- Protect Yourself :Do not put yourself or others in
danger trying to catch a pet that may be injured or frightened.
Use caution.
- Protect the Animal: Time is important, it only takes a
minute to get hit by a car or leave your sight.
- Secure the Animal: Put the animal in a safe area. Be
aware that they may try to escape from garage doors. Dogs are good at
this, cats are better. Try to secure a dog with a leash, even your
belt can connect to the collar as a temporary lead.
- Provide Water: If you think that the animal has been
on his own for more than two hours, provide a fresh water supply. Cats
and dogs can dehydrate quickly if they have been cruising outside.
- Check for Injuries: Look for obvious signs of
injuries, cuts, limping, cut ears. If the animal is cooperating, lightly
touch them all over and be alert and careful of reactions.
- Check for TAGS and collar: The primary goal
is to reunite the animal with his lost guardian. Look for identification
tags and call as soon as possible. In addition to personal tags, many
animals carry licenses (all SJC dogs are required to be licensed) and
tags for database groups like the American Kennel Club.
- Have Vet or Shelter Scan For Microchip: An increasing
number of guardians are having their Vet implant microchips just
under the skin that uniquely identify the animal. It is important that
the animal be given every chance to be reunited with his family.
Southern California Shelters, including OC Shelter and most local
Veterinarians have scanners capable of reading the microchip and then
calling an 800 number to receive one to five different contact numbers
for the animal. These may include the guardian's pager, home phone, work
phone, relative's contact and Veterinarian for the animal. Those that
administer this information will only provide it to the Shelter or Vet.
- Take him to the Appropriate Shelter: Time is important
and he needs every opportunity to be reunited with his family. His
family will check the local shelter (for SJC, that is currently the OC
Shelter in Orange). Many shelters allow you to place a "first
opportunity" notice on adoption
- Check Local Shelters: You can increase the chance
that he will find his home by checking other local shelters in the
area. Most have a binder with lost/found/available pets.
- Post Flyers: Create and post flyers in the
following:
Download our MS Word FOUND PET templates below if that helps you
make the flyers.
Six block area of where he was found
Local Shelters
PETsMART PETCO, and other pet supply stores
Leave flyers with local Veterinarians.
- Place Found Pet Ads: Place found pet ads in local
papers, the PENNEYSAVER and SHOPPER.
- Post on PETS911: Use our link below to post with
PETS911 database, even if he is at a shelter. Post in several local
zipcodes.
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