What To Do if Your Pet is Lost
If you have lost your pet, first visit your city’s animal shelter to see if she has been picked up. If she’s not there, file a missing pet report and leave a flyer with your name, address, phone number(s), pet description and photo at the shelter. If you live in Stockton, you should also regularly search the shelter’s Stray/Found Animals page, and search the missing pets at Pet Harbor (enter your ZIP code and look for the Stockton Animal Shelter). Be sure to visit our Lost Pets List for instructions for listing your lost pet on our site.
More ways to find your pet faster:
- Talk to all residents living in the neighborhood where your pet was last seen. Leave flyers at all houses, and give them to people who walk their pets in the area (they’re more likely to spot animals than others).
- Post flyers on bulletin boards, and ask local businesses if you can post them in their store.
- When creating a flyer, be as detailed as possible when describing your pet. Note any collars or unique markings. Make colorful flyers that attract attention, and include a color photo of your pet, if possible.
- Visit local animal shelters as often as possible, at least every other day. Stray animals can arrive weeks or even months after disappearing.
- Advertise in all local newspapers. Offer a reward but don’t specify the amount.
- Check local newspapers daily for found animals.
- Contact other animal agencies, such as veterinary hospitals, groomers, trainers and adoption groups.
- Inform breed clubs and rescue groups if your pet is a purebred.
- Check in other counties, or within a 20 mile radius. Your animal may have been picked up and taken to another shelter or adoption group.
You may also want to try the following online resources: