Maura K.
3 years ago
When your pet goes Missing...
•Quickly search last known location (keep slip lead and stinky treats with you at all times), check your home, shed, garage, basement and the entire area by car and foot that dog went Missing from...if you see the lost dog, be sure to get down low, talk gently and offer treats...
•Set Scent Station at that last known location or home if close by, pet may return to that location or come home- place dirty stinky laundry, from bottom of laundry basket, smelly dog bed, a used blanket outside in a safe visible area at your house or at location dog went missing from to help dog return...also a bowl of smelly human or can dog food...
•Post using detailed information state Missing/Lost, Breed, Color, Size, when and where missing from (Closest intersecting streets), Collar?, Microchip?, post on all Lost & Found Pet pages on Facebook (@Lost & Found Pets - Hampton Roads, VA), Nextdoor app, Neighbors app, Pawboost app (let us know if you receive a call or message claiming someone found your dog associated with Pawboost and they are responding to you,, sadly,, there is a known scam and we don't want it to waste any of your time, if it isn't true) and any other Neighborhood pages in your area...
•Tell everyone you see that your pet is Missing and any instructions like DO NOT CHASE or any tips about what your dog likes, like treats to get him to come to them... tell friends, neighbors, the mailman, local stores...the more eyes the better...
*Sightings Are Very Important!!!*
•If you or those who are helping you see your dog be sure to get low to the ground, be calm with limited eye contact and slowly get the dog to approach them, by using treats...a dog on the run may not even recognize his own owner, if dog is fearful, it may take some time for him to realize you are safe...Be Patient and figure out what works to get him to trust you again...a wagging tailed dog, for instance, may come right to you...try to read what they are thinking and go with what feels right to get this pet safely...
*PLEASE CONTAIN, if at all possible until someone else can take over for you!!! (even a small timid dog can dig or climb a fence when wanting to leave)
•Make fliers by next morning and BE SURE into put in upsidedown plastic page protectors sealed with tape and put in places where people slow down enough to glance at...make the flier simple stating MISSING or LOST with Contact info with only One BIG Picture...people ONLY glance, so they need to see and remember your pet and will hopefully return to this flier to get info, if they see your pet...
•Report to Animal Control to file a Lost Report...check all local Shelters... Penninsula Regional Animal Shelter (serves Hampton, Newport News and York County)check daily or at least every few days ...
•Be sure you have any Vet records and pics of your pet available... Update Microchip info with current contact information...
•PLEASE keep us updated on any new information by editing your post with info such as sightings to further help you and to keep your post active on Facebook...many of us are worrying with you and will jump in to help you, whenever we can...
