LOST A PET ?               FOUND A PET?


TIPS ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PET:

Report your missing animal to police departments and humane societies/animal shelters in your surrounding area. Be sure to report your animal's breed, sex, size, color, name and where it was lost and last seen. Leave your telephone number in case your pet is found. If you have a photo, do this in person so the photo can be included. Call every day or every other day for updates.

Find out which animal shelter is contracted to receive strays from your town. The MCSPCA has contracts with the following towns: Atlantic Highlands, Eatontown, Fair Haven, Holmdel, Little Silver, Long Branch, West Long Branch, Marlboro, Middletown, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury Township, Spring Lake Heights. If strays are picked up in any of these towns, the stray is brought to us.

East Brunswick has its contract with Blumig Kennels, 732-251-3210, 645 Old Post Road, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816.

If you do not live in one of the towns listed here, your pet was probably taken to the Associated Humane Society, 732-922-0100, Shafto Road, Tinton Falls. Call your local police department and ask them which shelter takes strays from your town if not listed here.

Visit local animal shelters as often as possible to see if your pet was brought in. Please keep in mind that animal shelters can be under-staffed, and deal with many, many animals a day. Even if you have submitted a Lost Report, you are the only one who will be able to spot your pet in an instant. A staff member may see 3 stray grey tabby cats in a day, only you will know if one is your Fluffy.

Make flyers that include:
   -"LOST PET" with your pet's picture, pet's name, sex & size
   -The date your pet got lost and where last seen
   -Your phone number(s)
   -State REWARD (but do not specify what or how much)
   -State "may be cold and hungry" (to pull at people's heartstrings)

Make 500 copies of flyer (office superstores are inexpensive) and distribute in the mailboxes of houses in the area your pet was last seen; put up on poles, near bus stops, park benches, anywhere where groups of people congregate.

Put an announcement in your local newspaper.

Post a note on PetFinder's LOST message board. PetFinder is read by many people in the New Jersey area and has helped find many pets. Make sure you put your town and NJ in the subject line.

Place a 'lost pet' ad in the classifieds on www.petfinder.org

Also visit www.lostandfound.com, www.pets911.com and www.petrecovery.com

Walk by the area your dog or cat was last seen during the day and at night. Call his/her name, bring a squeaky toy or other favorite thing, like a blanket, or special treats. Chances are your pet is not far from home. Cats in particular will hide close by, like under a neighbor's porch.

Get everyone involved. Your neighbors, friends, relatives. Report it to as many people and organizations as possible. Continue to call and check updates. Post flyers everywhere. People will help. Use their resources. Follow all leads.

Don't give up!

Remember, keep ID on your pet at all times and consider microchipping (we do it at our clinic).



WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A PET:

If you find a stray dog or cat or any other type of animal, or if you are trapping stray cats, please do NOT bring them directly in to the MCSPCA or any animal shelter. This is particularly true if the animal is injured.

If you find a stray animal, please contact your police department or health department to arrange for your town's animal control officers (ACO) to bring the strays to the appropriate animal shelter. Every town has contracts with different animal shelters and your police or health department will know which shelter has their contract.

This is particularly important if the animal is injured so that the ACO can quickly get the animal to a veterinarian.