LOST PET
What to do if you lose your pet.

To help prevent the loss of your pet:

·         Spay or neuter your pet.  It reduces or eliminates the roaming instinct.

·         Keep cats indoors at all times.  They live longer happier lives.  If there is any risk that your cat might get outside, have them wear a break-away collar with an ID tag that includes your address and phone number.

·         Dogs:

·         Should always wear a collar with an ID tag that includes your address and phone number.  Dogs in Dearborn and Melvindale must also wear a license on their collar (contact the Shelter at 943-2697 is you need a license – they must be renewed annually).

·         Should never be left out alone.   They should always be on a leash, in a secure fenced yard, or on a tether.  If you are in an area that does permit fencing, consider an invisible fence – electronic sensors at the perimeter of your property that send a small electrical shock to a special collar worn by your dog if the dog attempts to pass the perimeter.

·         There is a new technique for identifying both cats and dogs by the implantation of a small microchip.  It is relatively painless and inexpensive.  Each implant is registered.  The Shelter has scanners to check for these chips.  Contact your veterinarian or the Shelter for more information.

If you lose a pet:

1.      Put a dish of your pet’s food on your porch, as well as a favorite blanket or toy so they can follow the scent home.  It should also keep them from straying very far.  Refill the dish if the food disappears.

2.      Search immediately – most animals do not stray far during the first hours of getting lost.  Call your pet’s name often and loudly.  Ask people on the street if they have seen your pet.  Give them your number in case they do.  Most animals become very frightened, and will hide.  Actively search your property and the surrounding area – don’t assume they will come to you immediately.

3.      Contact local Shelters to register the pet as lost and to ask if there is either an animal in the Shelter or on the found list who matches the description of yours.   

Dearborn Animal Shelter - 313-943-2697

Michigan Humane Society - Westland Shelter - (734) 721-4195 
                                        Detroit Shelter - (313) 872-3400
Taylor Animal Shelter (734) 374-1354 

Consult telephone information or web yellow pages for more listings.

4.      Make flyers with “LOST CAT / DOG” in big bold letters so it can be read by a someone driving by a telephone pole.  Include a brief description, a picture if you have one, and your phone number.  Consider offering a reward.  Ask to be called even if people just see your pet.  Post the flyers in the surrounding area, at local vet offices, and pet stores (and anyplace else that will let you).  For outdoor flyers, you can enclose them in plastic sheet protectors (about $5 for 50 at most office supply stores).

5.  Register your lost pet on Petznjam.

6.      Contact your local  newspapers to run a lost ad.  All will run at least one ad for free.  Phone numbers for the Dearborn area are:  
                   Dearborn Press and Guide - (313) 943-4250
                   Dearborn Times Herald -   (313) 584-4000
                   Detroit News - (313) 561-9095
                   Detroit Free Press - (313) 222-6472
Watch the Found ads in these papers for an animal that matches the description of yours.

7.      If you know where your pet is, but they will not come to you, the Shelter has live traps that you can rent.  Seek assistance from the Shelter if you need it.

8.      Don’t give up hope, keep checking the Shelters and looking.  Sometimes it takes a while.  We’ve reunited dogs with owners after weeks and cats with owners after months.

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