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Lost and Found Pet information
If you have lost or found a pet please use the following information to help reunite them with your/their families.
Give some detailed information and provide a picture if one is available. When giving details
for a lost pet on posters or websites give a couple "unusual habits" or "Quirks" the pet may have. I had a cat that was lost for 3 months and one of the factors that brought
someone to call us was that she loved to sleep on cars. Because we listed this we had someone call us and tell us they thought our cat was sleeping on their car from the
description we gave of her and this unusual behavior. Anything that will distinguish your pet from "a stray" that someone will mistake them for. Please see below for scams - make sure
if someone claims to have your pet they go beyond the basic information you have provided in your lost postings. Do not post ALL of the distinguishing things about your pet to help with this.
Call Lane County Animal Services and report that you have lost or found a pet.
(541)682-3645 (541)682-3646 Office Hours Tuesday through Saturday Phone:8:30am-5:30pm
Check the impound list but remember there is a statement at the top of the page:
Just because you don't see your animal on the following list, does not mean it is not here.
Breed, color, and age are approximations only. What one person calls a Shepherd mix, another person may call a Heeler mix.
Impound Link
Lost and Found report
Greenhill Humane Society - they do have a lost and found report book. YOU MAY HAVE TO GO OUT TO LOOK THROUGH THE BOOK. 689-1503
Send out an e-mail to rescues to be on the lookout. Give as much detail and pictures if they are available. A list of rescue resources can be found here:
Local Rescue Resources
Post fliers and notices everywhere you can think. Talk to friends and neighbors about spreading the word.
There are many websites to post a lost or found animal. Post on them all and check through them all. Here is a small list to start with, remember Google is helpful - search "lost pet" and you will find lots of sites to help.
Craigslist - both the pet section and the lost and found section. Do a general search for lost dog/cat or the type of pet you have lost or found.
www.craigslist.org
www.lostfoundpets.us
www.pets911.org
www.lostpetsos.org
www.missingpet.net
www.petfinder.com
www.findtoto.com
www.fidofinder.com
www.tabbytracker.com
www.lostpetnet.com
www.birdhotline.com
www.flealess.org
www.pmia.com - pets missing in action
www.lostandfoundnow.com - More than just animals but you can post them there
www.operationkona.org Karing for Our Neighbor Animals
Some other tips to help you find your pet if it is lost:
Check close to home also. Sometimes a pet will hide in bushes, under cars, other items when it is in an unfamiliar setting. They also may be accidently locked in sheds, closets, bathrooms, basements, etc.
Call local veterinarian offices during the day. After 5 PM, call veterinarian emergency clinics or take in a poster for them to hang on their bulletin boards
Check "Dogs/Cats For Sale" ads on the Internet and in the paper. Many dogs/Cats are taken to be sold or given as presents.
Place strong-scented articles outside your home in case your dog/cat tries to find their way home.
Contact your neighborhood association and let them know that your pet is missing.
Place an ad in the local newspaper. Check the newspaper found ads everyday.
Call the city, county, and state road crews, DOT to find out if your pet has been injured on the road. Call Animal Control daily to see if they have found your dog/cat.
Call every local radio and local tv station including public radio and TV and cable stations. Ask them to run an announcement
Live near a railroad track? Tip from railroad employee: "Please let people know that dogs/cats are always running down railroad tracks. I work for the railroad and see them a lot in the middle of tracks. Dogs/cats often run inside the tracks and get run down--no way to stop in time for them as it takes 2 miles to stop a train. Please advise to also peruse tracks if they can, or alongside of the tracks."
Be wary of pet-recovery scams.
Pet Scam #1. If you have placed an ad in a local paper about your lost pet, and particularly if you offered a reward, you may get a call from someone claiming to have found your pet.
The caller wants the reward in advance, though, and if you refuse to pay, they'll threaten to harm your pet to put the pressure on so you'll pay up.
Pet Scam #2. Again, in response to an ad placed by you, you may get a call from someone who claims to be a trucker who found your injured animal as he was driving through the area.
He claims that your pet needed vet care, which he has taken care of and paid for, but he needs you to wire him the money so he can pick your pet up and send it back with another trucker in the same company who is driving back your way. Of course, you'll not only need to wire the money, but give this scammer your name and address, too.
Pet Scam #3. Your lost pet ad prompts a call from someone who claims to have found an animal that might be yours. In the process of exchanging descriptions, the caller will say that he's found a different animal, not yours. He'll apologize for your loss, and for taking your time.
This is a set-up -- in a short time, he uses the information he's gotten about YOUR pet to have a second person call and claim to have found your pet. Again, he'll try to collect any reward money in advance.
Pet Scam #4. Your lost pet ad prompts a call from someone who precisely describes your pet, and wants to return it to claim the reward. In reality, your pet has been STOLEN by this person, who knew you would run an ad!
Pet Scam #5. In a bizarre twist, scammers also respond to 'found' ads with the claim that you have found their pet. When you return the found pet, it may be destined for a death at a research facility!
There are certainly other pet scams, but these are some of the most insidious.
In order to prevent these scammers from taking your money or harming your pet, here are a few things you can do:
1. Make sure your pet is always properly licensed and tagged.
2. Keep your pet indoors, in a secure yard, or on a leash at all times.
3. If you must place an ad, include only the essential information.
4. If you get a call from someone who claims to be out-of-state, ask them for a phone number where you can call them back.
5. If a caller appears to be 'fishing' for information about your pet, make THEM initiate the questions or comments about your pet's description.
6. If you've found a pet and someone claims it belongs to them, before you return the pet, ask for some kind of documentation that the pet actually belongs to them -- ownership or breeding papers, records from the vet, or even family photos.
If you have lost a pet, don't make your grief even worse by falling for any these cold-hearted pet scams!
Scam information obtained from Scambusters.com
More resources for lost and found pets
AWNLC Lost pet information
Cats in the bag
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