Every minute matters when your pet goes missing. Don’t panic—there’s hope. Here are proven tips and steps to help you bring your lost pet safely back home.
SPREADING THE WORD
Neighbor Alert
Contact your neighbors and let them know your pet has gotten loose. Show them a picture, if you do not have any printed yet. If your pet just got loose, your neighbors will be the best resource to spot your pet.
Social Media
Post your pet's information on Facebook groups such as Lost & Found Pets of Columbia. There are also groups for Lexington, Irmo, and other groups that are specific to your area or neighborhood. Facebook pages, such as Lost/Found in South Carolina, have a wide reach and numerous followers to help your pet find their way back home. You should include a picture of your dog, contact information, last seen information, and any distinguishing marks.
Other Helpful Websites & Apps
- If you have a Nextdoor or Ring account, it is critical to post your pet on there to reach neighbors asap.
- We also suggest doing a free post on Pawboost.com, as they send an email blast to local vets & other members.
- NOTE: On Pawboost, after you enter the info, they will ask what plan you want to pay for; just exit that page and the free alert will go out)
- Also, Lostmydoggie.com will also send their notification to local shelters, vets, and rescue groups
- Check 24petconnect.com for pictures of intakes at nearby municipal/county shelters (do not search by any specific criteria such as breed or gender as they sometimes make mistakes…look at all the photos. You can also search other counties in case your pet somehow traveled far.
Posters
Hanging and passing out flyers in your neighborhood are one of the most effective ways to reunite lost pets. Cats actually tend to stay in their own neighborhood. Giant, neon posters attract the most attention. You can buy these at local office supply stores, such as Staples, Office Depot, Walmart, and Target. Using LARGE black letters for the neon poster boards will ensure the sign can be viewed due to the contrast of colors. You should include a picture of your dog, contact information, last seen information, and any distinguishing marks. If your dog is scared of people, ensure your signs say "Do not approach. Call if seen." This will help decrease the chances of your dog running further.
THE SEARCH
Shelter Checks
- Municipal Shelters: Even if your pet is microchipped, visit your local municipal shelters in-person at least every other day and ask to see their intakes since your pet went missing. Keep in mind that if the pet has no ID, they only have to keep your pet for 5-7 days before adopting out, letting a rescue pull it, or worse..
- Rescues: A quick Google search will show you all of the local rescue groups in your area that your pet could have ended up at. Contact them directly to ask if they have taken in your pet.
Don't Call Your Pet, Sing to your Pet!
Sounds crazy, right? When a pet is lost and scared, yelling their name will not always help them come to you. Your pet has been exposed to new noises, scents, scenery, and an unfamiliar environment. If you have others help with the search, your pet has heard numerous voices say their name, but none that probably sound familiar. You are obviously worried, stressed, and it shows in your voice. The stress in your voice can scare your pet further away or may cause them to not recognize your voice. Singing not only changes your voice to a more positive tone, but it also distinguishes your voice from others. This can help your pet recognize your voice and may come to you.
You see your pet, now what?
If you see your pet, sit down immediately, looking toward the ground. Do not run to them. Do not yell their name. They have just been on a journey without you and they are probably scared. Sitting on the ground presents you in a non-threatening, submissive position and shows the pet that they can approach you. Carry a bag of potato chips and a bag of smelly-enticing treats for your pet(chopped up hot dogs or liver are both good choices). Sit on the ground and eat the potato chips or another loudly-opening package and do not make eye-contact with your pet. You can drop small pieces of the pet-friendly treat you brought with you on the ground. This is to attract your pet, remove them from a flight-or-fight response and bring them to you.
Scent
It is critical to hang out unwashed clothing immediately that belongs to the pet's favorite human. Be sure to hang them 3 to 5 feet in the air on a tree, fence etc, in or around the spot the pet was last seen. You can also place your pet's favorite blanket, bed, or your cat's litterbox outside your home and keep an eye on it. A familiar smell can help your pet find their way back home.
Tracking Services
Contact ALL of these trackers as some give free advice over the phone although they do charge to come track; if you decide to use them, do so sooner rather than later before your pet’s scent is lost… they may have a waiting list so you should get on the list as soon as possible
- EPIC Animal Recovery
- Has a charge; see website for prices
- http://www.epicanimalrecovery.org/
- Michelle Wilson 704-770-8625
- Lost Pet Tracking Services Provided By R.V. Wakefield III
- R.V. and his K9s reside in Kernersville, North Carolina. Tri-County Trackers range of service includes all of North Carolina, and extends to the areas of southern Virginia and South Carolina, as well as eastern Tennessee.
- https://tricountytrackers.wordpress.com/
- Balynda Brown
- Black River Search and Rescue Inc in Camden, SC
- Go to the Facebook page of Black River Search and Rescue Inc and leave them a message about your specific situation, along with your phone #. They may be able to bring bloodhounds over to search; if not, they will call with some good tips which are free. They are a non-profit that works out of Camden, SC - very successful! They do have to charge a fee based on the mileage they have to travel to search, and operating expenses for searching by bloodhounds.
- Anakin’s Trails Animal Trapping in Greenville County
THE FOLLOW-UP
Now that you have found your lost pet, it is time to take preventative measures to ensure it does not happen again!
Method of Escape
Be sure to assess how your pet got out and make any alterations needed to prevent your pet from escaping. For example, dogs that dig many need a dig guard along the fence line. Ensure all household members are educated on closing exterior doors and ensuring animal family members are safe and secure.
Cause of Running Away
We cannot ask our pets why they ran from home and can only take educated guesses based on our pet's behavior and our experience with them. Pets run from their homes for many reasons. The best action to take is preventative and ensure your pet does not escape again.
Looking for a Mate
The best preventative action for this reason of escape is to spay and neuter your pets! Unaltered pets will travel miles and miles looking for a mate.
Boredom, Adventure, Love of Running
According to petMD, dogs need approximately thirty minutes to two hours of exercise per day. Regularly exercising your pet and providing them with stimulating toys will decrease their desire to escape.
Microchip!
Microchips are a permanent identification that cannot fall off or be removed. Lost pets that are microchipped are much more likely to make it back home than pets without microchips. Microchipped pets have a longer "stray hold" at municipal shelters. They are given more time to be reunited with their owner before being considered for euthanasia.