Lost and Found

Prevention

The most effective way to not lose your pet is to avoid being in a lost pet situation!  The bylaw in HRM says that animals must be under the control of their owners at all times.  Even in off-leash parks, animals must have unfailing recall.  To avoid a lost animal, beloved pets must always have updated tags with name and contact information for  their owner and a well-fitting collar.  Another way to prevent separation from you and your pet is to have him/her fitted with a micro-chip available from any veterinary office.  Micro-chipping is a simple procedure by which a small micro-chip is inserted under the skin on the back of the animal’s neck.  All pertinent information about this animal is stored in the micro-chip and this can be easily scanned at any  veterinary office or shelter anywhere in North America ensuring the return of your pet.

Lost or Found a Pet?

The first thing you should do when your pet goes missing is to check around your property, neighbors properties and any place the animal was familiar with. Ask neighbours to look under steps, sheds, decks, garages, etc. If there is any new construction in the area, check  with contractors. Animals can get lost within a block of their homes so  don’t limit your search to the immediate area.

If your animal is still missing, create missing flyers that include  the following information: animal's name, breed, male or female, spayed or neutered, declawed, coat colour, coat length, eye colour, any distinguishing marks, if it was wearing a collar, collar colour, your name, phone number, where the animal was last seen, when it went missing, and a recent picture of the animal. This information is good to
provide to anyone you place a missing animal call to.

• Contact the NS SPCA Provincial Animal Shelter at 468-7877 Option 4 to file a lost report
• Put up the flyers all over your neighbourhood, high traffic areas such as stores and community halls (with permission). Check out the online flyer maker available through Best Friends Animal Society.
• Knock on doors and if no response leave flyers in mailboxes. A neighbour may have seen your animal, assumed it was a stray, and taken it in, not knowing its home was just around the corner
• Call all veterinarians in your area, not just the one you use, to report your animal missing. People often call veterinarians when they find stray animals.
• Check the sides  of roads and fields in case your animal has been hit by a car.
• Look after dark  with a flashlight when things have quieted down. Cats like night time and may be easier to entice with some food and a voice they know.
• Contact the Bide-A-While Shelter in Dartmouth (469-9578) and visit in person to check for your pet.
• Call HRM Animal Control to place a lost animal report (490-4000 | www.halifax.ca/animalcontrol)
• Check with Metro Veterinary Emergency Clinic (468-0674)
• The Chronicle Herald places free ads for one day (426-2841)
• Create an ad on kijiji and include a picture with the ad.

Should your pet be found, please collect all your flyers and advise the vets and the animal shelters to stop checking for your animal.

Additional Resources