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Stay calm and in control.
CONDUCT A SEARCH
Talk to neighbors and the children who play in the area
— children are often more observant than adults. Go door
to door. Leave your name and a phone number where you can
readily be reached or they will be able to leave a message,
along with a photo or complete description of your pet.
Search in the evenings or part of the day when the area
is quiet. Call or whistle, as your pet may be hiding if
she is frightened or hurt. Carry some of your pet's favorite
food or treats and a carrier or at least a towel.
VISIT SHELTERS
Don't just call. Visit the shelters located in your area.
Go in person, as only you can identify your pet. Look through
every cage, ask to see every sick or injured animal. GO
EVERY SINGLE DAY because many shelters hold stray animals for
two days only. Leave a written reports at the shelters. Keep
checking for several weeks. Call local animal rescue groups in case your pet is turned in to one of them.
PUT
UP POSTERS
Use the form on the reverse of this page as a guide to making
your posters. Make posters on brightly colored paper that
will catch the eye. Place copies of the poster at eye level
within a 20-25 block radius of the last place you saw your
pet. Post them on community bulletin boards, in grocery
stores, etc. Use a black and white photo if possible, as
it will reproduce better than a color photo. If you don't
have a photo, get a picture from a magazine or book that
is a good likeness of your pet. If your cat is a specific
breed, write that down. If not, describe the cat as best
you can. Don't try to be overly descriptive, as you want
anyone who even thinks they saw your cat to call. Also,
remember that your cat may alter his appearance with time,
dirt, etc.
Example:
LOST CAT — 3-4 yr. neutered male, 10-12 pounds. Brown and
black tabby (stripes) with white boots on feet and white
beard and mustache on face. He may be wearing a green collar.
Never give the cat's name. A cat may not respond to their
name when called by a stranger and because of this the person
may think that he is not your cat. Offer a reward, but don't
say how much ($25-$50 is a good offer); people are more
inspired to call with information if there is money involved.
Cut the tabs on the dotted lines, so that someone can easily
tear off your number without needing a pen or paper.
When
someone calls, try to get a positive identification on your
animal from the caller. Have specific details in mind that
you didn't put on the poster (such as, Mr. Jones has yellow
eyes and a chocolate brown patch on his nose). This will
eliminate extortionists who will call claiming they have
your pet when they really don't. Think of something that
only someone with your pet would be able to answer. i.e.:
Mr. Jones may be a big boy, but he has a surprisingly tiny,
high-pitched mew). Agree to meet the caller in a busy public
place, such as park during the day, a local pet store, or
in front of the local grocery store. Make sure you have
your animal in your possession before giving the reward
money.
DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
It may take several weeks to find your pet.
Try
to be positive.
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