In the eyes of owners, pets are indispensable family members that need to be protected, sheltered, and loved. Therefore, when a pet goes missing, many people feel as if they have lost an important member, causing them grief and extreme anxiety. So, what to do when a dog or cat goes missing is a concern for many pet owners. In this article, let's explore with petncute.com what to do when your dog or cat is lost!
1. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR DOG OR CAT IS LOST
Below, petncute.com will suggest 5 ways for pet owners to take action when their pet goes missing, specifically as follows:
1.1. ACTION 1: Stay Calm
When you can't find your dog or cat around, the first thing to do is to keep yourself calm, because at this time anxiety will only make things more confusing and make it more difficult to find your pet! A small tip to keep calm is to take deep breaths, or you can drink a glass of water to regulate your mood.
1.2. ACTION 2: Assess the Situation
Pet owners should search all corners of the house to confirm whether the dog or cat is really lost or just hiding in a hard-to-see spot in the house such as under the bed, in a closet, or under the kitchen counter. At this time, owners should try calling the pet's name, tapping on their food bowl, or scattering some food to lure the pet out!
1.3. ACTION 3: Search the Nearby Area
Once it's confirmed that the dog or cat is no longer inside the house, you should immediately search for them in the surrounding area where you live or places you often take them for walks, and ask neighbors or passersby in the area if they've seen your pet.
1.4. ACTION 4: Announce and Post Flyers
Announcing and posting flyers is an effective method widely used by pet owners with missing pets. Because flyers posted in public places will help your pet's information reach more people and increase the chances of finding your dog or cat significantly! Note, when using flyers to search for your pet, you should use clear, sharp images, avoid blurriness, and it's best to use colored photos to easily identify the pet's fur color. Include full information such as gender, size, identifying characteristics... and the specific contact information of the owner!
Things to do when your pet goes missing that owners should know
1.5. ACTION 5: Contact Relevant Organizations
When you discover that your dog or cat has gone missing, you should also contact relevant organizations such as the animal control team, animal rescue stations… Because these organizations have a wide network, they can expand the search area for your pet more easily! Additionally, you should also contact nearby dog and cat trading places, slaughterhouses, dog meat restaurants… to verify if your pet has been taken to those places!
2. A FEW TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR DOG OR CAT FROM GOING MISSING
When pets are kept indoors for too long, they become very active and want to explore the outside world, so they can easily "escape" if the owner is not paying attention. To prevent the situation of dogs and cats going missing, you should note the following:
1 - Prepare adequate equipment: When taking dogs and cats outside, you should use sturdy cages and ensure that they are securely locked to prevent pets from getting out, okay!
2 - Train your dog or cat: Owners should also train their dogs to respond to commands like "sit," "stay," "come here"... These commands are very beneficial in helping owners control their pets more easily.
3 - Create a safe living environment: When a family has pets, ensure safety around the house by installing fences, blocking open spaces, closing windows tightly... to prevent pets from jumping outside. Especially, pet owners should remember to lock doors securely when leaving the house and must leave their pets at home alone.
4 - Always supervise and keep a close watch on your pets: When walking the dog, owners must always use a strong leash and never allow them to roam freely. Especially in crowded places, owners need to muzzle the dog and always keep an eye on the pet to prevent them from getting lost.
Through this article, petncute.com and you have explored what to do when a dog or cat goes missing and some tips to prevent it from happening. petncute.com wishes you and your pet great health and long-lasting companionship! Additionally, if you want to learn more interesting knowledge related to pet care processes, don't forget to follow and look forward to petncute.com's next articles!