NL Pet Finder--TIPS

TIPS

Tips for Finding your Lost Pet

Act Immediately!

Do not wait to see if your pet will come home on their own. Begin looking by calling their name with your “indoor voice”. (The same voice you would use if you were talking to them inside the home). An outdoor voice may NOT sound as familiar as your indoor voice.

Search by foot first. Your scent will appeal more to your pet than your car’s scent.

Make sure to Look Up! Sometimes cats like to hide on accessible rooftops and in trees.

Use treats and food as a tool in luring your pet back home. Treats that make a noise in its packaging is an excellent resource!

Put your pet's kennel outside close to the house. Keep the door open, and place a sweater in the kennel with some food. The scent of your clothing would most likely attract YOUR pet as opposed to others in the neighborhood.

Look for your pet either late at night or early in the morning. The quieter it is outdoors, the better your pet will hear your voice.

*When most Indoor-Only cats get out of the home, they hide in silence for a long period of time so you have to really LOOK for them (usually very close to the point of escape).

Who Do I Contact?

NL Pet Finder ® 709-PET-FIND (709-738-3463)
Your local Humane Society
Your local SPCA
Your local Newspaper
Your local radio stations
You local Veterinary Hospital
Doggy/Kitty day-care facilities
Groomers

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF CONTACTS

Make Flyers!

1. Description:
Include as much information about you pet as you can! (i.e. Color, weight, age, special marking, tattoos, scars, collar, de-clawed or not, temperament, etc).
*If you have a pure breed pet, DO NOT assume that people will know what your pet looks like based on the breed. Description is key!

2. Picture:
Include a most recent picture of your pet. Don’t go for “the cute” picture of your pet… go for the picture that shows the most important markings. A visual description can sometimes be better than a verbal description.

3. Contact information:
Don’t forget to include your first name, telephone number, area and community. It is important to know from which area of the community the pet is missing from!

4. Poster the town!:

a) Deliver your flyers house-to-house (placing in mailboxes, under welcoming mats, in screen doors, and of course, to a person.

b) Give your flyers to as many cab drivers, mail-carriers, bus drivers, meter readers, garbage collectors, and neighborhood children as you can and ask them for their help. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to help!

c) Deliver flyers to businesses in the area, to all local “Pet Supply” companies, and also to vet clinics in your community. Get the word out there!

*Remember to purchase sheet protectors for your flyers, as Newfoundland and Labrador has many rainy days!

Important WORDS to say in a Flyer:

1. Please call even if you think you MIGHT have seen our pet

2. Please help by looking under cars, in sheds, under the house or in a wooded area, as the pet might be hurt or injured.

3. Call us anytime during the day or night. We are extremely worried about our pet.

*If you are assisting in a search for a missing pet, place the flyer on the refrigerator as the contact information is readily available in the event you see the missing pet.

*Posting a REWARD is optional and not necessary.

*Success! When your pet is finally home, remember REMOVE your posters and let the people involved in the search know that your pet is home! NL Pet Finder thrives on Happy Endings!

Protect Your Pet:

License your Pet! Whether you have an indoor or indoor/outdoor pet, they all need to have the current license attached to his/her collar. Many pets do not like collars at first, but they DO get used to them in time. There are many types, sizes, colors and even some that are very fashionable!
Have your pet tattooed and Micro Chipped for extra protection!

*If you have a male cat that is not neutered he could travel very far. The urge to mate may cause him to get into fights and he could suffer serious injuries as a result.

Lost Pet Prevention:

1. When driving, ensure that your pet is secure whether in a kennel or a specific breed seat-belt.

2. Don’t leave your pet unattended in your vehicle.

3. If your pet is nervous or skittish by nature, ensure that the Pet’s ID tag says “I’m nervous, not abused”. Sometimes people take in animals assuming that they have been neglected, abused, or abandoned.

4. Have your pet spayed or neutered to avoid roaming or aggression.

5. Ensure that all window screens in your home are in good shape. It only takes a small tear or rip for a cat to notice an exit to the outdoors.

6. Place a sign in the front of your home to alert Fire and Police departments that you have pets in your home. “Please save our pets” stickers can be purchased, or you can make your own!

7. Make sure your pet’s collar is not too loose or too tight and is in good condition.

Why pets “take off”:

Fireworks
Thunder & lightning
Loud parties
Rearranging of furniture (Christmas)
Construction in the home
Mating Season

©Copyright Rachael Bowdridge, NL Pet Finder trademark property of Rachael Bowdridge, Newfoundland Labrador, Canada.
2007-2009