Fido ran away again!

You’ve put Pitou out in the yard to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, while you take a quiet moment to finish the dishes. You find Pitou strangely quiet for a dog who is normally very playful and vocal when playing outside.

A quick look outside, and no more dog!

That’s when panic sets in. You run out into the street, calling his name, shouting the word cookie, hoping he’ll come back, but nothing works.

Here are the next steps to help you find a little runaway:

1. Go around your neighborhood with a bag of treats or a toy your pet loves. Call your pet by name. Ask your neighbors if they have seen him recently. Cats and dogs are often not hidden far away. Check garages, undercarriages, sheds and bushes
2. Call your local customer service department so they can give you the contact information for the animal control shelter in your area. Call that shelter and give an accurate description of your pet and a photo.
3. Make posters with a description of your pet, a photo, the date and location you lost it, and your contact information. Post them on trunk boxes, bus shelters, in shops, pet shops, vets and your neighbors’ homes. Encourage citizens to call you with the promise of a reward.
4. Report your missing pet on the Petluck website , which specializes in lost and found pets.
5. Post your poster on your Facebook page and ask your friends in the area to share it to give it more visibility.
6. Make regular rounds in your neighborhood.
7. Search at night using a flashlight as cats’ eyes glow when illuminated in the dark. What’s more, fearful animals will wait until nightfall to come out of hiding.

It’s important not to lose hope. Some animals return home for several days after running away, giving them time to find their bearings. Above all, don’t wait until you notice your pet is lost to start the search process. In many shelters, animals are only displayed for 48 hours after their arrival and then transferred to another department such as adoption.

Finally, you get that long-awaited call from your pet service thanks to the good description you gave them. A member of the public found your pooch playing in the yard with his children. You’ve had the scare of your life and you promise yourself to be more careful in the future.

Here are a few tips to help you with this new resolution:

1. Sterilize your pet ! A sterilized animal will be much less likely to run away since it will have lost the desire to reproduce.
2. Identify your pet with a tag and a microchip. Although this does not prevent an escape, identification allows us to ensure that citizens or the shelter will be able to trace us if our animal is found. At Proanima, we find 100% of the families of identified animals.
3. Supervise your pet when going out. A pet can easily be distracted by another animal, a scent or a toy outside your property. By keeping an eye on your pet, you can be sure to call him back quickly when he wanders off. Also, remember that if your dog wanders off, it may be because he’s bored alone in the yard. Taking part in Fido’s release will save you a lot of trouble!
4. Make sure your yard is secure . A poorly closed door, a broken fence, a large hole under the hedge are all great ways out, and sometimes even give your furry friend a little challenge.
5. Finally, practice recall. Some animals are quick to run away and certainly don’t like being yelled at to come home. By working with a reward and a lanyard, you’ll be able to condition your pet when you say a particular word like home, back etc.

Just a few simple steps you can take to make sure your furry little hearts stay by your side. Prevention is often better than cure.

Patricia Durocher

Relations with citizens

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