Introduction
Hopefully you will never have to face the agony of looking for a run away pet. Even though pet owners do everything they can to avoid this situation, sometimes it happens anyway. To increase the chances of quickly being reunited with your dog in the event of a run away emergency, take the time to read these helpful tips below and plan ahead.
What to Do
If your dog runs away, time is not on your side. You will need to act quickly and cover as much ground as possible in as little time as possible. Looking for a run away dog is much more efficient if you can find someone to help you. One person can drive around and look for the dog, and the other person can start calling animal shelters and veterinarian clinics in the area.
Run away dogs can cover a large amount of territory in a short amount of time, and you never know which direction they are headed in. To cover all possible routes, start searching for your dog by beginning in the area around your home then spreading outwards. As you look for your dog, call your dog’s name as loud as you can and check under cars, hedges, or in other places your dog could be hiding in.
If you have not found your dog within 24 hours, begin distributing lost fliers immediately. Always keep an up to date photo of your dog handy to ensure that you have an accurate picture of your dog in the event of a run away emergency. Leave the fliers on cars, in mailboxes, and in front of stores and gas stations. Continue calling shelters and veterinarian offices to see if your dog has been brought into their facilities. If you have not found your dog within one day of placing the fliers up, place an add in the local newspaper immediately.
A microchip identification is an invaluable tool which can help to reunite lost dogs with their owners. If you haven’t microchipped your dog yet, do it today.