Lost a Pet?

You can do the following:

• Don’t assume your missing companion will be back in a day or two, has been stolen, or has “gone off to die.” Begin your search as soon as you realize your pet is missing, and visit Missing Pet Partnership for specific strategies on how to find lost cats and lost dogs.
• Visit the local animal shelter that services your area. Here’s a list of other animal shelters and agencies in Western Washington.
• Complete this form if you lost an animal.
• Contact your local animal control to see if they have found your pet. Some communities provide a “free ride home” for dogs and cats who are wearing a current city license, and if you can provide officers with your current contact information.
• If your pet has a microchip, contact the microchip company to make sure your pet’s registration is up-to-date with current phone numbers and contact information. Some microchip companies take lost reports over the phone. If you are not sure of the microchip brand, contact the veterinary clinic or shelter where your pet was microchipped.
• For lost cats, consider renting a humane trap as many displaced cats have not gone far from their homes. Many lost cats are found by their own families when they use humane traps and other methods described on the Missing Pet Partnership website.
• Submit a “lost report” on animal-related or social websites like Craigslist.

 

 

Is your pet at PAWS?

Check out the following pet feed to see if your lost pet has already arrived at PAWS. If they are at the shelter, be prepared for the reclaiming process when you arrive at the shelter. If you think your lost dog or cat may end up at PAWS, submit a lost animal report and visit during our open hours.

PAWS takes in strays from Edmonds, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Shoreline and Woodinville in Washington State. If you lost your dog or cat outside of the Greater Seattle Area in Washington State, search Petfinder.com for shelters near you.

When you arrive:

PAWS staff will instruct you how to look for your cat or dog in the shelter.
If you haven’t already, you will need to complete a lost animal report. Remember to bring a recent picture of your cat or dog to attach to the report.

• Staff will also direct you to our lost and found station to look through the found animal reports. These are completed by citizens who are holding onto stray animals in the hopes of reuniting them with their guardians without leaving them at the shelter.
• As difficult as it may be, ask about records of animals who were found injured or dead.
• Lost and found reports are kept on file for approximately four weeks and are not returned to the reporter. PAWS is not responsible for returning photographs or other items attached to the report.

If your lost cat or dog is at PAWS:

• Good news that your pet has been found!
• Before your pet can be released, you must prove ownership and pay any related fines.
• Proof of ownership is established with pictures, veterinary records, pet tags, licenses or a microchip registered in your name.
• Fines are determined by the city or county where your pet was found. PAWS staff will tell you the amount and where to pay them.
• Depending on where your pet was found, fines are payable either to PAWS by cash or credit card or at the community police station.
• Once you’re reunited, learn how to prevent your pet from getting lost again.

 

 

If your pet is NOT at PAWS:

If your cat or dog is lost, visit PAWS’ shelter and other animal shelters and do it often. Looking in person is the best way to ensure that you and your pet are reunited. Continue your search by taking these steps:

Post signs

Make signs bold, with keywords in large type. A photo of the animal is a big help. Distribute them door-to-door in the neighborhood where the animal was lost and post them at major intersections and along main streets in the area. PAWS and many other shelters have “lost and found” stations within their facilities where you can also post your signs.

Download a ready-made lost sign.

Cover the neighborhood and beyond

• Call local veterinary clinics including those that handle emergencies.
• If your pet is microchipped, call the microchip company to report your pet missing and to be sure your contact information is up to date.
• Let everyone in your neighborhood know your pet is missing. Talk to passers-by and stop in at businesses in your area.
• Check the neighborhood including alleys, playgrounds, parks and roadside ditches. Cats can often become stranded in trees or shut-in garages, storage sheds, under porches or on rooftops.
• Enlist the help of letter carriers and delivery persons as well. It is not uncommon for animals to be found miles from where they were lost.

Try a humane trap

If you lost a small dog or cat, try using a humane trap to safely capture your pet. You can rent a humane trap from PAWS.

Use the Internet

Several websites provide information for lost and found companion animals:

Petfinder
Finding Rover
Craigslist
Pets 911
Lost and Pound
Missing Pet Partnership
Petco Love Lost

Place an ad

Immediately place an ad in the major daily newspaper for your area. Continue to monitor the ads in case someone lists one for a found animal who matches the description of your pet.

Offer a reward

Offering a reward on your posters and in ads may offer an incentive for people to become involved. Be cautious before giving money to anyone claiming to know the whereabouts of your animal–make sure the person claiming to have your animal really does.

Be thorough

By using all available approaches, you can increase the odds of a happy reunion. Many animals are found weeks after they were lost. Don’t give up.

 

 

Prevention

ID tags, microchips, secure enclosures, behavior training, and even spay/neuter can help prevent pets from wandering and getting lost.

An ID tag can mean the difference between life and death for a dog or cat. Even indoor-only pets need tags. Also, consider getting your companion microchipped as a way to permanently identify your dog or cat.

Microchips cannot come off like a collar and tag, and give you an extra “insurance policy” in case your pet becomes lost again. Most veterinary clinics can microchip and register your companion with a national database service for a one-time fee under $50. Learn more about microchips.

Security at home

Check your house and yard to determine how your dog or cat managed to escape, and correct the problem as soon as possible.

Additionally, PAWS has information that can help you address behavior issues including how to manage escaping behavior as well as details on how to establish a safe confinement plan for your cats. Learn more about outdoor cat enclosures.

Get your pet spayed or neutered

Animals who are still sexually intact will roam because they are looking to fulfill the natural instinct to mate. By spaying or neutering your pets, you will eliminate this desire and make it easier to keep them content and safe at home.