When a beloved pet strays from home, it can be a traumatic experience for owner and animal alike. These tips will help you find your pet in the unfortunate event that it becomes lost:

Post Signs

This is the most effective method for finding your pet, so do it first! Make signs and post them in your neighborhood as well as on the bigger streets and intersections around your area. The higher the speed limit, the simpler the sign needs to be - in large, bold lettering so it can be read at a glance. Make flyers and pass them around your neighborhood. If you have a recent photograph of your pet, copy this onto your signs and flyers. Let all the neighborhood kids know to be on the lookout.

Advertise

Advertise your missing pet in the Austin American-Statesman LOST column of the classifieds. Also check the FOUND column daily. Check the paper every day. People can place found ads for free for 3 days.

Check Animal Shelters

Animals can end up at shelters by being picked up by animal control officers or by someone finding your pet and taking him to the shelter. There are several shelters and pet rescue organizations in our area:

1. Bastrop County Animal Control- 512-321-1963
2. Taylor Animal Control- 512-352-5483
3. Giddings Animal Control - 979-540-3919
4. Town Lake Animal Center (Austin) - 972-4738
5. Austin & Travis County Humane Society (Austin) - 837-7985
6. Central Texas SPCA (Cedar Park/Leander) - 260-7722
7. Williamson County Humane Society (Leander) - 260-3602
8. PAWS (Kyle) - (512) 268-1611
9. Lago Vista PAWS (Lago Vista) - 267-6876
10. Animal Trustees of Austin (Austin) - 302-0388
11. Pet Helpers (Austin) - 444-7387
12. Cat's Tail (Manor) - 281-4719

Contact these organizations immediately with your lost pet's information. Town Lake Animal Center and Williamson County Humane Society euthanize on a fairly regular basis and the other organizations may adopt your pet to another family, so you need to check back with them at least every other day - don't wait for them to call you. Most of these organizations are understaffed, overworked, and your black dog may look like every other black dog they see that day.

Check Online

There are many Lost and Found resources on the Internet.

Search the Neighborhood

Walk and/or drive through your neighborhood several times every day. The early morning hours and sunset are prime times for finding lost pets. Question everyone you see (neighbors, kids, joggers, postal carriers, garbage collectors, newspaper carriers, etc.) and give them flyers.

ID Tags

If your pet's ID tags have an old address and phone, contact the people who now live at that address and now have that phone number - even if they are out-of-town numbers. Let them know your pet is missing and give them your current information. Check back with them occasionally, in case they lose your information. If your pet has current information on his ID tags, follow all these tips anyway. Collars come off very easily and he may no longer have ID on him.

Notify Veterinary Clinics

If your pet has his rabies tag on his collar, call the vet who gave him the rabies shot. Make sure they know that he is missing and verify that they have your correct address and phone number. If your lost pet was hit by a car, someone may have taken him to a vet clinic. People who find animals also call vet clinics to see if any of their clients are missing that pet. Call all the vet clinics within about a 10-mile radius of your neighborhood, then take your flyers by each clinic to post in their lobby. There are some emergency vet clinics who are only open at night and on weekends. Be sure to check with them also.

Use the Power of Scent

Place a recently worn article of clothing belonging to a family member or the lost pet's unwashed bedding in your yard where the breeze can carry the scent. Familiar scents can bring them home. Cats will respond to an open can of tuna fish also.

Don't Give Up!

Keep searching even when you have little hope left. Animals who have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners. Shy animals may take longer to find because someone has to be able to catch them first.

And Next Time...

Protect your pet from getting lost again. Always keep a collar and ID tag on your pet - even if he is an indoor only pet! Some vet clinics can tattoo and insert identifying microchips under your pet's skin. Have your pet spayed or neutered. This keeps them from wanting to stray. Bring your pets indoors during thunderstorms and on July 4th. Animals are very afraid of thunder, lightning, and fireworks and often run out of fear.