First of all, they’re highly curious creatures by nature. Think of the animals they’re related to—wolves and tigers, both of which hunt and check out new areas of interest all the time.
Exploring and chasing objects of desire are instinctual for house pets; even if they receive proper attention and care at home, they’ll always have an inkling to find out what lies beyond their territories, and sometimes that longing can’t be denied.
Normally, pets run away from:
Where do I start?
Normally, pets run away from:
- acute boredom or loneliness
- to answer sexual urges if they have not been neutered
- in response to sudden and unexpected events that frighten them
- out of curiosity if doors, windows or gates are left open
- if they are new to a home and are looking for their former surroundings
Where do I start?
1. First…Place food/ water and familiar items outside, in the area where your pet went missing from, or was last seen….(e.g. Kennel,dog/cat bed, blanket, your coat, or anything that has your scent on it) Also, place a "dirty" litter box outside. Your cat will smell his scent, which makes it easier to find his way home.
Note: Continue to keep food & familiar items out in that area, until your dog or cat is found!
2. Next, call and go to local (City and Town) Police Departments, Vet Clinics, Humane Societies (please include the Humane Societies that are located in the surrounding counties as well) and **Animal Rescue Groups and Shelters. **
You will find a list of Agencies that Find Animals on the BOTTOM of the Animal Rescue Groups and Shelters.
Animal Foundation of Clark County Lost and Found ❤ Department
Report a Lost Animal/Fill out information so they can contact you if found.
3. VERY IMPORTANT STEP: Print out flyers and distribute in newspaper boxes or door to door ALL AROUND the area where your dog went missing, or was last seen…
THIS STEP HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING MANY PETS HOME… ALSO, PLEASE ALERT PEOPLE NOT TO PURSUE or CHASE YOUR PET, IF HE/SHE DOES NOT COME TO THEM…BUT TO CALL YOU, WITH TIME AND EXACT LOCATION OF WHERE PET WAS SEEN. Start out with a 3 - 5 mile radius. *** expand the flyer area (another mile)…if no sightings reported, after 2 to 3 days***.
4. Make poster size signs and post at nearby intersections and in front of home where dog went missing from ~ USE bright colored poster board…and make letters large enough for drivers to see…See poster document for easy to make signs, and location diagram.
5. Post Lost Dog or Cat Ad on internet sites: MOST POPULAR is Craigslist… post in the lost and found section as well as pet section.
Other sites you can post on are: Pet Harbor and Tabby Ttracker which helps people find their lost cats. # 1 Lost Cat database. Tabby Tracker is the largest public database of lost cats. Lost cat owners and finders can post classified ads, search listings, and print posters. Start by searching our lost or found cat listings, then proceed to register your cat so that you can be contacted. Additional information also can be found at Pets-N-More on the bottom of the page.
6. Place Lost Dog Ad in community newspaper – Post under lost and found in the classified section. You may also want to contact local Radio Stations ~ some will make a free public announcement of missing dog!
FindToto ~ is a fee based phone service, and is not affiliated with Lost Dogs of Wisconsin. They will notify surrounding residents by phone, (land lines only) with-in 1 hour of receiving your lost dog report.
Be sure to specify address of where your pet went MISSING FROM, if other than your home address. Please see their website at: Find Toto for more information.
NOTE: Once you get a sighting of your pet….Please go to the area w/ food & leash. Remain calm. As soon as you see your pet, LOWER YOUR BODY DOWN TO THE GROUND and use FAMILIAR -positive words like “treat” or “go for walk” etc…IF your pet is normally a little shy around strangers, he or she may not even come to YOU right away!
Most likely your pet will stay near-by…Then we can go over different techniques used, to lure and safely catch your dog or cat…!
Suggested Reading and Sources:
2. Next, call and go to local (City and Town) Police Departments, Vet Clinics, Humane Societies (please include the Humane Societies that are located in the surrounding counties as well) and **Animal Rescue Groups and Shelters. **
You will find a list of Agencies that Find Animals on the BOTTOM of the Animal Rescue Groups and Shelters.
Animal Foundation of Clark County Lost and Found ❤ DepartmentReport a Lost Animal/Fill out information so they can contact you if found.
TO VIEW THE LOST PETS AT THE ANIMAL FOUNDATION...CLICK HERE
3. VERY IMPORTANT STEP: Print out flyers and distribute in newspaper boxes or door to door ALL AROUND the area where your dog went missing, or was last seen…
THIS STEP HAS PROVEN TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING MANY PETS HOME… ALSO, PLEASE ALERT PEOPLE NOT TO PURSUE or CHASE YOUR PET, IF HE/SHE DOES NOT COME TO THEM…BUT TO CALL YOU, WITH TIME AND EXACT LOCATION OF WHERE PET WAS SEEN. Start out with a 3 - 5 mile radius. *** expand the flyer area (another mile)…if no sightings reported, after 2 to 3 days***.
4. Make poster size signs and post at nearby intersections and in front of home where dog went missing from ~ USE bright colored poster board…and make letters large enough for drivers to see…See poster document for easy to make signs, and location diagram.
5. Post Lost Dog or Cat Ad on internet sites: MOST POPULAR is Craigslist… post in the lost and found section as well as pet section.
Other sites you can post on are: Pet Harbor and Tabby Ttracker which helps people find their lost cats. # 1 Lost Cat database. Tabby Tracker is the largest public database of lost cats. Lost cat owners and finders can post classified ads, search listings, and print posters. Start by searching our lost or found cat listings, then proceed to register your cat so that you can be contacted. Additional information also can be found at Pets-N-More on the bottom of the page.
6. Place Lost Dog Ad in community newspaper – Post under lost and found in the classified section. You may also want to contact local Radio Stations ~ some will make a free public announcement of missing dog!
FindToto ~ is a fee based phone service, and is not affiliated with Lost Dogs of Wisconsin. They will notify surrounding residents by phone, (land lines only) with-in 1 hour of receiving your lost dog report.
Be sure to specify address of where your pet went MISSING FROM, if other than your home address. Please see their website at: Find Toto for more information.
NOTE: Once you get a sighting of your pet….Please go to the area w/ food & leash. Remain calm. As soon as you see your pet, LOWER YOUR BODY DOWN TO THE GROUND and use FAMILIAR -positive words like “treat” or “go for walk” etc…IF your pet is normally a little shy around strangers, he or she may not even come to YOU right away!
Recommend Reading:
If this is the case, we recommend that you place good smelling food (like canned cat food), and familiar items with your scent on it…near the area right away!!…and alert everyone not to pursue the cat or dog, if seen ~
The goal is to keep your pet in that area ~ And if food, water, & shelter are easily accessible for him/her…and is not forced to run, out of fear…
The goal is to keep your pet in that area ~ And if food, water, & shelter are easily accessible for him/her…and is not forced to run, out of fear…
Most likely your pet will stay near-by…Then we can go over different techniques used, to lure and safely catch your dog or cat…!
Here are three groups you can try:
- Maddies Fund
- Lost & Found Fur Babies Facebook page
- Lost Bullies of the West Facebook page
Suggested Reading and Sources:
- Lost Dog Action Plan
- Petharbor
- Tabby Trackers
- Petfinders
- Thanks to Lost Dogs of Wisconsin A very informative and interesting website
- Why Pets Run Away and Where They Often Go by Petfinders
