It’s every dog owner’s nightmare: someone leaves the gate open and Fido makes a break for the open spaces. Or perhaps your dog bolts during a thunderstorm or Fourth of July. Here at Rescue Ranch, we’ve taken in our fair share of frightened stray dogs and successfully returned them to their families. Here’s what to do if you’ve lost your dog.
It’s best to be prepared
No matter how careful we are, sometimes the unexpected still happens. Take these steps to be prepared:
- Microchip your dog. Rescue Ranch offers microchipping for a fee of just $15. Dogs with microchips are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their families than dogs without! Unlike collars and tags, a microchip can’t be removed, discouraging pet theft. Please call our front office to confirm that staff will be on hand to assist you.
- Make sure your dog is wearing a fitted collar and ID tag. This makes it easy for finders to contact you if they discover your dog at large.
- License your dog. California law requires that all dogs be licensed through their city or county. A license helps law enforcement return your dog quickly. If your dog is turned in to a municipal shelter in a high-kill area, a license can mean the difference between life and death. Fees are minimal, but you will need to provide proof of rabies vaccination.
What to do if you’ve lost your dog
Rescue Ranch sometimes holds a stray overnight or for the weekend. But ultimately we must turn over any stray dogs to a city or county shelter so they can be officially reported for stray hold (hold times vary depending on the jurisdiction). We do work closely with our local shelters to maintain Siskiyou County’s “no-kill” status. And we never adopt out a dog before previous owners have every opportunity to recover their pet.
If you’ve lost your dog, here’s what to do:
- Call your city or county shelter right away and report a missing dog. Be sure to follow their instructions and check back frequently to see if your pet has been turned in.
- Put up “Lost Dog” posters in your neighborhood and local businesses. Include your phone number and brief description of your pet as well as where they went missing.
- Alert your social media network, including Facebook and Nextdoor. In Siskiyou County, the Facebook group Siskiyou County Animals: Lost, Found, Homeless is a top place to post about lost and found pets.
- Call Rescue Ranch at 530-842-0829 so that we can keep an eye out.
- Contact your microchip company and follow their instructions. Depending on the company and service, they will send out lost pet alerts and guide you through the process of recovering your pet.
- If you lost your dog in a wilderness area, leave a blanket or crate, bowl of water, treats, and an item of your clothing where your pet went missing. Dogs have powerful noses and will often return to the spot where they last saw you.
With any luck, these steps will ensure that you are quickly reunited with your beloved dog!
