We often receive telephone calls from clients who have lost a pet or ones that have found a pet for whom the owner cannot be located. Unfortunately we do not have the space to house all the lost animals; however we would like to help bring the lost and found together.
You can send us an email using this information sheet as a guide or you can post a picture at our clinic. We can also scan any found animals for a microchip so that those who have a chip can be quickly returned to their owners.
What do I do when my pet goes missing?
1. Call the local animal control center. Make sure you visit the facility if possible, and visit frequently.
2. Call your veterinarian, and all the local veterinarians in the area. Post a “Missing Pet” Flyer in the clinics if they will let you. Make sure you have a clear picture of your pet on it and contact information if someone finds you pet.
3. Post the flyers at parks, grocery stores, school, libraries, anywhere public that will let you
4. Look for your pet early in the morning or late at night when it is quiet, especially if you’ve lost a cat and he/she is an indoor cat who would be easily frightened by strange noises.There have been articles written that suggest that indoor cats normally don’t venture farther than a 5 house radius from their homes when they accidentally escape. Make sure to check under decks, in garages and sheds, under cars etc.
5. Place an ad in the local paper and offer a reward.
6. Provide details such as the colour, breed, age, sex, and length of animals hair. Mention whether or not the animal is wearing a collar or tags and if she/he is microchipped. Don’t forget to mention where and when the animal went missing. Also remember to mention any distinguishing marks or old injuries. All details help. The more people you tell about your missing animal the quicker he/she will be returned to you.
7. If you’re pet is microchipped, don’t forget to make sure the information is up to date with the micro-chipping company.
Microchipping
Sadly, thousands of pets are lost or stolen every year and more than 70% of those never come home. 33 % of pets will get lost at least once in their lifetime.
A tiny microchip may be the difference between lost and found.
Microchips are a permanent form of identification for pets. The microchip itself is about the size of a grain of rice and easily inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades with a special pre-loaded needle. Anaesthesia is not required and once implanted, easily scanned for verification and the reader displays a number that is tied to the owner’s personal information that is kept at the microchip company.
We use 24PetWatch microchips and, when registered online, patients under 6 years of age are eligible for a complimentary 45-day health insurance policy.
We have experienced several happy endings with pets that have microchips and been able to get them home safely sometimes several months after they went missing. The longest distance we’ve returned a pet home was to Waterloo. However, that isn’t the longest distance a lost pet has travelled! Check out this story about a dog that was microchipped and was found 4,500km from his home!
