How to find a lost pet: the best you can do

There is no foolproof way of finding a lost pet: your pet could be anywhere, it could even have been stolen. All you can really do is try your best to find it and never give up hope.

The most popular way to begin a search for your missing animal is to search the neighbourhood. If you know your pet has not been gone very long then you can hope it hasn’t gone too far from the house. Also, how you search will depend on the type of pet you have, and its habits.

 Birds will fly into trees and are also very hard to catch once they have escaped the cage. Cats tend to wander all over and will also climb trees or onto roofs, so they are hard to find. Dogs can get quite far if they decide to take off, and shy or scared dogs may hide, even from searchers.

The best thing to do, once you have searched the area and come up with nothing, is to print up flyers with a good picture of your pet. Include all your contact details, the animals name, size, age and any distinguishing features. Also, offer a small reward if you can, although anyone with a heart will return your pet without incentive.

Also, alert the local RSPCA, nearby animal shelters and veterinary clinics, and tell them about your missing pet. Many lost pets end up in these shelters, so your pet may be found in one of them soon. Also alert those further afield: your pet may have been picked up in a car or managed to travel quite far away. Having pet insurance is also a good idea, should your pet need emergency medical attention once it is found.

Unfortunately, in the case of lost pets, prevention is better than a cure, so always make sure your pet is secure at home, that he or she wears a collar if possible, or in the case of birds wears a ring on its leg. Even indoor animals should wear them all the time. Many pet insurance policies cover the costs of replacing a lost or stolen pet, but this does not soothe the heartache of missing the lost animal.