PEORIA, AZ – Your dog is lost and time is of the essence. The sooner you begin looking for him the sooner you might have a reunion. According to the Humane Society of Arizona these are the things you should be doing around town to help locate your lost dog:
In Your Neighborhood
Your first step in finding your dog should be to thoroughly search your home, both indoors and outside. Inside your home search every nook and cranny from the attic to the basement. Check closets, cabinets and even appliances. Dogs, especially small ones, can get stuck. Outside your home, check outbuildings, drain pipes and even underneath your vehicle. Call out your lost dog’s name to see if he responds.
If he doesn’t respond then leave out a dish of food and water, his bed, and something with a familiar smell, like his blanket or an old towel. Lost dogs have a keen sense of smell and often the scent of home will guide him back to you.
If you have done the above without success your next step should be to create a flyer describing your dog. Include your contact information. Hand this flyer out to everyone you come into contact with and post the flyer near your home.
Outside your neighborhood
Call or visit your local veterinary office or emergency animal clinic.
Visit the Sunnyslope Campus Admissions Department and ask to see lost dogs in the Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital. They ask that you bring in a photo of your dog along with his veterinary records. If you have a flyer, be sure to leave one at the shelter. They are open daily from 9:00 in the morning until 5:00 in the evening. If your dog doesn’t have tags, or a micro chip it’s possible they put your dog up for adoption so be sure to check out the lost dogs on the adoption floor.
If you didn’t find your lost dog at Sunnyslope, be sure to visit both locations of the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. According to the Humane Society, you should check every 24 to 72 hours. The county is only required to hold your dog for 72 hours, after that he becomes the property of the county. They can be reached at (602) 506-PETS. The two locations are: Central/West Valley in Phoenix and East Valley in Mesa.
If your lost dog hasn’t been dropped off at an animal facility there is always the possibility that he has been struck by a car and killed. We don’t want to envision this happening to our dogs but it has, and does happen. Call your local or state Department of Transportation to determine if they may have picked up the body of your dog.
Found a dog?
If you find a lost dog without a tag, don’t keep him. He is most likely a pet and someone is searching for him. Take him to your local animal shelter or veterinary clinic to be scanned for a microchip.
AHS will accept stray dogs that are sick, injured or abused but they will not accept healthy stray dogs older than three months old. Healthy stray dogs should be taken to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.
For more tips on keeping your dog happy, healthy and safe, check out our blog at https://rockymountainpooperscoopers.com. Call us today at 602 391-0160 for a free pet waste removal quote. Arrowhead is the leading pet waste removal service in the greater Glendale and Peoria Arizona areas. Happy Tails!
