Bringing Lost Pets Home: Key Steps for Reuniting
When dealing with a lost or found pet, it is important to act quickly and carefully. Below are essential steps to assist in reuniting lost pets with their owners, as well as advice on approaching and caring for a stray animal safely.
The Essential Guide to Reuniting With Your Lost Pet by Caring Hands
- Create a lost pet poster!
Click here to download a template.
- Display your flyer in high-traffic areas such as grocery stores, coffee shops, gas stations, schools, and libraries. Additionally, email it to neighbors, your neighborhood watch, and local community groups.
- Share your poster with nearby animal hospitals and shelters. Click here for a list of local shelters.
Tip: Visit the shelter in person. Due to the high volume of animals, shelters may not always be able to confirm a match over the phone. It's best to go in person and request to see all recently found animals.
Prevention is key! Ensure your pet is microchipped. This permanent form of identification significantly increases the chances of reuniting lost pets with their owners, as collars and tags can be easily lost.
Call us today to schedule a microchip appointment-it can be done during any wellness visit. Learn more about microchipping here.
If You Come Across a Lost Pet, Caring Hands Suggests the Following:
Step 1 - Use Caution!
Always use caution when handling an unfamiliar pet. Animals can carry zoonotic diseases, including rabies. After handling a lost pet, wash your hands thoroughly and keep the found animal separated from your own pets to prevent the spread of illness.
Frightened animals may react defensively, making them difficult to approach or capture. They might bite or scratch out of fear. If you're unsure how to safely handle the situation, it's best to contact Animal Control for assistance.
- Fairfax County Animal Control: 703.691.2131
- Prince William County Animal Control: 703.792.6465
- Arlington Animal Control: 703.931.9241
- Alexandria Animal Control: 703.746.4774
Next Steps
Does the pet have a collar?
An ID tag is one of the quickest ways to reunite a lost pet with its owner. These tags usually include the owner's name and phone number, allowing for direct contact. If the pet is wearing a rabies tag with vaccination details, call the number on the tag to reach the animal hospital that administered the vaccine. The hospital can use the rabies tag number to identify the pet and help locate its owner.
- If you can, bring the pet to a local animal shelter or veterinary clinic as soon as possible. These facilities are equipped with microchip scanners that can quickly identify an implanted microchip, greatly increasing the chances of reuniting the pet with its owner.
-
If the pet has no ID tag or microchip, create a "Found Pet" poster and display it near the location where the pet was found. Additionally, inform local animal shelters and veterinary clinics to help maximize the chances of reuniting the pet with its owner. Click here for a template.
- There are several websites designed to help reunite lost pets with their owners. You can upload details and photos to these platforms to increase the chances of finding the pet’s family:
Have questions about wildlife? Click here!
New Furry Faces Welcome! Enjoy $50 OFF Your First Exam*
*Valid for new clients on the 1st exam only. Cannot be combined with other discounts. Please call with questions.
Book Online
703.368.7300