Finding lost pets can certainly be a challenge. Different species of animals behave differently when they are lost and also in most of the situations, owners also panic and search frantically all over the place. What people don’t realize is that they should not take any action in haste when finding lost pets. Instead do some thinking first.
Let's dive right in.
A Guide to Finding Lost Pets
It is important to keep in mind that in critical situations, such as finding lost pets, time cannot be wasted. If smart tactics are used, the animal will come walking back to their owner on its own.
The First Thing to Do
The first thing to do when finding lost pets is to call out the name of the animal very loudly. Usually the owners call out the name of the animal at meal times. So the pet will associate the name calling with food and will come out of hiding for food if they are in vicinity.
Also, dry food treats, which are given to the animal, can be put in a can and covered with a lid. Then the can should be rattled. Hearing the noise the pet will come rushing to have the treat, no matter where they are hiding.
They Will Get Tempted
They will get tempted to have their treat. This technique is also known as a conditioned response and is very effective.
Very rarely will a pet come out of the hiding in broad daylight. The owners must wait till dusk and then start the search for their pet in the neighborhood.
Owners should not waste their time searching and finding lost pets during the day. Instead they should utilize the day time to inform local law enforcement and bylaw officers about the present situation. Because in most of the states, you are required to report a lost animal within an hour.
And if this time limit is crossed the owner can be heavily penalized and even get arrested. When finding lost pets all the legal requirements should be documented and all the names of the people involved should be written down. This will help in providing proof to the authorities later.
Use a Flashlight when Finding Lost Pets
A portable flashlight or spotlight should be used when finding lost pets at night. This is an effective technique because the animal will look straight at the person holding the light and their eyes will reflect the light back and shine in the dark.
If the animal has escaped from the house, every house in the neighborhood should be knocked on and people should be shown pictures of the missing pet. Also, contact information should be left in case they find the pet. Thus, they can contact you right away.
There is a good possibility of someone spotting the animal. And if someone does see the animal, they can give the direction of where the pet is heading.
The Animal can be at Increased Risk
The animal can be at increased risk if it declawed or de-fanged. It will not have the basic means of self-defense required in the wild.
If they are in a dense area, they will hide until dark and then wander around in the night. Also, the animal cannot hunt for food, so they will be very hungry and tired.
Again, the rattling of the can with dry food can do the trick in finding lost pets. Even its favorite toy, if it makes noise, can be used. Any familiar sound will encourage the animal to come out of hiding.
The recognition of the rattling of the can and noise of a toy should be part of their training when they are young. This will prove very useful when finding lost pets. In fact, your pet should be made to hear this sound everyday.
This practice should be carried out by the person who is closest to the pet. The same person should try this trick when the animal is lost, as the pet will not come to an unknown person.
After All of These Efforts
Even after all of these efforts in finding lost pets, if the pet still isn’t found; flyers should be distributed in the neighborhood. The flyer should have a picture of the pet, its description, owner’s contact information and a reward if any.
The idea of the reward, even if it a small amount, will catch the attention of many people. And some might even become proactive members of the search team. If your budget allows, print the flyer in color, as the picture will be more easily recognizable.
While going about finding lost pets it is very important to mention that if any one sees the animal, do not try to catch it. Instead, the owners should be contacted immediately.
Finding Lost Pets using Medium Sized Boards
Another good tool in finding lost pets is to use medium sized boards similar to advertising boards that can be put up within a radius of two miles. The words ‘lost pet’ and a telephone number should be written in a big and bold font. Other details can be written in smaller font. When the animal is found, the signs should be saved for future use.
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