Trying to Find a Lost Pet? Be Proactive, Persistent and Patient
By Lisa Velenovsky
One of the worst nightmares a pet parent can experience is a lost pet. A gate or door accidentally left open, a pet sneaking by an owner on the way out – no matter the circumstances, the result is panic and fear.
The good news is there are tools and steps to help recover a lost indoor cat or dog. And owners won’t be alone! In Alexandria’s animal-loving community, neighbors and friends often go out of their way to help. There also are many cat- and dog-savvy volunteers willing to help owners find their lost pets. I am one of those volunteers, and I’m here to tell you that there is hope and help.
If pet parents act quickly on multiple fronts, the chances of bringing a beloved pet home increase dramatically. Here are some general tips:
- Get the Word Out
- Start Your Search Immediately
- Implement Multiple Available Tools
- Be Proactive, Patient and Persistent
Get the Word Out
The sooner you spread the word far and wide, the better.
Contact the microchip manufacturer if your pet is microchipped; make sure your information is up to date.
Contact local organizations.
- If your pet was adopted from a shelter or a rescue, contact the organization, and file a lost pet report. They may be able to offer resources.
- File a lost pet report with the animal shelters in your area. Many allow you to do it online. If possible, visit in person regularly to check new intakes.
- Post to local groups like:
- Community groups and listservs.
- NextDoor
- Facebook local lost pet groups.
- Pawboost (www.pawboost.com) Note: A known issue with Pawboost is scammers contacting owners for money/gift cards for safe return or emergency vet treatment of lost pets.
Start Your Search Immediately
Begin searching your yard and neighborhood immediately and alert your neighbors as you search.
Dogs. Walk or drive around your neighborhood calling their name. Ask friends and neighbors to help.
Go to your nearest local shelter to see if your dog has been reported, found, or surrendered.
While searching, have a friend or family member check NextDoor, Pawboost, and local community lost pet groups to see if your dog has been posted as Found.
If your dog isn’t found on Day 1, it may become a matter of following up on sightings to determine the best search area.
Cats. Indoor cats generally stick very close to home. If you know where your cat got outside, start there and move outward. If you didn’t see your cat escape, start from logical exit points. (NOTE: If you didn’t see your cat get outside, continue searching indoors. Cats are masters at hiding.)
Check the closest hiding places using a flashlight (cat’s eyes reflect light): inside drainpipes or storm drains, heavy brush, garages, sheds, basement crawl spaces, and under sheds, decks, and stairs. Ask your neighbors to check as well.
Indoor-only cats are often found hiding on their own property or within one or two houses. Cats also move so you may need to check the same places multiple times.
- Implement Multiple Available Tools
This is where local cat- and dog-savvy volunteers can be a big help, especially if owners aren’t certain where to begin. They are active in many groups and owners can also reach out to local rescues for help.
Create and post flyers in your neighborhood quickly. Make flyers with maximum impact: bold colors, large letters at the top stating Lost Cat or Lost Dog, a large image of the lost pet, identifying information, and a contact number in large numbers. State in large letters, “DO NOT CHASE.” Dogs and cats on the run are in flight or fight mode. Chasing or approaching, even by owners, can cause the pet to flee further.
Use waterproof paper/insert into clear plastic sleeves and post in high-impact areas, such as street intersections, where they can be seen by cars/foot traffic.
For cats, put items outside with smells your cat know, such as their bedding and owner’s clothing. If possible, crack open a door/window near the items after dark for your cat to get back in if they return.
Put cameras to work.
- Check your Ring cameras and ask your neighbors to check theirs.
- Set up food/water stations near escape points, and place trail cameras on the food stations and nearby areas to capture the direction your pet is coming from. Cats generally come out late at night when they feel safest.
When your pet is caught on camera, you can plan how to get them into your house, including anything from leaving open a door or using a humane trap, depending on circumstances.
Many volunteers lend traps and trail cameras and show owners how to correctly set them and monitor food stations.
Trained Dog Trackers. Our area is home to several reputable trackers whose dogs are scent-trained to search for lost pets: using them early is best.
Remember: Be Proactive, Patient and Persistent
Available research shows that between 71- 97% of lost dogs are recovered and between 53-84% of lost cats are found (https://lostpetresearch.com/2019/03/lost-pet-statistics).
Yet many pet owners believe that if their pets are missing for more than a few days, they are gone forever. While some pets are found or return home on their own quickly, others may take longer before being sighted, located, posted on social media, or captured. Don’t give up. Often, they are just waiting for you to find them and be their hero. So be their hero.
Resources:
SPCA of Northern Virginia: https://spcanova.org/resources/lost-a-cat-or-dog/
Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: https://alexandriaanimals.org/finding-a-lost-pet/
Lisa Velenovsky is a long-time volunteer with King Street Cats and has also been helping owners recover their lost indoor cats for the past 5 years.
*Note: If your pet isn’t microchipped, please get it done. A microchip isn’t a tracker; it’s used to identify a pet’s owner. If your pet is found and surrendered to a shelter or rescue and isn’t microchipped, you may never be reunited. A collar and tags can be lost, but a microchip is under the skin.
https://spcanova.org/resources/lost-a-cat-or-dog/tips-for-finding-lost-indoor-only-cats/