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Tips on Searching for Your Missing Pet 1) Check the lost and found column in the Tallahassee Democrat (and other local papers). The Democrat’s online classifieds can be found by going to: http://www.tdo.com/classifieds/index.html (look under "Miscellaneous", click on "Announcements", then click on "Lost & Found". Listings for lost and found pets are located here).2) Place a "Lost Pet" ad in the Tallahassee Democrat Classifieds by calling 599-2210 (there is a nominal charge for these ads, "Found Pet" ads are free). 3) Notify neighbors that your pet is missing (kids are especially good at helping look for missing pets) 4) Post flyers around the area where your pet was last seen (check local sign ordinances) Do not put your name or address on your flyer Use brightly colored paper Place a recent color photo of your pet on the flyer List the date and location where your pet was last seen List breed, sex, age, weight, color, markings, and your phone number. Offer a reward, but do not state an amount Post flyers at waist level in as many public places as possible (get permission if necessary) Remember there are scam artists out there, be very cautious of anyone claiming to have your pet 5) Inform your veterinarian that your pet is missing. 6) Check with other local veterinary clinics and ask for permission to post a flyer in their waiting area. 7) Go to the Tallahassee Leon Community Animal Service Center (TLCASC) every 2-3 days to look for your pet in their kennels. You may also want to contact the Wakulla County Shelter (850) 926-0890 and the Thomasville Shelter (229) 228-0613, and check with our local pet rescue groups. 8) Check the TLCASC’s "Found Animal Reports" (located at the shelter’s service desk) every 2-3 days (phone 891-2950). 9) If your pet is microchipped, contact the company that registered the chip to verify that owner contact information is current. 10) If your pet was wearing a rabies tag, contact your veterinarian to verify that owner contact information is current. 11) Check with our local emergency clinics to see if your pet was brought in
for treatment: 12) You may contact the City of Tallahassee’s Solid Waste Department at 891-4968 to see if your pet was found on the roadway and removed by clean-up crews. The Leon County Public Works Department removes dead animals from county maintained roads and may be contacted at 606-1400. Field crews make every effort to report domestic animals (with ID) found dead on roadways so the owner may be notified that their pet has been recovered. Pets found on the roadways are occasionally taken to the Animal Service Center where a report is filed and owners are notified of the death, if possible. 13) Never search for your pet alone, especially at night or when responding to a call from someone claiming to have your pet (arrange to meet in a public place during daylight hours). 14) Be cautious of money scams. Scam artists have been known to call owners of missing pets to report they have found the animal, but are now in another state and need the owner to send money so they can transport the pet back home. Don’t fall for this one! Ask the person to describe your pet in great detail. Always leave at least one key identifying mark or detail off your lost poster or ad that can help verify that the person on the other end of the phone really does have your pet (a scar, white spot on a paw, limp, chipped canine tooth, etc.). Don’t mention this mark or detail to the person, but wait to see if they note it as they describe the pet’s unique markings and features. 15) Don’t give up, many pets have been found months and even years after
they’ve been lost. The Dog Detective website is another resource for posting your lost or found pet ad on the Internet. They send out weekly "Lost Pet Alerts" for pets lost in your local area. Tips to help prevent your pet from becoming lost: 1) Always keep current identification tags and rabies tags on your pet’s
collar (update the info ASAP if you move or your phone number changes). Owners
can be located with the info on the rabies tag. |