Steps to take BEFORE your pet is lost
Flyers
• Microchip your pet.
Do not put your name or address on your flyers.
• Have a recent close-up and ful body
picture of your pet.
If possible use a color photo of your pet.
• Be aware of your neighborhood
surroundings, which pets belong to which
neighbor, and any danger areas near your
home.
• Teach your pet to respond to a whistle
for treats or canned food goodies.
• Make sure your pet is wearing a collar
with an I.D. tag or an embroidered
collar with your current phone number.
• Pet-proof your yard fence so your cat or
dog will be safely confined.
• Keep fence gates securely locked.
•Never allow your pets to roam free in the
neighborhood.
Use fluorescent paper for high visibility.
List the date and place your pet was last seen,
including a major cross street. List your pet’s
breed, sex, age, weight, color, markings and your
telephone number.
If you offer a reward, don’t list an amount.
Withhold at least one identifying mark to verify
your pet has been found by a caller.
Post flyers at waist level on - telephone poles
and at eye level in such places as vet offices,
pet shops, barber & beauty shops, grocery
stores, community bulletin boards, churches,
pizza parlors, laundromats, convenience stores
and school bulletin boards.
•Always transport your cat in a carrier
and your dog on leash or in a carrier.
• Ensure the YOU can be located if your
pet is found.
• Spay/neuter your pets. Both males and
females will be much less likely to wander
if they are “fixed”.
PAWS recommends using a call service to notify
your neighborhood of your missing pet:
Help!
My Dog is Lost
Lost Dog Report
Your Name:________________________
Address:___________________________
__________________________________
Contact Phone:_____________________
Last seen date:______________________
time:________________________
location:_____________________
Male
Long Hair
Color: ________________________
Age:_________________________
Female
Short Hair
Dog is normally:
indoor only
indoor/outdoor
outdoor only
Reasons Why Dogs Leave
The three most common reasons why dogs become
separated from their families are opportunistic journey,
wanderlust, and blind panic.
Opportunistic journey is when a gate or door is
accidentally left open. While some dogs will remain in their
yards or at their homes, most simply can’t refuse the
temptation to explore when presented the opportunity.
Although these dogs might not actively attempt to leave,
their noses just lead them on a journey that can take them
blocks or even miles from home.
Wanderlust is a common problem in intact male dogs of any
breed as well as certain breeds like hounds. These dogs will
actively attempt to escape by climbing, digging, or wiggling
to escape their yards. They will also bolt out a door or pull
to get away from their handler if the opportunity presents
itself. Wanderlust is responsible for the displacement of
many dogs and a major contributing
factor to the stray populations in our shelters.
Blind panic is a situation in which the “flight” instinct (from
the hardwired “fight or flight” response to stimuli) kicks in
and a dog runs in what we call a blind panic. This can happen
for three reasons: xenophobic (skittish) temperament, loud
noises (thunder, gunfire), or traumatic incident (involved in
car accident, explosion, etc). These dogs are the most
difficult to catch since they will travel far, travel fast, and
avoid human contact, even with their own family members!
Owner Behaviors That Create Problems: Dog owners often
behave in ways that actually inhibit their chances of finding
their lost dog. They develop “tunnel vision” and fail to find
their dog because they focus on wrong
theories. They experience “grief avoidance” and quickly give
up their search effort. They feel helpless and alone, often
discouraged by others who rebuke them and tell them “it
was just a dog” and “you’ll never find your dog.” But one of
the biggest problems is that dog owners typically focus
their search efforts by posting lost dog flyers and by
searching the cages at the local shelter. Although these
techniques are important and should not be overlooked, the
primary technique to recover a missing dog should be to
obtain permission from all neighbors to enter their yards
and conduct an aggressive, physical search for the missing
dog (and to set baited humane traps there when
necessary). Simply asking a neighbor to “look” for the lost
dog is not sufficient! Neighbors are not going to crawl
around on their bellies under their decks or houses to
search for someone else’s lost dog!
What
to do
if your
dog is
lost:
• First, search your property thoroughly.
• Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody and
leave your phone number.
• Make some noise while you walk around the
neighborhood- use the whistle your dog is used to
responding to for treats.
• Bring a powerful flashlight, (even during daylight
hours) for checking dark spaces.
• Place strong smelling articles outside your home
to attract your pet. Place a dog’s bedding and
favorite toys outside. Place some unwashed
laundry of the family in a box outside. If it’s warm
weather, crate other family pets and place them
outside in a safe and secure area.
• Put some dogfood outside your home during
daylight hours.
• Call PAWS 206-842-2451; local vet clinics; the
KHS Lost Pet Hotline 360-698-0255.
• Post Lost Pet Flyers
• Check the PAWS Lost Pet pages, the KHS Lost
Pet Forum and the found ads in the classifieds.