How do I find my lost pet?

From home you can:

• First, search your property thoroughly. Small pets can get into some mighty strange places.
• Look in EVERY nook and cranny. Don't assume that your pet wouldn't crawl into some tiny space.
• Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody, and leave your number.
• Don't travel alone. Take a friend or family member with you.
• Try to get the neighborhood children involved. Kids are great at finding lost pets!
• Make some noise while you walk around the neighborhood! Animals can hear you from great distances.
• It's important to stop regularly, be quiet, and listen for your pet to make a noise in reply.
• The neighbors will think you're crazy, but hey, this is your pet we're talking about here!
• Have your family and friends call the pet's name.
• If your pet has a "squeaky toy" bring it along and use it to help you make familiar noises.
• Carry a box of your pet's biscuits, chews, or other treats and rattle it loudly while calling your pet's name.
• Contact your local Animal shelter and Vets
• Put up posters, include a photo (colour if possible), in the area where the pet was lost.
• Flyers or posters produce more "finds" than anything else, Your budget will determine how many flyers you can afford to post.
• DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME OR ADDRESS ON YOUR FLYER!
• List the date and place your pet was lost, breed of the pet, sex, age, weight, color, markings, and your telephone number. Offer a reward, don't state the amount.
• It is very important to always withhold several identifying marks and characteristics of your lost pet. You need to use these later to verify that a person has actually found your pet and is not trying to scam you.
• Post the flyers at waist level on telephone poles and at eye level in such places as veterinary offices, pet shops, barber & beauty shops, grocery stores, community bulletin boards, churches, pizza parlors, laundromats, convenience stores, near schools, and on school bulletin boards.
• Examine your posted flyers frequently and replace the ones that are missing or damaged.

Go to local Animal shelters and Vet:

• Look at photos of stray pets that are in the shelter.
• Check the Found reports filed by the public if they keep any.
• File a Lost report so the public can contact you if they think they've found your pet.

We recommend you check Animal shelter listings at least every second day! Stray animals that are not claimed by their owners may be made available for adoption after a certain period of time, contact your local Animal shelters or Vet to verify how long.

Also, please note that Animal shelter staff are not able to check Lost and Found reports, or to identify animals over the phone. It is the owner's responsibility to identify their own pet in person.

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I found a pet...now what?

If you have found a stray animal, he/she should be taken to an Animal shelter closest to the location where the animal was found. This will increase the likelihood that the animal will be reunited with his/her family and safely returned home.

If the pet was found somewhere else, please contact the local Animal shelter in the city it was found.
You have several options:

• If you wish to keep the pet while you are looking for the owner, please call the local Animal shelter and Vet to leave a Found Pet Report.  Staff will ask you a few questions, such as the breed of the animal, when and where you found it, and your contact information.
  • Please consider taking the pet to an Animal shelter to be scanned for an identification microchip and to be photographed. You do not have to leave the pet when you do so.
  • Place posters near the location you found the pet.
  • Talk with your neighbors or people in the area you found the pet. They may have information about the pet's home.
• If you do not wish to keep the pet take it to the local Animal shelter or Vet closest to home.
• If you have found a pet or any injured animal, contact your local Animal shelter or Vet.

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My pet may be found. What do I need to do?

Please call or go to the local Animal shelter or Vet immediately.  By law, unclaimed pets may be made available for adoption after a certain period of time arriving at the Animal shelter or Vet.

• People cannot identify pets over the phone, so it is important that you, a family member or friend go to the Animal shelter or Vet to see if your pet is there.
• While there you may need to look at the Found Pet report (if available) that lists animals that people have found in the community or brought to the shelter.
• If your pet is there, you can reclaim your pet by paying the appropriate fees.  If the shelter is closed, you may have to contact them and follow instructions for an animal emergency.
• If your pet is not there, please see How do I find my lost pet?

When You FOUND Your Pet

• Go and collect up all of your flyers.
• Thank everybody who has helped you.

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I can't keep my pet anymore. What are my options?

There are so many homeless pets in our community--we encourage you to try and work through issues with your pet by getting help from your veterinarian, a pet behaviorist or even friends. Many times, alternative solutions can be found other than surrendering your pet.

If you decide you cannot keep your pet, please try the following before surrendering your pet to the shelter:

• List your pet in the classifieds section.
• Call the local Animal shelter or Vet to see if anyone on their Wish List is looking for your particular type of pet.
• Check with your Vet, friends, family and neighbors to see if they know of anyone who might take your pet.

Most Animal shelters would accept your pet but cannot guarantee they will find it a home. There is a fee to leave your pet, and you will be asked to complete and sign a release form.

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