JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you’re a pet owner you may find the tips below useful should you ever have the experience of dealing with a lost animal.
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WITH LOST PETS:
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LOST DOGS:
IMMEDIATELY, look thoroughly within your neighborhood or area where your dog went missing.
Place food, water and an article of clothing containing the scent of the person most bonded with your dog close to the area your dog went missing and especially near the areas of reported sightings. Use of an infrared wildlife camera in this area is recommended to confirm whether your dog is coming to eat or not.
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROCEDURES TO PERFORM...
- If your pet has a MICRO-CHIP, call the manufacturer to make certain your contact information is correct.
- PHYSICALLY go to and walk throughout Halifax Humane Society and local shelters within a 60 mile radius. Do this daily or at the very minimum every other day to look for your pet. Animal shelters in Volusia County only hold stray animals for 72 hours before placing them into the adoption area, releasing them into a Rescue Organization or euthanizing the animal. Check with your local shelters to inquire about their stray Hold policy. PLEASE do not rely on shelter staff to figure out if your pet is there, staff cannot possibly know every animal located within their facility at every moment of the day.
- CALL your local Animal Control agency, Animal Emergency Clinics, Veterinarians, Rescue Organizations and pet related businesses to make them aware your dog is missing. Provide each with a poster by means of email, mail or in person.
- PLACE POSTERS at all Intersections and stop signs going into and out of neighborhoods of the area your dog went missing and area's of possible sightings as soon as possible!
MAKING POSTERS/FLYERS:
Use the best available picture of your pet, crop picture to show ONLY your pet.
Limit the information you place on the Poster/flyer: "REWARD" if offering a reward. "LOST" (Breed),
Make your pets picture as BIG as possible, place your best contact number.
PLACE FLYERS at all the local businesses that will allow!
- PLEASE be sure to answer all calls and INVESTIGATE all reported sightings.
- Keep a JOURNAL recording all sightings include the person's name and phone number in case you need to contact them again.
- Place "LOST" pet posts containing a picture, location lost and contact information on all possible social and media venues available. Newspapers, Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter etc. If you have a Facebook account post your dog on these pages as soon as possible:
LOST INDOOR CATS:
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PROCEDURES TO PERFORM...
- If your pet has a Microchip, call the manufacturer to ensure your contact information is correct.
- PHYSICALLY go to and walk throughout local shelters within a 60 mile radius, bring a flyer and file a "LOST" pet report. Visit the shelter daily or at least every other day to look for your cat. Animal shelters in Volusia County only hold stray animals for 72 hours before placing them into the adoption area, releasing them into a Rescue Organization or euthanizing the animal. Check with your local shelters to inquire about their stray Hold policy. PLEASE do not rely on shelter staff to figure out if your pet is there, staff cannot possibly know every animal located within their facility at every moment of the day.
- Call your local Animal Control agency and file a "LOST" pet report.
- Contact local Veterinarians, Animal Emergency Clinics, Rescue Organizations and pet related businesses to make them aware your pet is missing. Email, fax or deliver a flyer.
- Make frequent calls to the authorities responsible for removing animals that had met unfortunate fates on the roadways.(The contact information should be available by your local government or shelter facilities).
- PLACE POSTERS, as soon as possible at the closest intersections, entrances and exits of the area your cat went missing and areas of sightings.
- PLACE FLYERS at all local businesses that will allow.
MAKING POSTERS/FLYERS:
Use the best available picture of your cat, crop the picture to show ONLY your cat.
Limit the information you place on the Poster/flyer, make your cats picture as BIG as possible.
Place "REWARD" if offering a reward or "LOST CAT", and your best contact number.
Examples of POSTERS and FLYERS
- PLEASE try to answer all calls and investigate all reported sightings.
- Keep a journal of all sightings, include the sighting location, date and time, the reporting person's name and phone number for future reference.
- Post "LOST" posts with a picture, location lost and contact information on all possible social and media venues available. Such as Newspapers, Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter etc. If your cat is missing within the Volusia and Flagler County area and you have a Facebook account place a post to the following pages:
Lost Found Pets Jacksonville and North Florida
- Thoroughly CONTINUE TO SEARCH within the neighborhood or area your pet went missing. Knock on all doors and advise neighbors and businesses you are still missing your cat. If not previously given, provide them with a flyer. Ask for permission to search their premises again.