Lost dog tips

Following are some recommendations to search for lost or found a pets.

1. If your pet is lost be sure to check at any and all Animal Care & Control facilities in your area. Just because one of the facilities may not be in your area does not mean that somebody couldn't have found your lost pet on their way home across town and turned them in there. Also keep in mind if they are not there the day you check, there is still a chance they can be brought in so check back in a time frame that might just save your pet from the "E" list.

2. Check with your local Humane Society and local veterinary clinics to see if by some chance your pet was injured and turned in there.

3. Post your lost/ found pet on Pets 911 - don't forget to search the found/lost pets after doing so, (if not before).

4. Put flyers up in and around your area.

5. Make sure the contact phone number associated with your pets tags, license and or microchip are current.

When Posting / Searching Lost or Found Pets PLEASE Remember:

Often times specific breeds may or may not be recognized. Even if you are sure that the pet you have lost/found is a specfic breed or mixture of breeds, somebody else may think that pet resembles or is a different breed.

If you are searching found pet listings you will pull up more posted pets and increase your chances of finding your pet by entering only the date your pet was lost and your zip code. *This is of course dependant also on whether or not somebody has posted your pet.

If you are searching lost pet listings, you will increase the possibilities of locating the pets owner by entering a date that is maybe 2 or 3 weeks earlier than the date you found the lost pet and the zip code. *This is of course dependant also on whether or not somebody has posted the pet.

Be sure to search at LEAST 20-30 miles from the zip code that you entered-

Pets can end up many miles away for numerous reasons:

-Somebody might find your pet wandering and pick them up to ensure their safety.

-These people may or may not take your pet to an animal control facility near them.

-They might also get the pet home, not know the zip code of where they found the pet and use their own zip code for the posting.

Some pets can travel 20-30 miles in a day.

(I once received a phone call from a person that lived in an apartment complex. This person told me that their neighbors had found a dog wandering at a grocery store approximately 30 miles from where the apartment complex was. Apparently the dog kept barking and they didn't want to have to deal with it, so they tied the dog up in the courtyard at the complex for somebody else to deal with.)

My point is that there are many reasons to explore every potential lost or found pet match that you find in your search - it can't hurt, worst case scenario it won't be a match.

Another tip for posting found pets is to leave out one or two details that might help identify the proper owner so the pet you found isn't taken by the wrong party.

Here is link to some of the Happy Tails that we've received at Pets 911. It's always uplifting to hear about families reunited! http://www.pets911.com/happytails/

Here's another link to more information on our website regarding lost and found pet info: http://www.pets911.com/animal-academy/lost-pet-prevention/