Important Steps to Reunite Animals with Their Owners: Lost and Found Pets
Quick and careful action is essential when dealing with a lost or found pet. The information provided below outlines steps that can be taken to reunite lost pets with their owners and offers advice on safely handling stray animals.
Caring Hands recommends the following if your pet is lost:
- Create a poster! Click here for a template.
- Display your poster at key intersections in your neighborhood and share it via email with neighbors, your neighborhood watch, leasing office, homeowners association, and more. You can also post it at local grocery stores, libraries, coffee shops, gas stations, pharmacies, and schools.
- Distribute the poster to all animal hospitals and shelters in your area. Click here for a list of animal shelters.
Tip: To find your pet, it is best to visit the shelter in person and ask to see all recently found pets. This is the most effective way to reunite with your furry friend.
Prevention is crucial! Make sure your pet is microchipped for permanent identification, which significantly increases the chances of being reunited if lost. Collars and ID tags can easily fall off when your pet is outside.
Contact us today to schedule a microchip appointment, which can be done during any wellness visit. Learn more about microchipping here.
If You FIND a Pet, Caring Hands suggests:
Step 1 - Use Caution!
When dealing with an unfamiliar pet, keep in mind that any animal can carry diseases that can be passed to humans, such as rabies. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling the lost pet and try to keep found pets separated from your other pets to prevent the spread of illness. If you are unsure about how to safely handle an animal, it's best to contact Animal Control for assistance as scared animals may react aggressively.
- 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
Is the pet wearing a collar?
An ID tag is one of the most effective tools for reuniting pets with their owners. These tags typically display the owner's name and phone number, making it easy to contact them. If the pet has a Rabies tag indicating the year of vaccination, you can call the number on the tag to reach the animal hospital that administered the vaccine. The hospital can then locate the pet’s information in their database using the rabies tag number.
- If possible, please bring the pet immediately to a nearby animal shelter or veterinary office. These facilities are equipped with microchip scanners that can quickly identify an implanted microchip, helping us reunite the pet with its owner right away!
- If the pet is not wearing an ID tag or does not have an implanted microchip, we recommend posting a "found" poster in the area where the pet was discovered, as well as notifying local animal shelters and veterinary offices. Click here for a template.
- Finally, there are many websites set up to help reunite lost pets with their owners – feel free to upload information & photos to:
Have questions about wildlife? Click here!