| As you know from your own past or present | | | | the predator (coyote) that scared her away in |
| experience, a lost or missing pet situation can be | | | | the first place will come back if she tries to return |
| a very stressful time. These feelings are | | | | home. |
| understandable because your pet is part of your | | | | Tips for Finding Lost or Missing Pets: |
| family and you sincerely want your pet to return | | | | There are many things (in addition to contacting |
| home. | | | | me as soon as possible for assistance) that can |
| In the information below, I have included some of | | | | be done to increase your chances of being |
| the reasons that pets leave their homes or run | | | | reunited with your lost or missing pet. |
| away from their homes, what techniques I use to | | | | 1. Create a laminated 'lost animal' sign that |
| help locate them and why they may or may not | | | | contains the word 'REWARD' at the top, a recent |
| return home on their own or be found. There is | | | | color picture of the animal in the center of the |
| also a list of helpful tips at the bottom of this | | | | sign and the phone number to contact if the |
| page that you can implement in conjunction with | | | | animal is seen by someone or found. It is very |
| what I am doing to search for, and hopefully | | | | important not to list any other details. |
| locate, your lost pet. | | | | 2. Post the sign around your neighborhood, at local |
| It is never guaranteed that a lost or missing pet | | | | veterinarian's offices, at the county animal control |
| will be found. Nor is it guaranteed that they will | | | | shelter and at local animal rescue shelters. |
| return home on their own even if they are | | | | 3. If you live in a major city with a lot of |
| roaming freely. No animal communicator would | | | | restaurants nearby, provide each restaurant with |
| make these types of guarantees. In my | | | | the 'lost animal' sign. After all, the animal will find |
| experience in working with lost animals, I have | | | | food wherever it is convenient. |
| had a significant amount of animals located either | | | | 4. If your animal is micro chipped, contact the |
| because of the information I relay to their human | | | | company (i.e. Avid) to ensure that they have |
| companions from their pets or return home on | | | | your current information on file in case someone |
| their own with the instructions that I provide to | | | | contacts them about finding your pet. |
| them. | | | | 5. Visit the local county animal control shelter and |
| Why Pets Leave Their Homes or Run Away: | | | | local animal rescue shelters to see if your pet is |
| In addition to the obvious reasons (i.e. something | | | | among those at the shelters. Do this as often as |
| frightened them, neglect or abuse, they are in | | | | possible because new animals come into the |
| heat and/or they have an overwhelming desire to | | | | shelter frequently. |
| go out and explore their surroundings) that pets | | | | 6. Place an ad in the local newspaper about the |
| become missing, there is also a not-so-obvious | | | | lost animal. Include the same information that you |
| reason that I have found. Like us, animals come | | | | have on the 'lost animal' sign. |
| into this realm of existence with a mission. Some | | | | 7. Check 'found' pet ads in the local newspaper |
| refer to this as your life's path. Not all animals | | | | and on local shelter web sites. |
| have more than one mission during the same | | | | 8. Canvas a three-block radius around your |
| lifetime, but some do. So, some animals, | | | | neighborhood from your home and talk to your |
| therefore, have been known to leave because | | | | neighbors about your lost pet's description. But, |
| their life's mission may be taking them in another | | | | unless you actually see your pet, please do not |
| direction. For example, if your pet's mission is to | | | | call for them while you are searching for them. |
| help their human companion through a major life | | | | The reason for this is if they do happen to hear |
| change and that has been done, then they may | | | | you, you may be gone by the time they get to |
| leave their home and find another human | | | | where you were when you called for them. |
| companion where the same mission can be | | | | Instead, either call for them from the front yard |
| fulfilled. | | | | or backyard of your home or, if you do look for |
| The Techniques I Use to Help Locate Lost | | | | them by car, look silently. |
| Animals or Help Them Find Their Own Way Home: | | | | 9. If your lost pet is a cat, set up a humane trap, |
| I use map dowsing in combination with animal | | | | pet taxi or crate in a safe area around the |
| communication to assist in locating lost animals. | | | | exterior of your home (upper deck or outside |
| Dowsing has existed in various forms for | | | | porch) at night and leave it out until morning. Put a |
| thousands of years. In modern times, dowsing | | | | bowl of fresh soft cat food and water in the |
| has been used to detect water for wells, mineral | | | | enclosure to lure the cat into the enclosure. Also, |
| deposits and archaeological artifacts hidden in the | | | | cover the trap with a towel, blanket or other |
| earth. Using a map, this same practice can be | | | | familiar item with their scent on it. You may catch |
| used to determine the general location of the lost | | | | other animals as well, but you might also catch |
| animal. | | | | your own pet. |
| Why Lost Animals May Not Return Home or Be | | | | 10. If you live in a neighborhood that has a |
| Found: | | | | homeowner's association, contact one of the |
| In addition to the obvious reasons why lost | | | | board members and ask them to post your pet's |
| animals may not return home immediately, or | | | | information on the neighborhood web site and to |
| ever, (their life's mission is taking them in a new | | | | also send out an e-mail to everyone in the |
| direction, they have transitioned, they are injured | | | | neighborhood asking that you be called if someone |
| and have entered into a protective state while | | | | sees your pet. |
| they recover from their injuries, etc.), there are a | | | | 11. If you live near a location that your pet |
| few more reasons that also need to be | | | | frequently visits (dog park, pet sitter, groomer, |
| considered. There are animals that I have | | | | vet, etc.), contact the individuals who frequent |
| encountered that have been stolen and cannot | | | | those areas and ask that they keep an eye out |
| return home on their own. I have also had animals | | | | for your pet. |
| tell me that they believe there are too many | | | | 12. Actively keep searching for your pet no |
| animals in the house and, therefore, they leave. | | | | matter how much time has elapsed. Lost animals |
| One lost animal in particular told me that she | | | | can turn up weeks, and sometimes months or |
| would not return home because she believed that | | | | years after they've been lost. |