¨ BE CAREFUL! All dogs and cats are capable of biting. Do not approach an animal unless you are comfortable and trained. You can always call animal control if you cannot catch the animal.
¨ Assume that the pet belongs to someone and that someone is looking for it. Even if it is thin and covered in fleas that doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong to someone. You have no way of knowing how long the pet has been on the street.
¨ Check the pet for tags. Call every number on every tag looking for a lead.
¨ Walk around the area where the pet was found and ask neighbors if they recognize the animal and know the owners.
¨ Take it to a local vet and have them check for a microchip.
¨ Contact local animal control and give them a description of the pet and a way to contact information in case someone calls looking for the pet.
¨ List the pet on various websites. Below are a few suggestions:
www.craigslist.com www.lostandfound.com www.fidofinder.com
¨ Make and post flyers. Please see: www.missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-posters.php for tips to make an effective poster.
¨ Place found ads in local newspapers. If they have online versions, post of those as well. Many papers offer this as a free service.
¨ If you use any social networking sites such as Twitter, myspace or Facebook, post a picture and description of the found pet with your contact information and ask people to pass it on.
¨ If you have taken the pet into your home and are attempting to find the owner, but know you cannot keep it, contact local no kill shelters and get on their waiting lists. Shelters are always full, but if you plan ahead and start contacting some groups, you will have a better chance of finding the lost pet a spot if the owner does not come forward.
** Please note that even if you do not have a computer or use the internet frequently, that does not mean that the person who lost the pest is the same way. The pet you found may be listed on 5 different internet sites, but if you don’t check, you may never find the owner. The opposite is true as well. Even if you are well versed in internet use, the person who lost the pet may not have the internet and may be listing the pet in newspapers. Please keep this in mind and use every available resource to look for you’re the owners.
This information courtesy of Friendship Animal Hospital 9825 South Mason Rd, Suite 150, Richmond, TX. 77406 281-239-6500. To learn more about Friendship Animal Hospital be sure to visit their website- www.FriendshipAH.com
