×

Tips to get your pet home safely

Last week, I wrote about how July is designated as Lost Pet Prevention Month. This week, I have some tips on what you should do if that horrible day comes and you realize your pet is missing.

Here are 12 tips from local professionals and Fetch! Pet Care, a pet-sitting franchise with more than 125 locations nationwide.

Place food and water outside your home. Your pet may eventually return to your home when she gets hungry or thirsty. Consider placing the food in a rented or purchased humane pet trap to capture them. Just be sure to check the provisions often to make sure you’re not attracting wildlife and roaches.

Initiate, don’t wait. The sooner you start your search, the greater the chance that your pet is still in the area. Get the word out right away. Don’t wait a few hours “to see if she’ll come home on her own .” You need those early hours to put up posters and start your search.

Avoid scams. When describing your pet, leave out one identifying characteristic and ask the finder to relay any unique markings. 


Contact or visit your local shelters and animal control organizations. File a lost pet report with every shelter and animal control office within a 60-mile radius of your home and visit the nearest shelters daily if possible. 


Realize that even if the closest shelter is across town, there’s a good chance your lost pet could end up there. Unfortunately, only 20% of Americans reclaim their dogs who end up at shelters; those who do typically rescue their pets within two days of entry. Locally, the reality is 12%-14% of dogs go back home. Nationally and locally, only 1% of local cat owners reclaim their pets. Every day, an average of 20 to 47 animals arrive at the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Shelter. When their pets disappear, few Baton Rougeans think to search the city shelter because of its remote location from their homes. How could a lost pet near Wax Road or O’Neal Lane possibly land in the East Baton Rouge Parish shelter across from the airport in just a few hours? The answer: One phone call from a concerned citizen, a catchpole and big white truck with an Animal Control insignia. Almost 15 officers circle the city all day long. No matter where owners live, their lost pet could show up at the city shelter within a few hours.

Get the word out to all veterinarians in the area. Sometimes people pick up a stray and drive it to a distant clinic.

Check and post on local lost pets Facebook groups. The Capital City is very fortunate to have a corps of volunteers who maintain the Lost Pets of Baton Rouge, CAA, Ascension and other sites. Individuals actively post pictures and locations of scared, stray animals they see darting all over our region. If you post a pet’s description, a picture and last known locale, you may receive news of sightings.

Search your neighborhood. Walk or drive through your neighborhood several times each day. Enlist friends, family and others to help you. Ask neighbors, letter carriers, and delivery people if they have seen your pet. Hand out a recent photograph of your pet and information on how you can be reached if your pet is found. 


Go door to door. The more people know you have lost a pet—and that you are upset, worried and desperately trying to find your pet—the more likely they are to call you if they see an animal in the woods, on the road or in their backyards. 


Place posters and flyers throughout the neighborhood. Post notices at grocery stores, community centers, veterinary offices, traffic intersections, at pet supply stores, and other locations. Also, place advertisements in newspapers and with radio stations. Include your pet’s gender, age, weight, breed, color and any special markings.

Post info about your pet on national all pet recovery websites and services. Sites such as Craigslist.org, FidoFinder.com and TheCenterForLostPets.com allow you to broadcast your missing pet info quickly. Now, there are now numerous national pet care providers and lost pet alert services, such as FindToto.com, that contact homes, veterinarians, shelters and animal control organizations for a reasonable fee. 


Don’t give up. Be aggressive in your search and get lots of help. Be vigilant and persistent. You may need to revisit shelters, vet clinics or other sites to investigate whether your pet has been sighted. A reunion might be one more phone call, drive or shelter visit away.

Mandy is a chipper adult female Australian cattle dog/Catahoula mix.

Hamilton is a three-month-old pointer/beagle mix. He should weigh about 45 pounds, when he’s full grown. While he has yet to meet a cat, Hamilton loves all people and other dogs. He’s learning his doggie manners—including housebreaking—very quickly. While he is not crate trained, Hamilton does well in a separate room when alone or at night for bedtime. Hamilton is a sweet, happy, playful puppy who will be a wonderful companion for one lucky family.

Sandy the Bearded Lady appears to be a seven-year-old border terrier mix. At 26 pounds, she is the perfect size. More importantly, Sandy loves everyone—people of all ages, other dogs and cats. However, unlike most terriers, she is super laid back and very calm natured. Sandy is content to follow her foster from room to room and settle down for a nap. She does love to go on a walk, though—besides food—it is definitely her favorite thing. Sandy is such a good girl that her foster knows: With just one meeting, the right family will fall in love.

Looking for a puppy? Think Pink! At 12 weeks and 12 pounds, this soft and cuddly boxer mix pup is energetic, inquisitive and positively irresistible. Pink is super-playful, trusting, cheerful and ready to bond with a caring, forever family. Like all puppies, pretty, little Pink will need regular exercise, lots of chew toys and plenty of patient, positive training to grow up happy and healthy. For more information, contact Pink’s foster at [email protected].

Percy is a four-year-old male bluetick coonhound. He is housebroken, leash trained, crate trained and knows basic obedience commands. Percy is fine with adults and teenagers, but he is a little frightened of small children with their quick movements. He is good with all dogs and cats. Percy has had some recent changes in his home that have left him skittish and uncertain. Overall, he’s a sweet, mellow boy, who loves going for walks and to the dog park. He’s very smart and picks up new commands quickly. Percy would be happiest if he could just stay by his owner’s side all day.

If you are looking for a companion for your dog, George may be the right fit for your furry friend. This beautiful adult briard mix is very timid and has some anxiety and abandonment issues. So, he will need a special, patient family because his acclimation to a new environment will probably take some time. For more information, contact his foster at [email protected].

All these dogs and puppies have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, heartworm-tested and microchipped. Many other adoptable dogs and puppies are available through Friends of the Animals or by calling 239-7368.