It seems just about every other day there is a post on the Next Door website about an animal in the New Orleans area that has been found wandering. The presence of a collar on a four-legged explorer or escapee lets the person encountering them know that the animal is not a stray, but in fact someone's family member.
Did you know that there is a three day hold on "stray" animals brought to the SPCA, but that animals with pet tags are held a mandatory seven days? (Via Parish Ordinance) All the more reason for your furbaby to have both a collar and ID tags. Of course, as mentioned in our previous post on pet microchips, these are just the first step to being able to ID your pet should you somehow be separated from them.
Preventative measures are certainly the best way to avoid having a pet go missing, but what happens when you don't even know your baby isn't in the house? In another recent post earlier this month - this one to Next Door, a family returned home to find the front door open and their dog not at home. A similar post just one week earlier told of a cat that had been let out during a burglary.
How to Find a Lost Cat or Dog - Infographic by Vetstreet
Often the animals are just out exploring (or hiding) nearby and can usually be located by alerting the neighbors, putting up photos, and or posting to social media. Bringing familiar noise-making items along when you search such as favorite squeak toys or treat package wrappers might help your baby find you. Always leave water out, and if it's close to feeding time you might try sitting outside with your baby's food bowl.
If it's been more than 24 hours, you will want to contact the Louisiana SPCA. Just recently the agency shared a post on Facebook about a dog that had been missing for over a month but was able to be reunited with her person due to her mom having filed a report. The sooner you sound the alarm when your baby can't be found, the better!
The LA/SPCA Lost and Found is open Monday - Friday from 9 am - 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon until 5 pm. If you're unable to file a lost pet report with a photo in person, you can alternatively do so online.
Last month we told you there's an app for that - and apparently we missed one. Finding Rover is a pet facial recognition app you can download for free that helps families become reunited with lost animals. The app can also be used by someone who has found a pet that they would like to reunite with their family member(s). Finding Rover works directly with shelters and adoption centers as well to assist in reunions and adoptions.
We hope you never have to face the stress and heartbreak of a missing pet, but we hope these resources help you to take preventive measures as well as to be prepared should you have to locate a lost animal.
Resources:
LA SPCA Lost and Found
Next Door
Social Media such as Facebook and Instagram
Finding Rover
Useful Links
How to Find Your Pet When They're Lost
8 Things to do if Your Pet Goes Missing
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