Lost pet? Use resources and follow steps to a happy reunion

McClatchy-Tribune Newspapers
In Print: Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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It's traumatic losing a pet, but there are more options nowadays to help find them.

At Web sites such as findtoto.com, petharbor.com, petfinder.com and craigslist.org, pet owners have all sorts of tools to use to get the word out, including e-mail blasts, phone alerts, postcard blitzes and faxes.

"There are a lot of different things available," says Brenda Mitchell, an educator for Central California SPCA. "People need to just do the steps while using them."

"Petfinder.com and findtoto.com are wonderful avenues for people to use," says Kelly Joos, director of Valley Animal Center in Fresno. "You can reach a lot of people."

Findtoto.com, for example, uses the phone alerts to help find lost pets, charging a fee. Users declare how many neighbors they want notified, fill out the missing pet information and enter the ZIP code that can reduce neighbors' phone numbers to within a mile radius. Findtoto.com says it finds seven out of 10 lost pets.

Craigslist.org provides a pet discussion forum.

Petharbor.com sends out the postcard blitzes with colored photos of the lost pets. Its fees range from $399 for 500 postcards to $1,299 for 3,000.

Joos says pet owners are smart to have a microchip with contact information inserted in their pet. The microchip — the size of a piece of rice — is injected between the animal's collarbone.

If the animal strays and is picked up by animal control workers, shelters scan the animal for the microchip information, usually a number. Shelters, veterinarians and online services use the database nationwide to link lost pets with owners.

"Ninety-five percent of micro-chipped animals do come home," Joos says.

Lost pet checklist

• Check with your neighbors.

• Call the local animal control and visiting their shelter to make a visual inspection.

• Call local animal rescue groups and the Humane Society.

• Walk through local shelters and ask to see all the pets available for adoption and those not yet designated as adoptable.

• If you do not find your pet, check with all shelters periodically so your file may be kept up

to date.

• Place a sign in your yard stating that you have lost your pet.

• Ask your mailman if he has seen your pet.

• Check with the children in your area.

• Prepare and distribute fliers and include a current picture of your pet.

• Check with local veterinarians, emergency clinics and pet groomers.

•Check the lost/found section of your local paper every day.

• As soon as possible, place a lost pet ad in your paper.

• If you have recently moved, check your old neighborhood.

• If you haven't notified animal services of an address change, do so immediately.

• When you find your pet, notify your shelters. Remember, they will continue to look for your pet.

• Be prepared to pay fees to reclaim your pet. Most shelters have boarding costs. There may also be charges for vaccines and charges for medical needs. If you have proof of current rabies vaccine and county tags, bring them when you claim your pet.

• If your pet has a microchip, contact the microchip company and inform them. Also, use the opportunity to confirm they have updated contact information for you.

Source: SPCA of Tampa Bay

[Last modified: Nov 09, 2009 04:15 PM]