Babara Bush
Perhaps, each of us was overtaken by a sudden fear that our beloved pet would disappear and we would not be able to do anything. In this article, we will tell you how to find a lost dog and what to do if you meet one on the street.
In order for the search result to be the most effective and not keep you waiting, the situation must be taken under control. Follow our instructions – it will help you not to get lost in this difficult situation.
Try to calm down. In the first hours after losing a dog, every minute counts, and stress will only distract from the main thing – the first steps on the way to returning your beloved dog home.
Call your friends and family – everyone who can quickly come and help with the search, and those who have the opportunity to make announcements, print and distribute them.
Wait for the assistants to arrive. The dog can return to the place where you parted, so there must be a familiar person there.
Together, immediately go look for a pet. Divide. Feel free to call your dog as loudly as possible. Show passers-by a photo of your pet on printed ads and on a mobile phone screen.
Inspect every meter carefully. A frightened animal could hide under a car, behind stairs or garages, in bushes, or run into an open basement. Shine a flashlight into dark corners.
Try to talk to people working in the area. Employees of shops, restaurants, banks, janitors – everyone who spends some time on the street every day and may notice your dog will be helpful in this difficult task.
Tell a local about the missing. Children and their accompanying adults, women with strollers, the elderly, and dog owners are usually more likely than others to be outdoors and observe what is happening around them. They will definitely notice if an unfamiliar dog is running around.
Return home if your search is unsuccessful after a few hours. You must rest and gain strength for further work. Your cheerfulness, attentiveness, and determination are the main tools of the search operation.
Use the internet. Today, the most effective work is done in social networks. Write to groups about your city or area where the dog was last seen and to groups in neighboring areas. Perhaps someone has already picked up the lost pet and is trying to find you.
Find the addresses and contacts of all dog shelters and state animal control services in your city (or, if you live in a small village, the nearest ones). Call them or write. Be sure to include your dog’s mark number (a tattooed number, usually located on the inside of the dog’s ear or belly).
Print missing announcements with information about your pet and your contact details. The announcement should be bright, clear, understandable, and noticeable. The font must be large and readable so that it can be seen from a distance. The photo of the pet must be of high quality. Remember that the more ads you post and distribute, the more likely you are to find a dog.
Post announcements not only in the place where the dog was lost but also within a radius of several kilometers. Use trees, fences, walls of houses. Pay special attention to playgrounds, schools, clinics, pet shops, veterinary clinics.
While your assistants go around the neighborhood and call out to the dog, personally visit shelters and points where stray animals are taken (“catchers” do not transfer dogs to shelters!). Face-to-face communication with shelter workers will increase the chances that your dog will be recognized and returned if it gets there.
If you find a dog on the street that is clearly domesticated and lost, and you were able to catch it, do not get lost and use our tips:
Many people want to help return the pet but do not know how. Finding a chipped dog is easier if it gets lost. If you have a purebred dog in front of you, then it most likely has a microchip. It needs to be taken to a veterinary clinic (it is better to inquire in advance about the presence of a scanner that will allow this chip to be read). After a simple procedure, you will receive the owner’s data and will be able to contact him.
Check for a token. Perhaps the animal has a token – usually, it contains the owner’s contacts and address.
Find a stamp with a number and call the Service. The service staff will check it against the database and will be able to help with the contacts of the owner or breeder.
Many people wonder how to find a lost dog in a city where there are thousands of people, houses, and cars. Repeat these steps daily, check the news on social networks, call the services, and you will succeed.