How to Report a Missing Pet

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Call your veterinarian. If your pet wears a rabies vaccination tag, someone could track his identity back to the doctor who administered the shot.
Step 2:
Contact all local animal shelters. Include government-sponsored shelters, as well as private rescue organizations. These groups sometimes work together to prevent unnecessary euthanasia, so you might receive referrals to other appropriate agencies this way.
Step 3:
Report the missing pet to emergency veterinarian services after business hours. If your pet receives an injury at night, someone could deliver him to an emergency vet service.
Step 4:
Connect with your animal control agency regularly. Some pet owners think that animal control officers will contact them if their pet is found, but officers don't always have time to be proactive.
Step 5:
Submit your pet's information to the USDA's Missing Pet Network. This free service maintains a list of lost and found animals organized by state or country.
Step 6:
List your pet's information in the Lost Pet SOS Database. This group strives to be the premier pet locater service at no charge to the pet owner.
Step 7:
Check with your local Department of Transportation or whichever road crews pick up deceased animals from your roadways. Unfortunately, some pet owners find that their missing pets died from a traffic-related injury. It's better to obtain this closure than to be left wondering about your pet's fate.

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