand.  Each chip has it's own alpha-numeric code that is unique to you and your pet.  When your pet is implanted with a microchip, you register your contact information with the microchip manufacturer.  When the chip is scanned, this code is displayed.  The microchip manufacturer can then be contacted with this code, and your contact information can be provided to the person that found your pet!  It is not a foolproof method of identification, but it is the best form of permanent identification your pet can have!

     Microchips are placed under the skin using a large bore needle.  The procedure to place the microchip takes only a couple of minutes, and can be done during a brief office visit to your veterinarian!  It is a small price to pay for peace of mind in case your pet is lost.

Scanning a pet for a microchip.

     Remember - most furry friends can be microchipped, as well as your feathered and scaly friends as well!

     Lastly, if you find a lost pet, please take it to the nearest shelter or veterinary clinic to be scanned for a microchip!  Odds are, the pet belongs to someone living in or frequenting the area you found the pet in need.  We know pets can look quite disheveled when they have been lost for even just a day or two.  Please don't assume their owners are bad, have not been taking care of them, or do not want them back - they may have been searching for them for quite some time!

   Check out these news stories that illustrate the success of microchipping:

     Dog missing for 2 years, reunited with owner due to a microchip!

     Dog found over 1000 miles away, and reunited with the owner!

     Pet missing for 2 years, happy reunion with owner!

     The Today Show - Cat missing for 5 years found in New York City!

Check Your Local Shelters

     Make phone calls and personal visits to your local shelters and animal control.  If you don't find your pet locally, consider travelling to shelters a bit farther away.  Sometimes, well-meaning good samaritans will pick up lost pets and take them to a shelter a bit farther away.  Arrive at the shelters well prepared, with photos and a written description of your pet that they can display or keep for their records.

Template for a lost pet poster

Call Local Veterinarians/Place Public Posters

     Many veterinarians will take a description of your lost pet to keep in their records to refer to if someone that has found a lost pet calls or takes it to the veterinary clinic.  Some hospitals also allow you to post your lost pet flier in their office.

     Visit grocery stores and coffee shops to post your lost pet fliers in their public posting area, and place posters in other areas as well!  Posting fliers in some areas, such as on light poles, may not be legal in your area, so check state and local laws!

Get Online!

     There are a host of websites you can visit to post lost and found pet information.  This list is not all inclusive, but a great place to start!

     If you are in the Indianapolis area, be sure to check out:  www.IndyLostPetAlert.com

     Also try:

     www.PetAmberAlert.com
     www.Petfinder.com
     www.CraigsList.com
     www.Pets911.com
     www.PetHarbor.com
    

     We hope you never have to experience a missing pet!  But if you do, we hope these ideas help you to reunite with your beloved friend.  And remember - if you find a lost pet, take it to the nearest shelter and have it scanned for a microchip.  After all, that is what you would want someone else to do if they happened to find your pet in need!