June 6th
Bring Them Home: A New Initiative for Lost and Found Pets

A reported ten million pets go missing each year in North America. Many of them never make it back home to their owners, and most are picked up as strays without any means of identification and entered into the shelter system. Following the lead of organizations like Human Animal Support Services (HASS), the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth (HSKWSP) is determined to greatly reduce these numbers. We are doing this by educating the community on the best possible ways to prevent pets from going missing while increasing awareness on how to ensure your pet will return home to you.

MICROCHIPPING

This may be the most crucial step in ensuring your pet won’t remain lost for long should they stray. Any time a found pet is brought into a shelter, they are immediately scanned for a microchip which should contain your contact information. It’s important to update your information any time there is a change of phone number or address. Because it is implanted, you never have to worry about remembering to place it on your pet like a collar or ID tag. The procedure is extremely quick and painless. You can even watch a video of a puppy named Maple receiving her microchip here to see just how it’s done! Our centre hosts microchip clinics regularly. Take a look at our events calendar for the next available date.
LOST/FOUND PET REPORT In the event your pet should go missing, time is of the essence. Phone or visit your local humane society or animal service provider right away and fill out a lost pet report. Likewise, someone who finds a lost pet should get in touch with their local humane society or animal service provider and complete a found pet report.

TAKE A STROLL

The majority of lost animals usually only venture about one kilometre from their home. Because of this, it’s likely the pet’s owners are close by and possibly searching for them. If you’re able to, try taking a walk around the neighbourhood and ask people you see if they recognize the pet. Someone may be able to point you in the right direction and get you in touch with the pet’s owners. This would help keep the animal out of the shelter system.

POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Almost everyone has a profile on one social media platform or another. Because of the popularity of these sites, they can be extremely useful in locating a lost pet’s owner. There are pages dedicated to pet reunification, such as KW Ground Search and Rescue. Taking a quick photo of the lost pet and posting it on one of these pages can quickly spread the word and increase the likelihood that someone will recognize the animal and possibly know who the owner is. Alternatively, if your pet goes missing, posting a photo on one of these pages can prompt people in the area to keep an eye out for the pet and help return them home safely.

POSTERS

Putting up posters in the area the pet was lost is a timeless way of spreading the word. For those who may not have access to the internet or may not have social media accounts, this is the best way to alert people of the missing animal. It’s a good idea to include some information about the pet as well as a photo and your contact information.

PREVENTION

Most pets don’t mean to get themselves lost. Sometimes their adventurous instincts kick in, and they just wander. Check your yard for holes or gaps in fencing and make sure any gates are latched shut. If your yard is not fenced, be sure to use a long line to ensure your pet doesn’t wander too far. Have a collar and ID tag on your pet whenever they go outside. This is especially important for outdoor cats as it is a clear indication that your cat is not a stray and has a loving home to return to. Help us safely return lost pets home. With overcrowding in shelters, we implore you, the community, to help us help them as much as possible.

Help us safely return lost pets home. With overcrowding in shelters, it’s so important for you, the community, to help us help them as much as possible.