LOST PETS :: What To Do
FINDIN G FIDO
What to Do When a Pet Goes Missing By DAN KROSSE
IT’S A STARTLING STATISTIC, BUT ONE OUT OF THREE PETS WILL GO MISSING IN THEIR LIFETIME! THAT’S 10-MILLION ANIMALS EACH YEAR. SO, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOUR PET GOES MISSING, OR IF YOU RUN ACROSS A MISSING PET? LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK. BEFORE YOUR PET GOES MISSING
IF YOUR PET GOES MISSING
Doing a little work now, before any pet goes missing, will save you a lot of worry and heartache in the future.
As traumatic as it can be to lose a pet, taking immediate action could help bring your pet home faster. First, search the neighborhood. One out of 10 cats are found with a neighbor. So don’t hesitate to knock on doors – and be sure to bring a photo to show. Get the mail carrier involved!
Don’t forget the basics. Every pet should have a microchip, wear a collar and have an easily readable tag with their name, phone number and address. These are MUSTS! As importantly, upload a photo today to lost.petcolove. org. Five minutes on this website and you can upload your pet’s information and have the peace of mind knowing that your uploaded photo will be shared in a national database. What’s special is that this database will use facial recognition technology to determine whether your lost pet is being housed at a nearby shelter or with a neighbor in the community. And it’s completely free! “Our goal is to keep pets where they belong – at home, with you,” said Petco Love President Susanne Kogut.
Make flyers and put them up around your neighborhood. One thing to keep in mind when searching, is your pet’s personality. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), “A confident, outgoing pet may have made new friends, while a shy or easily scared pet is more likely to be hiding somewhere or staying clear of strangers.” You may need to walk and scan your neighborhood several times to finally find your lost pet. If you haven’t already uploaded your photo to lost.petcolove. org – do it now. As soon as it’s uploaded, the database can scan area shelters and a neighbor who may have uploaded a lost pet – to see if there’s a match. Don’t forget to post your pet’s photo on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Nextdoor. The posts are shared, and the reach can grow exponentially.
8
CAROLINA TAILS | SPRING 2022
