Beloved Animals

Library/Info--> Companion Animals--> Lost Cat or Dog

Lost Cat or Dog

What to do if you have lost your cat or dog:

1. Make notices with color photos of your lost animal (or a good description). The posting only needs to say (in large letters – preferably black magic marker): LOST CAT (DOG), REWARD and your telephone number. Make sure to include a color photo or good physical description. Go to a copy shop and make lots of 8x11 copies.

2. Call and VISIT all local shelters. Send a photo of the animal to each shelter – even better, send a copy of your LOST/REWARD notice and ask them to post it. You must also visit the shelters as not all shelters compare their lost reports with found reports or even with the animals who have come into the shelter as strays. Also, make sure you ask the shelters if anyone near you is trapping animals. If yes, you should take that person a photo of your animal in case s/he ends up in the trap.

3. Place a lost cat/reward ad in your local newspaper. Be very clear about the description of your animal. Not everyone knows what a certain breed looks like. Not everyone knows the coloring of a calico cat.

4. Post your "Lost/Reward" notices at nearby grocery stores, businesses, schools and veterinary clinics (if someone takes her in, they are likely to take her to a veterinarian at some point). Staple notices on telephone poles and stop signs going into and out of your neighborhood (and the area where your animal was lost) and at nearby major intersections. Keep checking notices and replace missing or damaged ones.

5. Take the "Lost/Reward" notice to your neighbors (and the neighborhood with your animal was lost) and show it to them. Make sure you show them a photo if you haven't put a copy on your "Lost/Reward" notice. Leave a copy of the notice with each neighbor - even if they are not home. Someone in their family or a visitor may have seen your missing animal.

6. Post a "lost" ad AND look at the "found" ads on: www.petfinder.org, www.lostpaws.com and www.lostandfound.com

7. Check "animal available" or "home wanted" ads to make sure someone isn't trying to sell or give your animal away.

8. Call the nearest university research center or lab to make sure your animal wasn't sold to them as a research subject.

9. Keep walking through your neighborhood and call your lost animal. Show your neighbors a photo of her. Ask them to put her in a safe and enclosed place if they see her and leave your telephone number with them. Ask to look in neighbor’s garages and sheds (she could have gone in for protection). One lady found her cat next door under the neighbor’s porch after two months! Two other women found their cats next door under bushes.

Don’t give up! Cats, especially, can come home after being gone for months!

Home | Get Information | Get Involved| Get to Know Us