Lost Pet Action Plans

Locating your furry friend will be a part-time job, and you've GOT to be willing to go the distance - this means NOT giving up! According to pet detective Kim Freeman, the biggest mistake people make when looking for lost pets is giving up too soon! She points out in her book, "How to Find a Lost Cat," that this explains why thousands of friendly pets show up at shelters each year - people simply stop looking. Don't let that be you!

Here are the Cool Cat Top Ten Tactics for Locating Lost Pets:

1. Never underestimate the POWER OF POSTERS. Old school tactics have never failed us. You will need at least 16-20 posters up in your neighborhood at all times. This means monitoring them weekly (jerks will remove them), and rotating their "look." If a poster sits too long in a spot, an HOA or random stranger may figure that you just never removed it and they'll take it upon themselves to do it for you. To avoid this, you must change them up every 3-4 weeks. (a different color florescent background, different light post or stop sign... or, change verbiage to "still lost.") YOU HAVE TO USE A BRIGHT BACKGROUND WITH AN 8X10 COLOR PHOTO of your pet. Slip the photo inside a clear sheet protector and fasten all papers/photo with clear packing tape. Posters are the MOST IMPORTANT part of your search. This is because the people most likely to see your pet will see the signs. Do not post at busy intersections. This is a waste of resources and you don't want random strangers from all over town having your phone number. Do post at stop signs, near schools, and in your immediate residential area. Take the time and put the work into the posters - it can make the difference between your pet coming home or not. Have a party with friends and family if you have to: Pizza & Poster Night! The signs have to be eye-catching and 2 different sizes, depending on posting location. (See pic for measurements.) Include your pet's name - this is essentially "branding," and you want people to get to know your pet. You need to make your pet a local neighborhood celebrity, and this is why you need at least 16-20 posters up at all times. You must pick one day or night each week where you check on each of your posters. So, remember where you posted them. We suggest posting on stop signs at streets leading out of neighborhoods to a major road, as well as community mailboxes, "major" stop signs, and lamp posts near schools. When hanging posters, use packing tape to secure the top and bottom. You can never use enough tape! Secure the poster around the back of the pole as well - this is important, as wind could be a factor! (wrap it around the back of the pole and fasten to the back of the poster.) If it rains, you will have to re-do your posters (sorry), because if they look beat up, people will assume they've been up forever and they won't pay attention to them. (Remember, we said this is a part-time job!)

2. Talk to neighbors (especially if they have digital doorbell cams), and kids in the neighborhood. Give them the 8x10 color photo that you printed out (in a clear sheet cover), with the pet's name/your info on the back. 

3. Call your nearest emergency vet and give them your lost pet's info. Deliver the pic/info in-person if you can. If there are any veterinarians in your area, hand-deliver the pic/info to them as well. 

4. If your pet is microchipped, make sure to include "microchipped" on the poster. You will need to call the microchip company to let them know your pet is lost. If you never registered your pet, don't panic! They can do that when you call and will put a rush on the registration. If you don't know which company your pet is chipped with, visit https://www.aaha.org/petmicrochiplookup

5. Shelters - in Maricopa County AZ, the hold time on strays is typically 3 days. This means that you have to check the county shelters in person or online every other day.  Maricopa County Lost Pet Page: https://www.maricopa.gov/162/Lost-Found-Pet ALL CATS ARE ONLY AT THE WEST SHELTER: 2500 S. 27th Ave, Phoenix 85009. FOR DOGS, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE WEST SHELTER AND THE EAST SHELTER, NO MATTER WHERE IN THE VALLEY YOU LIVE. East shelter is located at 2630 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa 85201. You will also need to contact AZ Humane Society, in case your pet was injured and transferred to their care. Here is AZ Humane Society info: https://www.azhumane.org/lost-a-pet/ Make sure you contact both the county shelter AND the AZ Humane Society to file a lost pet report with each. AZ Humane Society also has a Pet Reunification Specialist you can speak to: 602.997.7585. If your pet was lost in Mesa, AZ, make sure you call Mesa Animal Control as well: 480.644.2268. Ask if they have picked up any deceased animals matching your pet's description in the time frame that they have been missing. 

6. Searching - When looking for cats, sunrise and sunset are the best times, as well as around 9:30-10:30pm. Check ALL storm drains in your area - this is important! Remember- cats sleep during the day and hunt at night. And they love hanging out under cars. Always keep a carrier, a box of treats, and a flashlight in your vehicle. For dogs, keep a leash, treats and a blanket on hand. Cats are territorial and usually don't venture more than a quarter mile at most, but dogs can cover a decent area. So, when posting signs for dogs, expand your search area about 1/2 mile each week or so. (More posters!)

7. Social Media and Internet - Register your pet (it's free!) with Pawboost. You will also need to be on Facebook; there are some great groups to post your pet in: Straydar, Lost Dogs of Arizona, and Lost Cats of Arizona. Also important: the NextDoor app. Sign up (it's free!) and post there as well. Check Craigslist every day or so in "free" and "pets" categories. Another great resource: Pet FBI: https://petfbi.org/

8. Website - This is Next Level Lost Pet Search, but it makes a HUGE difference. Especially on your posters- neighbors will engage and "get to know" your pet. We can't stress how much it helps to make your lost pet a website. Ex: www.findkrinkle.com You can make it fun, funny, and heartwarming - and people WILL share it, we promise. Even if it's a single-page site, just having one brings the community into your search. If you don't know how to create a template website, contact us. We can build one for you at a very low cost. Another great option is a Facebook page! Ex: "Find Krinkle." Both a website and/or Facebook page are GREAT to include on posters! If you want to Super-Boost your search, call us and we'll mobilize our in-house PIO, who has contacts in the media and can get a cool press release out for you! (This service is not pro bono.)

9. Pet Search Buddy - This is so helpful! You need to designate a Pet Search Buddy: a Ride or Die friend who will not only help you search at 11pm when you get a call about a possible pet sighting, but will be a solid rock for your journey. Make sure to do something nice to thank your PSB for their kindness!

10. If and when you do find your lost pet, take them to the nearest Emergency Vet ASAP! Some injuries and health issues are not obvious, and you'll want to get them healthy and safe immediately. This also means protecting other pets in the household from anything your lost pet may have picked up during their adventure!