Top 5 Things to Do When Your Pet Runs Away

Unfortunately the new year has brought heartache in our household.  My mom's little miniature poodle ran away as it was being babysat by a trusted family member.  Since then we've searched and searched for the dog, but it has not turned up anywhere.  In the mean time, we've leaned some valuable lessons about what to do when a dog goes lost, and I'm posting the top 5 very important things to do here.

In retrospect we should have not put off doing the things we knew we should have, like making sure there are identifying tags on the dog with a phone number at all times.  Making sure the chip is registered with a microchip company.  Just getting your pet chipped is not enough.  If you don't register the chip, it won't do you any good.  The registration costs a minimal amount, but it's worth it.  We registered our pet with www.homeagain.com, and it cost us $17.99.  On the website they also sell identifying tags, but those can easily be picked up at many stores.

When your pet goes missing from your home:

1. At the front and back of your home, put out some dirty laundry.  Pets have a keen sense of smell and it might lead them home if they haven't gone far.

2. Put out flyers immediately at the intersections within a 2 mile radius of where your dog was losts.  You can make a flyer by going to www.lostdogsoftexas.com.  Keep checking where you posted these signs, and if one area seems to go missing, watch that area.  Someone may be taking them down because they have your pet.  Double the amount of flyers you put in that area.

3.  Contact your chip company to report a lost or stollen pet.  We were given by our chip company a list of veterinarians within a 25 mile radius.  They also email a notice to the veterinarians to be on the lookout for your lost pet.

4.  Go down, in person, to the shelters in the area.  Some of these post pictures of the pets they get, but some may be missed.  If it's the county or city shelters, your dog will only be held for 3-5 days waiting on an owner to claim it.

5.  Post on the many FaceBook groups about Lost and Found Pets.  Put ads on Craigslist in Lost & Found section AND in Pets section every few days. Check those sections daily for a found ad. Also check for dog for sale. If you see your dog for sale take a screen shot of the ad and be sure to include the URL of the ad and all the numbers at the bottom of the ad so that it can be traced, in case the ad is removed. DO NOT call that ad yourself. Get someone who can call and not be emotional about it, and can pretend to want to buy the dog. DO NOT go to meet anyone alone. Take back up. Notify the police before you go. Stay safe!!

And some things to NOT do:  Do not offer a reward for the pet.  Instruct others to not chase your pet, but to let it settle in and relax.  Then lure the pet with treats.

I hope you don't lose your pet.  Ours Sweetie Pie has been missing since January 3, 2016.  It has been really rough on the family.