Pet Recovery Tips
You made a wise decision in having your pet implanted with a 24PetWatch microchip. If they ever go missing, they can be quickly identified and reunited with you quickly and safely.
But a microchip is only one part of keeping your pet home safe. Here are some tips to help you prevent your pet from getting lost, and if they ever go missing, find them faster.
Keep your pet safe
- Keep your personal information and your alternate contact information up to date in the 24PetWatch Microchip database. Update your information now.
- Always keep a collar on your pet and be sure your 24PetWatch collar tag is securely attached.
- Take a look about your house and garden for ways for your pet to get out. Check for loose fencing or gaps, and keep an eye out for new ‘escape routes’.
- Keep fence gates securely locked.
- Never allow your pets to roam freely in the neighborhood. Leash them at all times.
- Always transport a cat in a proper carrier.
- Take some good, up to date photos of your pet regularly.
- Take close-up shots that show details well. You want your pet to be unmistakable.
- Train your pet to associate a "Dog Whistle" with pleasant things. Blow the whistle each time just before you feed them. They will be more likely to respond to the whistle when they are lost if they associate the sound with feeding time.
- Make sure you can always be located when your pet is found.
Tips for Finding Your Lost Pet
- Call us first at 1-866-597-2424 at any time of the day and night. Talk to one of our Lost Pet Recovery Specialists and report your lost pet. Our lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Search your property thoroughly.
- Walk the neighborhood, talk to everybody, and leave your phone number.
- Make noise, like calling your pet’s name, while you walk around the neighborhood. Animals respond to sound.
- Bring a flashlight (even in daylight hours) for checking in dark spaces.
- Place strong-scented personal articles outside your home. Animals find their way by scent as well as sound.
- Visit your local dog warden, and all rescue centres in your surrounding areas. Calling is not enough.
- Post lots of posters within a 1-mile radius of where your pet was lost. Click Here for tips on making a good lost pet poster.
- Place an ad in your local newspaper.
- Check newspaper "found" ads daily.
Don’t give up! Pets have been known to find their way back home after being lost for several months, even years!
Keep Yourself Safe When Collecting Your Pet from an Individual
- NEVER respond to a "found" pet contact alone. Take a friend with you.
- Arrange to meet in a public place.
- NEVER invite the person to your home unless you know them well.
- Beware of scams. A common swindle is a person calling and claiming to have your pet in a different town. They then ask for the money to ship your pet to you. This person does not have your pet; they are simply trying to swindle your money.
- Don't look for your pet alone, during the day or at night. Always bring a friend, especially in unfamiliar neighborhoods.
When You Find Your Pet
- Call us at 1-866-597-2424 at any time of the day and night to let us know that your pet has been returned safely.
- Remove all of your lost pet posters.
- Thank everybody who has helped you.
- Click here to email us the story of your reunion. We may feature your pet on our website.
When making a lost pet poster, keep in mind the following:
- When you prepare a poster, give only a physical description.
- Do not give your pet's name. Your pet may not answer to its name if it is lost and scared.
- Do not give any behavioural information. When a pet is lost its behaviour can change dramatically.
- Do not give information about your pet’s collar. Forty percent of pets recovered are lost with a collar and found with no collar or even a different collar.
- If you have a photo of your pet make sure it describes your pet accurately. If not, then you may want to consider using a line drawing from a breed book that you can find at your local library. A photocopy will be fine.
- Writing the word "Reward" on top of the flyer in large print does attract more people. Do not give an amount - when you give an amount you may get some crank calls from people who do not have your pet. A reward is not a must, but it may help.
- Do not indicate that you think your pet was stolen, you may scare people off. The person returning the pet may have nothing to do with the theft.