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Lost or Found a Pet?

 

I have lost my pet.  How do I find it?

  • Immediately notify the homeowners and businesses in the vicinity and post fliers (with photos) near where your pet was lost.
  • Indoor animals (especially cats) often become frightened when they get outside and will hide nearby.  Be certain to search not only in the daytime but in the quiet hours of the night when you are more likely to hear them if they are making noise.  Sometimes simply shaking a treat or food bag will elicit a response.
  • Go DAILY to the Kent County Animal Shelter at 711 Ball, NE, Grand Rapids. Call 616.632.7300 for directions and hours of operation.  Remember that overburdened shelter workers may not always recognize your pet from a description, it is important that you visit the shelters personally!
  • Go DAILY to the Humane Society of Kent County at 3077 Wilson, NW, Grand Rapids. Call 616-453-8900 for directions and hours of operation.  Remember that overburdened shelter workers may not always recognize your pet from a description, it is important that you visit the shelters personally!
  • Call local veterinarians to see if someone has contacted them or brought in an injured animal whose owners are unknown.
  • Put a "Lost Ad" in the Grand Rapids Press and other local papers. Check the "Found Ads" in local papers. 
  • If you or someone you know uses social media like FACEBOOK, be certain to post your lost animal there and ask your friends to do the same.  Many lost animals are being found this way.
  • Check the “found” ads on Craigslist and place a “Lost” ad here for free.   Post several phone numbers where you can be reached in the event your pet is found.  
  • Post your animal on BISSELL's Lost Pet USA!!
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What do I do if I have found a stray?

If you cannot keep the animal while you are trying to find the owner, take it to the Humane Society or Animal Shelter. Put a "Found Ad" in the local papers advising the pet's owner where to find their animal. It is free and they will run it for 10 days.

If you can keep the animal while trying to find the owner, here are a few tips in trying to locate them:
 

  • Call the Humane Society and Animal Shelter and notify them that you found a lost pet. Don't guess on the breed as it might throw the connection off, just give a description of the animal and the location where you found it.
  • Put a "Found Ad" in the local papers. It's free and they will run it for 10 days.
  • Put a "Found Ad" on Craigslist.  Be wary of unscrupulous people who are trying to claim animals that are not theirs(especially purebred animals)!  It is best to keep some small detail about the animal to yourself and ask any callers to identify this detail or provide photos of their animal.
  • Don't just assume that because an animal is in bad shape that someone just dumped it off.  Many owned animals will look quite ragged after just a short time running loose. 
  • Take it to your veterinarian, Animal Shelter or Humane Society and get it scanned for the possibility of a microchip
  • .Put flyers with a picture and information around your neighborhood and town.
  • If you or someone you know uses social media like Facebook, be sure to post your "found" pet there.  Remember that unscrupulous people might try to claim pets that are not theirs.  It is best to keep some small detail about the animal to yourself and ask any callers to identify this detail or provide clear photos of their pet before releasing that animal to them.
  • List your "found animal" on BISSELL's Lost Pet USA!!