Fourth of July is one of the times of the year when dogs are most likely to get out and get lost from their homes. If you lost your precious pup – or if you found a lost dog last week – here are some tips that could help you reunite with your best friend, courtesy of The Animal Foundation.
If You Lost Your Dog
Walk around your neighborhood or the area where the dog was lost. Ask neighbors to check their garages, under cars, and their yards. Call the dog’s name, stop, and listen frequently. Do not chase a lost pet. If you see your pet, sit on the ground and talk to them in a normal voice, offer treats, and take your time.
Is your dog microchipped? Contact the microchip company where your dog is registered and make sure the contact information associated with the chip is correct.
Upload a photo of your pet to Petco Love Lost. Their facial recognition software will alert you if someone has found a dog that looks similar to your dog and even checks the animals listed on The Animal Foundation’s Lost & Found page.
Search Shelter Lost & Found Pages. Lost pets picked up are brought to your local animal shelter. Search the Lost & Found page to see all the animals currently in the shelter, which also lists the date they were picked up.
Create a flyer. Use your Petco Love Lost post to create a flyer (available on their website). Post that flyer around the area where the dog was lost, on mailboxes, bulletin boards, local vet clinics, pet supply stores, etc. You will be able to be notified if someone finds your pet through the app without having to post your personal information on the flyer itself.
Create a post on social media. Create posts on social media (Nextdoor, local Facebook groups for lost pets, etc.) with clear photos of your dog. Provide information about your pet, where they were lost, how to best approach them, and your contact information.
Review social media posts. Review social media posts to see if anyone has posted your dog as found.
Don’t give up! When you have found your dog, update your social media posts and remove any flyers.
If You Found a Lost Dog
Before you take a lost dog you found to a shelter, know that studies show most lost dogs are found less than a mile from their homes. 40% are found less than 400 feet from their home! Pets who are brought to the shelter are actually statistically less likely to be reunited with their families.
- Check to see if the dog has a collar with identifying information.
- Walk the dog around the neighborhood in which it is found and see if anyone recognizes it. If you have their phone numbers, text your neighbors and see if they recognize the dog. Knock on neighbor’s doors to see if they recognize the dog. Again, most dogs are found close to where they belong.
- Check for a microchip. You can do this at any nearby Vet hospital, pet supply store, and many fire stations also have microchip scanners.
- See the steps above. Check social media posts for people who have lost dogs. Look for flyers posted in the neighborhood.
- Go to Petco Love Lost and post that you’ve found a dog. Petco Love Lost uses facial recognition to match lost and found pets. If an owner has posted a photo of their lost dog, Petco Love Lost will connect you.
- Make a social media post or a neighborhood flyer. Be sure the photos are clear and include the face and body. Make sure to leave the collar on and feature identifying marks. Don’t alter the appearance of the dog – this includes grooming.
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Photo Credit: gabriel12 / Shutterstock.com