Lost & Found Animals – What to Do
It happens to the best of us. On occasion, our beloved animal family members manage to wander from home, leaving us worried sick! Perhaps they broke free from their leash while on a walk, bolted out the door after being startled by a loud noise, squeezed through an open window, or walked right out the back gate, left open by a recent visitor. Maybe you have found a dog or cat, looking quite lost as they meander down your street, and you are wondering where to even begin to look for their family. If your animal family member takes themself for a walk without your permission, or should you find someone else’s dog or cat, below are some strategies you can use to to effectively reunite lost and found animals with their families.
How to Help Lost and Found Animals
Step 1
Walk the neighborhood. If your cat or dog has gone missing, or if you have found one, try walking the area where they were lost or found. You may run into your lost animal and their rescuer or the family of the animal you have just rescued.
Step 2
Check in with your local veterinary clinics. It is common for found animals to be brought to a clinic to check for a microchip. If you have found an animal, most clinics will permit you to walk in to check for a registered microchip. The clinic may possibly have the microchip number on file, if the found animal happens to be a patient there. Or, they may be able to identify the manufacturer of the microchip, and contact the company to check for registry. If you have lost your animal, call around to multiple local clinics to see if anyone brought your cat or dog in. Most importantly, contact the microchip company to ensure your dog or cat is registered with your contact information, and that your clinic has your animal family member’s microchip number on file in the first place.
Step 3
File a lost report or found report on the Hawaii Humane Society Website. Filing a lost report or a found report will allow your local shelter to facilitate a reunion. You can also search for your lost animal yourself in the lost report section of the Hawaii Humane Society’s website.
Step 4
Ask neighbors for help using social media. Posting on Nextdoor app, or the “Paw Posse ‘Ohana” Facebook page often results in successful reunions, especially in our local Kailua area. People in our area may recognize the cat or dog you found as their sister’s, their neighbor’s, or even their own! If your animal is missing, your neighbors can help spread the word, widening the search network.
Step 5
Provide Shelter. If you have room to spare, allowing the cat or dog you have found to room with you for a few hours to a few days is ideal. Most animals feel more comfortable in a home than in a shelter environment. It’s likely that their family is not far from where you live, making a reunion easier.
