What To Do If You've Found/Lost A Stray Animal

   ~Finding A Stray

     ---If you happen upon a stray animal in the wild, the first thing to remember is to not approach it too quickly. You'll want to call the local animal control officer (ACO) in your city, county, etc. and inform them of the situation. Let them know where you are located, what kind of animal you have found, and answer any questions they may have. If you don't have an ACO in your area, contact your local Non-Emergency Police line and follow the same steps mentioned above. Otherwise, if you wish to do so, and have the means to do it (live trap, leash & food, etc.), you may try to catch the animal yourself and bring it to your local animal shelter. Never try to capture an animal that is aggressive! ACOs and local law enforcement have tools that assist them in capturing dangerous animals. There's also several pages on sites like Facebook that are dedicated to helping find lost animals in several states and counties all over the country, so even getting just a picture, or description, and uploading it to the appropriate page can possibly help the owner find it as well.

     ---Companies like HomeAgain and 24PetWatch are dedicated to finding the homes of lost pets. Bringing a stray animal to a vet, police station, or shelter, it takes just a few seconds to scan them for a chip. If they have one, the animal will be in the files of the company the chip is registered under, and can return home to their rightful owner! A microchip doesn't harm a dog. It's the same as getting a shot from the doctor, and the chip is no larger than a single grain of rice.

   ~Losing An Animal

     ---If you have lost your pet, the first thing to do is call any nearby animal shelters and report that it has gone missing. Most shelters will ask for your basic information, such as name, address, and phone number, and ask for a description of the animal. The more information you can give them, the better. Tell them the name, sex, age, breed, color, any unique/distinguishing physical traits, if they have some sort of collar, if they have been fixed, and if they have a microchip. They will then add the animal to a lost pets list, and contact you if the animal is brought to their shelter.

     ---Another option is to check social media sites. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites have dedicated pages to help people find their animals that have gone astray. There are several pages for states, counties, and cities all over the country. Chances are you'll find one for your area!

     ---Always remember to get your pets spayed/neutered. As this will reduce their urge to roam and wander away from home. Microchipping your pets is also a very useful tool. They will not harm your pet, and the companies that make these chips are always working to help animals find their way home.