I lost a pet

Losing a pet is a stressful experience for every pet owner. Below are some recommendations to help you find your pet.

• Humane Society of Berks County
• Humane Society of Lebanon County
• Lehigh County Humane Society
• Montgomery County SPCA
• Hillside SPCA
• Brandywine Valley  SPCA
• Humane League of Lancaster County

• Call your local police department as well as local veterinarians and animal hospitals in case your pet is being treated or was picked up by the police as part of their animal control efforts.
• Post your lost pet on Petco Love Lost as well as the popular Facebook groups Berks Dog Search and Berks County Cat Search. Many people also use their local neighborhood Nextdoor site to find pets or report lost ones.
• Make flyers and post them around the area where your pet was last located. Knock on doors in your neighborhood and check under shrubbery and in garages or other areas where your pet may be hiding or seeking shelter. Many times lost pets are only a few blocks from home.

Tips for finding lost dogs

• Search your neighborhood several times a day. Call for your dog. Shake a favorite treat jar or bag. Wait and see if your dog responds or comes to you.
• If you have more than one dog, bring your other dog with you (on a long leash) as you search. Your other dog may catch your lost dog’s scent or encourage him to come out of hiding.
• Put out items with your scent or your pet’s scent, like a dog bed.
• Don’t give up after a few days. Pets have sometimes been lost for weeks or months before they find their way home.

Tips for finding lost cats

Some outdated methods for finding cats that might work with dogs are:

• Placing food in the yard (will just attract other animals)
• Placing a dirty litter box outside
• Walking the neighborhood calling the cat by name and shaking treats.

After learning more about cats and their behavior we are comfortable recommending new tactics to reunify your lost cat with you.

Cats that are lost typically hide in silence. They typically will stick close to the location that they were lost from, though some may migrate. If you can fit your fist in a hole, a cat typically can fit in it.

The cat’s personality plays a major role in how your cat reacts to being displaced and the time frame they are. The more outgoing the cat typically is, the early the sightings will be. If your cat tends to be more timid and skittish, they are typically rarely seen and when they do come out is at night. The average timeframe that a cat is lost for is 10 days to 2 weeks. So be patient and don’t lose hope!

Here are some tips on how to find your lost cat:

• Have up to date pictures of your cat
  • All angles including their face. The whisker’s pattern on cats is as unique as a fingerprint.
• Follow the clues (pawprints, fur on objects that match your cat’s fur, etc.)
  • Checking with neighbors on sightings
• Sit & Wait
  • An ignored cat is more likely to approach.
  • Always have a towel so if you catch your cat, you can wrap it in a towel to safely bring inside.
• Patience
  • Yelling their name and making noises will typically cause cats to hide in silence longer due to fear.
• Posters with up-to-date photos

Microchipping your cat is always helpful for reuniting. According to recent studies, less than 3% of lost cats brought to shelters are reunified with their owners. If your cat is brought to a shelter or veterinary hospital, they always scan for a microchip. Be sure to have an up-to-date phone number and address on the microchip as well. You can also go to lostcatfinder.com or Petco Love Lost for additional resources on finding your lost cat.