 Purred: Fri Jan 13, '12 9:45pm PST |
 | |  | | Mr. D, we do agree with all you say. Repeat everything you have done over and over. Refresh your posters with different photos and move your signs to new locations every 10 day to 2 weeks to keep new eyes looking for you.
Make sure to make each caller feel their call is very important. Act on it, even though their description may not sound right. Everyone's idea of hair length, color, size and even your cat's sex is different. What your cat looks like, may be a far cry from what they are describing.
Finding a Missing pet is a full time job and the phone can ring 24/7. No matter how tired you are, these callers are your only link to a safe return. They become your voice. A Reward is not always a motivator there are a lot of real good people out there, who just want to help.
Never depend on the idea that a chip will bring them home. Shelters even miss the presence of a micro chip. I have even heard of not once but twice the chip was missed by the same shelter. Some scanners will not read all brand chips and older chips are sometime missed. So it is important to visit shelters yourself.
Don't believe a vet is going to scan every cat who enters their office. If they would, what will they do??? What will a person with your cat going to say to explain their ownership. Chips are a very good ID. A collar is a good back up but, they do lose them..
When placing an ad on the web or in the paper ALWAYS include a photo (so very important). One picture can be worth a millions words when it comes to ID of your missing kitty/dog.
If you have ever hunted for a lost pet each one is unique, like a human. Solid colors are a lot harder to ID. Chipping should be a must when you have a solid colored.
Don't just look close to home but in other counties, cities,and states. As time goes by, the distance could be as close as a few doors away or 1000's of miles away.
Sometimes a person does not turn a pet into a shelter until 6 months, so don't give up. Some don't try to return home until the opportunity is right.
Petfinders is a wonderful site but, has it's faults. When looking for a lost pet on the site use a less defined description in your search. Like leave out the breed just give a color. Not American Domestic Shorthair but just, Cat, black white plus your zip code. Or Cat, Brown and zip.code.
Try different zips codes in your area when searching. The shelters by distance seem to change with zips. Make sure to place your ad on every free site available. Don't forget Facebook, Craig's List, Ebay classified. Use words like Lost, Lost and Found, Missing and pets for sale when hunting.
I have found missing pets for others but I have not had success finding our missing cat, Mr. Z of Calico Junction Sanctuary in Virginia. I will not give up hope. I'm ready for a long and successful search. The odds sound low when you read the percentages of returns but, the more you do the higher your chances become. Be strong and good luck with your search. |  |  | |  |
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