"A PET IS ONLY TRULY LOST IF NO ONE IS LOOKING FOR THEM"
Laura Caron

There are many different schools of thought as to what you should do when you encounter a lost pet.  It is our belief that the following suggestions of how to approch a lost pet will provide the most positive outcome. Patience and time must be given to a lost pet in order that they not feel threatened and trust can be established.  

Let's face it, our first reaction when we see a roaming pet is to attempt to call the animal over by whistling 

or even by name,  please, please, please refrain from doing so.  Many pets have already entered into survival mode and won't respond to our normal verbal commands and the longer they have been on their own, the more engrained this behavior will become.  Your pet is now functioning on his instincts and will behave differently.  A once loving and happy go lucky family member will have difficulty recognizing their owner even when in close proximity.  

When you see a lost pet make note of the following information and if possible take a photo of the animal.

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• Address, landmarks or closest address seen

• What direction was the animal travelling, what side of the street where they on?  Make note of the cross streets

• Describe the animal.  Did it appear to be injured or sick.

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 IF THE PET REMAINS CLOSE ATTEMPT TO USE CALMING SIGNALS TO LURE THE ANIMAL TO YOU .. 

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• Sit down and remain quiet. Turn your body away from the animal or to the side and remain low.  

• Keep your head bowed and do not make eye contact.  This makes your presence less threatening.

• Pretend to be eating the tasty treats you might have with you and toss them gently towards the animal.  Time and patience are on your side.  Wait for the animal to approach you .. do not make sudden movements just continue to toss tiny treats.  

• When the dog gets close enough to you, do not grab for them.  Continue to be patient and give them time to trust you.  

• Should the dog have a collar, reach under to secure them rather than over.

• Speak calmly and softly.  Should they start to retreat, stop talking and continue to toss treats until they are able to trust you enough to come closer again.  

• At times it may be necessary to spend several days gaining the trust of a lost pet, making daily stops in the area where the dog has been seen.  Do not over feed the animal as a hungry pet is much easier to lure.  

• Once the dog is secured, please contact you local animal control agency.  

• Take the pet to a local veterinarian to have it scanned for a microchip. If the pet is in need of medical treatment it is best to contact your area animal services for any medical treatment it may require. If the owner is found you can be held accountable for making medical decisions without their consent nor are they obligated to reimburse you for the cost.  

• Walk the dog or drive around the area and speak with people in the neighborhood in an attempt to locate the owner.   

• Submit a found report on the Pet FBI website even if the animal has been surrendered to your local shelter.  

• Put up found posters in the area where the dog was located.

 

This process may take a great deal of time.  However, this will ensure the outcome is positive.  It may be that the pet might leave the area however, do not chase or follow, doing so can be seen by a missing pet as being hunted.  Allowing the animal to feel safe in that area will increase the possibly they will return.  

If you are unable to take the time it might require to secure the dog, please contact your local animal shelter with the sighting.  There are also many volunteer groups able and willing to provide the assistance and resources this pet may require.  Please feel free to see some of the listings for these groups under the Volunteer Search Groups tab.