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What to Do When Your Pet is Lost Around Capitol Hill

According to DC Health, Washington DC’s Animal Control Facility manages approximately 3,000 animals, many of them lost pets, that have been impounded as strays each year. The good news is that nearly 20% of these animals are eventually reunited with their families.


This article will outline the steps to ensure your pet returns home safely should they become lost.


Report Your Pet Missing and Begin the Search


Not wasting time thinking your pet will find its way home is essential. The sooner your search begins, the better the odds you will find your pet.


If your pet is lost around Capitol Hill or anywhere else in the Metro DC area, you should call (202) 723-5730 to connect to Washington DC’s Humane Rescue Alliance. You will be asked to provide information about your pet, including a description, breed, size, and medical history. If the pet did not go missing from your home address, tell the individual taking the report where you saw your pet last.


Once you’ve filed a report, begin conducting a thorough search of the area where your pet was last seen. Check green spaces, parks, backyards (with permission), and other areas before you widen the search perimeter. Be sure to tell anyone you encounter that you are searching for a missing pet and ask them to contact you if they happen to see your pet. Remind them not to try and catch the animal on their own.


When searching an area for your lost pet, frequently call out their name and check any spots where they may have become trapped, such as in a garage, an outbuilding, basements, or under a vehicle. That is especially true for cats. It is common for a lost cat to hide in daylight hours, so consider returning to the area again at night and searching with a flashlight. A can of food can often lure a hungry or scared pet out of hiding.


For lost dogs, their personality will likely play a role in locating them. For example, a friendly and confident dog is more likely to appear at a location where people or other dogs are known to gather. On the other hand, a frightened, shy, or injured dog, or a dog lost in unfamiliar territory, will more likely be hiding or on the run.


Spread the Word About Your Missing Pet


If your pet isn’t located during the initial search, use a photo of the animal to create a large, colorful “lost pet” poster that includes your contact information and begin hanging them in and around the area where they went missing. Grocery stores, pet stores, laundromats, community centers, veterinary offices, libraries, dog parks, and post offices are great, well-trafficked places to hang posters. It would help if you also created smaller fliers that you can hand out to joggers, dog walkers, mail carriers, or anyone else who frequents the area where your pet went missing.


Social media is another excellent resource for helping to find your lost pet. Several Facebook groups are dedicated to finding lost pets in the Metro DC region. Look for groups in and around Capitol Hill and the surrounding area and post a notice about your missing pet. Be sure to share that post on your own social media channels, including on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other social media platform you might use. Pet parents and animal lovers stick together, so you will likely find many individuals willing to help you in your search.


You can advertise in your local newspaper and offer a reward for your pet’s safe return. Also, keep an eye on the newspaper’s “found” ads and respond to any with a description that resembles your pet, even if it’s not an exact match in your mind. If the area where your pet went missing has a neighborhood or homeowners association, contact them and ask them to help spread the word.


Don’t Lose Hope When it Comes to a Missing Pet


We have all heard heartwarming stories about pets lost for months, even years, that have been reunited with their families. That is why it is important never to lose hope after a pet goes missing. The key to bringing home a lost pet is persistence and a systematic approach to your search.


That said, you want to beware of scams, especially if a significant amount of time has passed and you are offering a reward. If you are contacted by a stranger who claims to have your pet, ask them to send you a photo. Never trust anyone who demands money before returning your animal.


Some experts recommend omitting one or two unique identifying characteristics in your posters and advertisements. That can help you determine if someone is trying to scam you, especially if they cannot describe these unpublished characteristics.


Lost Pet Prevention Steps


Your chances of being reunited with a lost pet significantly increase when your pet wears a collar and an identification tag that includes your contact information. Another way to ensure your pet returns home safely if they ever get lost is to microchip them. Ask your local animal shelter or veterinarian about the microchipping process. If you do choose to microchip your pet, be sure to keep your contact information current in the registry database.


Important Takeaways Regarding Lost Pets


The loss of a pet can be an incredibly traumatic experience for the pet, you, and the rest of your family. When your pet is lost in and around Capitol Hill, there is no need to panic. You’ll need to keep a clear head, act quickly, and formulate a plan to bring your pet home using the tips mentioned above.


Let us know how we can help!


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