Basic Search/Immediate Steps

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Introduction

Here it is - your chance to learn a Pet Detective’s trade. Your search will be based on applying the following lessons to your situation and the personality of the pet. No matter what kind of pet you have, cat or dog, you’ll need to start your search by both building awareness of the situation and actively searching for your pet. Grab your family and friends. This is not something you should have to accomplish by yourself.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - General Tips 1

You cannot search everywhere, though you may want to. So go about your search as logically and strategically as possible, using the formula I’ve developed to search for lost or displaced pets. Apply deductive reasoning in deciding where and how to conduct your search.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - General Tips 2

Strategy + Organization + Tactics + Techniques = Success
Your success is based on determining:

• The type of animal that is missing
• The particular species’ identified patterns of behavior
• The environment of the animal (for instance, indoor cat vs. outdoor cat)
• The temperament of the missing animal
• The motivation of the missing animal
• The terrain of the search area
• The weather

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - General Tips 3

For dogs, how you search and the radius of your search is more dependent on the factors listed previously than cats. Dogs are more likely to:

• Roam much farther from home with weather and terrain playing an obvious role in how far
• Be picked up and driven away by a Good Samaritan

For lost or displaced cats:

• Concentrate on an aggressive search of your immediate neighborhood
• Post missing flyers and posters in a 1- to 3-mile radius

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Poster & Flyer Introduction

The first step in your search is to announce the characteristics of your missing pet to the public. Hand out flyers and post posters around your search area. By the way, HomeAgain has a great flyer template on its website.

Please note: Posters and flyers alone won’t find your pet. You will still need to search, based on the guidelines in the next sections.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Flyer 1

Flyers: Create an 8"-by-11" sheet with your pet’s picture on it, preferably in color, using indelible ink and bold writing. Print as many as you can hand out. Also, post your handout flyers at area shelters and veterinarians’ offices, if they’ll let you.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Flyer 2

Be as detailed as possible, include:

• Pet’s Description - Include your pet’s unique traits
• Identification Tags and Chip Information - ID tags may not remain on the pet; this will remind people that your pet is microchipped
• Separation Details - Note the date and location your pet was last seen
• Contact Information - Include a phone number as well as an email address. For safety reasons, don’t include your name and home address

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Poster 1

Posters: In addition to handing out flyers, you’ll want to make giant florescent posters with an abbreviated lost pet flyer attached. Florescent posters are highly visible, effective, and less likely to be torn down. When creating your poster, remember the "5-word, 5-second" rule. That is, you only have 5 seconds to capture the attention of driver’s passing by and alert them to what you have lost. Be succinct.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Poster 2

What You’ll Need:

• 2 large, permanent black magic markers
• 10 large florescent orange poster boards
• 10 sheet protectors
• Duct tape and packing tape
• 10 flyers with a color photo of your lost pet

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Poster 3

Use the color and size to attract attention!

• Print "REWARD" across the top in large black letters. (This is discretionary; do not put the amount on the poster)
• Print, also in large letters, "LOST CAT" or "LOST DOG"
• Secure plastic sheet protector in the center
• Insert flyers containing: your pet’s color photo, your phone number and 2 to 5 word description of your pet like YELLOW LAB or WHITE POODLE / RED COLLAR

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Poster 4

Maximize poster exposure by:

• Post your posters at busy street corners, using lots of duct tape to secure it
• Place posters at the major intersections within a 1-mile radius of the point last seen and at any locations where you’ve had possible sightings
• Make sure they are placed as far above your head as possible for maximum visibility

Don’t forget to examine your posted flyers frequently and replace those that are missing or damaged.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Creating a Poster 5

Check back frequently to make sure your posters are still there. If local authorities forbid you from putting up posters, gather your friends and conduct an "Intersection Alert" by standing at each corner of a nearby major intersection while holding up these florescent signs just like how teenagers advertise a street side carwash or protestors convey a political message.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Humane Traps 1

A humane trap is a wire cage with a door that is held open by means of a catch, designed to contain animals without harming them. The weight of the animal releases a trip plate, which captures the animal inside.

Traps are most often used for cats, but can also be used for dogs under certain circumstances.

• For cats, you’ll trap in the immediate area of the escape point
• For dogs you’ll trap in areas where you’ve had confirmed sightings

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Humane Traps 2

Humane traps don’t harm animals, but can frighten, so look for a quiet trap like the Tru-catch trap available at www.animal-care.com. You can also buy traps at hardware stores and pet supply shops. Shelters and veterinarians may rent or loan traps. When considering whether to buy or rent, remember that one-week is a short time to trap.

Two traps will allow you to maximize recovery potential while minimizing the amount of time and inconvenience.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Humane Traps 3

Set the trap where there may have been sightings or evidence of your pet:

• Consider areas where your pet may hide, such as under foundations or in dark areas for security - places that offer concealment not confinement
• Avoid wide-open spaces. A trap only works if your pet thinks it’s safe
• Place traps out of sight of each other
• Always get your neighbor’s permission before setting any traps on their property

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Humane Traps 4

Finally, bait the trap with about ½ cup of your pet’s favorite food. Trail food to the trap on cardboard. This lessens the mess and controls the scent if you later move your trap.

For more information on working with traps, check out www.catsinthebag.org. If you’re not comfortable trapping by yourself and you’d like hands-on assistance from a certified pet detective, visit Missing Pet Partnership at www.missingpetpartnership.org.

Basic Search/Immediate Steps - Enlisting Outside Help

Searching for lost pets is an intimidating job. Resources exist that can help you. Missing Animal Response (MAR) professionals will help search for your pet - hopefully lessening the time between separation and reunion.

While there are a lot of caring, certified professionals available (I’ve trained most of them myself) - there are also a few scams! Missing Pet Partnership’s website has a national listing of certified, credible pet detectives.