What to do When You've Found a Stray.

If you find a stray dog or cat, keep in mind that the animal may be a lost pet, and someone could be frantically searching for them. Please don't immediately think the worst. Cats and dogs get loose for one reason or another and may become lost. If a dog or cat has been out on their own for weeks or months, they will be be dirty, skinny and likely have fleas or other parasites. This is true even if they escaped from a wonderful and loving home.  Assume that the animal you found is a beloved pet and someone is searching for them. It's your responsibility to help them find their family. 
Check for a tag or microchip.
If there is none, put a temporary tag on the animal with your contact information. You can use a luggage tag or simply tape the information around their collar. 
If there is an ID tag, contact the owner immediately. If there isn't any visible identification, the pet may be microchipped.  For example, The Rescue Crew (and most animal welfare organizations) microchip all animals prior to adoptiong.  Most any veterinarian clinic and animal shelter will be able to scan a found pet for free, giving the owner a chance to contact you and arrange a reunion.
Notify local shelters that you have found a pet.
Create a found pet post on Petco Love Lost here
​When you find a pet you should notify the local shelter(s) and other providers of animal control services in your city. This may sometimes be a contracted service through local vet clinics. Contacting the non-emergency number for the local police department, particularly in more rural areas, is also a good idea. 
Make every effort to find the owner.
Beyond contacting local animal control agencies, post the animal on local online communities such as Nextdoor and Facebook (Lost Dogs MN and Lost Cats MN are two popular Facebook groups). 
Finders keepers?  Not true.
It is untrue that if you find a pet that you can simply keep them. Thinking this way is not in the best interest of the pet or the possibly owner they wish to be reunted with. More importantly, it is against the law. While you likely treat your pet as part of the family, in the eyes of the law they are considered property and treated this way when it comes to an owners legal rights.
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What to do if Your Pet is Missing.

If your resident pet has gone missing, it's important that you act quickly.  First, alert your neighbors right away. Make certan they have your contact information readily available. Quick action and personal involvement in the recovery process are key components of recovering your lost pet.

If your pet has a microchip, make sure it's updated with your current contact information and report to the microchip company that the pet is missing.  


Finding a Lost Pet.
These steps can help you locate a lost pet as quickly as possible:

  1. Ask everyone: neighbors, children, mail carriers, passersby. Have a photo ready on your phone to share with everyone. Even if they haven't seen your pet, they are likely to be more than happy to keep an eye open for them. 
  2. Create a flyer with your pet’s photo, a brief description and your phone number.
  3. Distribute the flyers and post them on telephone poles in the area where you lost your pet. If you can afford it, you might consider offering a reward. 
  4. Put a lost-pet ad in the local newspapers. Title the ad “Lost Cat” or “Lost Dog” and include your phone number, the date that the animal was lost, where she was last seen, and a clear, brief description containing the animal's name, breed, color, sex, age, and whether they were wearing a collar. 
  5. Go to all the shelters in the area — don't just call them. Give them a color photo of your pet with your phone number on it. Ask to see all the animals in the shelter and visit every cage.
  6. Go back and check all the shelters every day. Shelter employees are often very busy, so you can’t depend on someone remembering that an animal like yours was brought in.
  7. Call area veterinary clinics and send them a photo of your pet. Ask each of them if any animal fitting your pet’s description has been brought in.
  8. If you suspect that your pet may have been stolen, report your pet missing to the police. They may know if an animal fitting your pet’s description has been hit by a car (or they may be able to direct you to the department that handles this).
  9. Read the “found pets” section in each of the local newspapers daily. Many papers run these ads for free. Follow up on any ad that describes an animal similar to yours, since you can’t count on the finder to describe your pet exactly as you would.
  10. Join all local pet groups on Facebook and neighborhood groups on Nextdoor.com, and post about your lost pet. Include a good-quality photo, a description, contact information and the last known location of your pet.

More Help.

You need to mass market your missing pet because you need to get the information to as many people as possible that your pet is missing. Social media, giant neon posters, “tagging” your car", and “Intersection Alerts” are all highly effective methods that can and should be used.

​For more helpful information, check out Lost Dog Behavior and Lost Cat Behavior from the Missing Animal Reponse Network. 

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