Losing a pet is like losing a loved one. Pets can’t tell you where they are. If they belong to a pure breed, they are likely to be kidnapped or kept by seekers.
As an online pet recovery specialist in Singapore, I help pet owners find their missing pets by using the internet platform to reach out to pet lovers. With hundreds of more attentive eyes, the chance of finding your lost pets is higher.
Here are some ways to find your lost pets:
1. Conduct a physical search. They could be hiding in the bushes, fields, or drains. Cats don’t normally go very far.
2. Distribute flyers in the neighborhood. Post the posters in public places where there is high traffic of people. Pass it to the security guards at the condominiums. Post it on bulletin boards in shopping malls, sports centers and schools. Most of the lost pets were found through flyers.
3. Contact animal shelters like SPCA. Send them a photo. When a person finds a stray dog, they are likely to contact the Humane Society.
4. Post your notice on pet forums. There are “lost and found” sections in all online pet forums.
5. Post to the ‘lost and found’ section on online classifieds portals and lifestyle forums. Craigslist is one of the best sites as information is quickly indexed by search engines. For better localization, in the topic title or header, mention the breed and the place where it last appeared. Offer a reward as an incentive.
6. Post your notice in pet groups on Facebook.
7. Scan the newspaper every day to see if anyone reports a found pet. Look in the ‘Found’ section of the classifieds column. Any finder can post a found pet free of charge. In Singapore, the Humane Society posts it for 3 consecutive days and there is no response, the pet will probably be put to sleep.
8. Engage the services of a pet detective or pet recovery specialist. This will save you time. They are the experts. So they know the best way to do it. They have their network of contacts. They know where the websites are to post the notice. They know how animals behave and where they are likely to be found.
Do it early. Don’t delay. From my personal experience, most pets were found within the first week. By following the steps above, you will increase your chances of getting your lost pet back.