What to do if your pet goes missing

Up to 10 million pets go missing in North America every year. While you can hope that your cat or dog won’t be one of them, it’s important to know what to do if it does happen. Here are some steps you can take to safely bring home a lost pet.

• Notify the right people. Contact local veterinary clinics, animal shelters, rescue groups and animal control centers. Provide them with a description of your pet, the location where they were last seen and a recent photo.

• Make posters. Include your pet’s photo, name and breed as well as your phone number and any other relevant information. Post your notices on public bulletin boards at the library, community center and grocery stores, and on utility poles in your neighborhood. It’s also a good idea to share your poster on social media networks and groups.

• Canvas the area. Walk around your neighborhood calling your pet’s name and any phrases you typically use to call them. Knock on doors and ask your neighbors if they’ve seen your pet. Leave them with copies of your poster if they haven’t. Search a few times a day. Your pet could be scared and may not respond to your calls right away.

Don’t give up! Many pets are reunited with their owners weeks or even months after they go missing.

Make sure they carry identification
Pets that wear ID tags are more likely to be returned than those that don’t. Make sure your pet wears a tag that includes their name and your current phone number. In addition, have a veterinarian implant a microchip in your pet. This type of ID can be detected with a scanner and has a unique number that’s linked to your pet’s information.