Find a Lost Pet

One of the most tragic events for any family – especially one with small children – is losing one of the pets. Whether it be a dog or cat, animals sometimes get loose, and finding them among all of the houses and streets and bushes and trees in your neighborhood can seem like a lost cause.

There is hope, however, if you are diligent in your search and if you act quickly enough. Most animals who get loose from the house or yard are found within ¾ of a mile from the house. That means that your search radius is limited, and you can concentrate your efforts on looking closely around your block.

The First Few Hours

1. Look Quickly

As soon as you find that your dog or cat is missing, get started on your search. Don’t bother calling friends or neighbors yet because you will lose valuable time. Begin by searching the area immediately around your house, and then move progressively outward. It goes much faster if you have three or four people searching together.

2. To Call or Not To Call?

Calling your pet may be a good thing, but it may also hurt your chances of finding the animal. If your dog or cat typically comes to its name, then go ahead and call to it. But if you think that it will run away as soon as it hears you coming, they try to stay as quiet as possible. Animals may run because they think they will be in trouble for running away, and they may also run because they are enjoying their freedom. Whatever the case, make the best decision concerning your particular pet.

3. Run The Can Opener

If you use an electric can opener to open your pet’s food cans, take the can opener outside and run it for several minutes. This works especially well with cats, but can also be effective with dogs. Animals hear much better than we do, and if they think that it’s dinnertime, they may come running. If there are other sounds that your pet might look forward to, use them as well.

4. Don’t Drive