Lost and Found

"Summertime, and the livin' is easy. 
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-lookin'
So hush, little baby, don't you cry......."

That's how the song starts and that's what we hope for.
But what if your pet gets LOST?
What are good ways to search for a cat or a dog?

Here are a few pointers:

• Put your pet’s water bowl on your porch. If your lost pet is a cat, put the cat’s litter pan on your porch.  
• If it is a dog, put the dog’s bed on your porch with something that smells like you and or your dog – blanket or clothing.

When looking for a lost cat, they will most likely want to stay dry and warm and will be looking for food.  Indoor only cats tend to stay within a 3 block radius of where they were lost and have been known to hide for long periods of time. Indoor/outdoor cats will travel farther, especially if they are not neutered.  

• Look for lost cats under bushes, in garages and sheds (cats can get locked in garages and sheds so listen for meowing), under porches, crawlspaces, attics, under cars, under hoods of cars or near garbage cans/dumpsters and up in trees.  You can also shake a bag of kibble or slowly open a can of cat food as you walk around searching for them. At night, take a flashlight with you and see if you can see a pair of beady eyes reflecting back at you. The same advice works for dogs, although dogs may tolerate the rain better than cats and travel much farther and faster than cats.  
• Search into the wind. All animals will head into the wind. This is how they detect food, water and danger. Go to where the pet was last seen. Step outside. Turn around 360 degrees. Determine which direction the wind is coming from. Head INTO THE WIND.
• Leave a urine trail back home. This will keep your pet in the area and bring them home if they are just out on a walkabout. Pee in a spray bottle. Mix your urine with water.
• If your animal is chipped, call the chip company and make sure all your contact info is up to date.  You can tell them your animal is lost.
• Post a large LOST sign, with a large picture of your pet and your phone number, in your front yard so people passing by on foot and in cars know you have lost your pet.

Last but not least

• Call veterinarians in your area. 
• Call your local animal control and report your lost pet. 
• Post on social media
• Post on Craig's list daily, both in the pet section and in the lost and found section
• ​Go to your local area shelters and look in person for your pet.