SOS…What to Do if Your Pet is Lost

Posted by Rockstar Puppy on Apr 06, 2017

SOS…What to Do if Your Pet is Lost

Have you ever had a moment of sheer panic when you call for your dog, but he or she doesn’t come? Then you probably understand what a pet owner goes through when their pet goes missing. It can happen in an instant. A conversation with another pet owner in the dog park diverts your attention from monitoring your dog. The lawn service leaves the gate open. Your dog digs under the fence. Your dog sitter leaves your pet in the backyard too long. Your dog breaks away from his or her collar on a walk.

There are so many ways it can happen, but for most pet owners, they will do just about anything to get their pet back.
“The first step to getting your pet back when lost is putting up posters in the area where your pet was lost,” said Jessica Clark, owner of Rockstar Puppy, a leading online boutique specializing in luxury dog accessories and chic dog furniture bed. “Use a color photo on the poster, and if you have the means to offer a reward, do so. It really can make a difference.”

On the poster, also include your pet’s sex, age, weight, breed, color, and any special markings.

The urgency of the situation is warranted. As the ASPCA reports, according to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than two percent of lost cats and only 15 to 20 percent of lost dogs are returned to their owners. Most of the pets that were returned were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

Id tags for dogs are one of the easiest ways to identify whether a pet is owned. While tattoos -and especially microchips – are excellent ways to find a pet owner’s information, a professional such as a veterinarian or animal shelter employee will need to research the information for you. Tags are something anyone can handle, and all it takes is a simple phone call to the number listed on the tag to reunite the lost pet with his or her owner.

Rockstar Puppy offers incredibly cute dog tags that fit the personality of any pooch. Stylish options include skull designs, sparkly stunners and luxurious looks.

However, tags or no tags, it’s important to remember these helpful tips from the Humane Society of the United States if you are ever in the situation of looking for a lost pet.

  1. Contact local animal shelters and file a lost pet report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of your home. Visit the shelters nearest to where your pet was lost daily, if possible.
  2. Reach out to your neighborhood – walk or drive through your neighborhood several times each day, calling your pet’s name. Ask neighbors and letter carriers if they have seen your pet. Pass out posters to everyone you can.
  3. Advertise – post notices at grocery stores, community centers, veterinary offices, traffic intersections, pet supply stores and other locations. You can also place lost pet advertisements in newspapers.
  4. Go Online – check out Craigslist, local lost pet forums or the Center for Lost Pets.

However, HSUS warns pet owners to be wary of pet-recovery scams. When talking to a stranger who claims to have found your pet, ask him or her to describe the pet thoroughly before you offer any information. Meet at a safe public location – not your home – to recover your pet. Do not provide reward money to anyone prior to the safe return of your pet.

The organization also encourages pet owners to continue their search and not give up. Animals who have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners.

To find the most exclusive, high-end pet items available, visit www.rockstarpuppyboutique.com. Ultra-cool pet parents shop for the hottest pet pampering accessories at Rockstar Puppy.