How To Bring Stray Critter Back Home

August 25, 1985|By Ann L. Huntington, D.V.M.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that each year more than 10 million dogs and cats stray from home. That is, they are allowed to stray from the home, which often results in many of these pets being lost forever. Pets that are allowed to stray face four possible fates: they can be run over; they can be stolen by a pet snatcher; they can be seized by the local dog warden, or they can dutifully return home. The first three possibilities mean that you must try to solve the case of the lost pet.

To make such a case easier to solve (although many are insolvable), here are the six keys to pet retrieval:

1. Have a recent photo of your pet in your possession, both side and front view (like one of those ``wanted`` posters).

2. Your pet should always be wearing a collar and you should know the type and color. That helps with identification.

3. The collar serves as an ID holder. The most important one is the pet`s license tag number that lists year, town and state where the license was issued.

4. The rabies tag number and year should also decorate the collar.

5. An ID tag or plate should give the pet`s name and his owner`s name and phone number.

6. Have the pet tattooed with an ID number. This, too, helps identify the pet and may deter a local thief.

Now, how do you go about solving the case of your lost pet?

Move quickly. If your pet has been gone longer than usual, don`t simply wait and hope.

Run an ad in your local newspaper. Human nature being what it is, it`s best to offer a reward.

Put together a ``most wanted alive`` pet poster. It should have all the information your pet carries suspended from his collar, plus the tattoo number, if any, plus a photo reproduction, (ital) and vital (end ital): a reward offer with your phone number.

If the initial search yields nothing, don`t think all is lost. Telephone your local animal shelter and/or humane society. When asking about your pet, be sure to give an accurate description.