losing and finding pets (episode 1)
The first episode of the podcast, which I hope to post in January 2019, will be about losing and finding pets: what to do if you find an animal, what to do if you lose one, what if the animal is hurt or dead, and every resource I can find. Most of the content is still being drafted, but I'm sharing the resource list I'm compiling as I go.
if you lose a pet
share widely
share on social-media sites (see “resources”)
put a sign in your front yard: “dog lost. inquire within.”
contact local veterinary offices and clinics.
post flyers throughout the neighborhood where it was last seen. put them in ziploc gallon-sized bags with the zip at the bottom and hang them at all intersections in a five-mile radius from where he was last spotted (but in concentric circles, from the place last seen outward).
distribute flyers door to door throughout the neighborhood where it was lost.
for all shares
wherever you share it, include where it was last seen. be as specific as is safe (i.e., not a specific address; a neighborhood is sufficient usually, but, in neighborhood-specific contexts, a cross street or other landmark is helpful).
update all the posts at least daily and when the animal is found.
include at least one good photo (good = shows the face or full body or both).
indicate what action you want someone to take if they see the animal. approach? call a number?
every notice should say “LOST” and have a good photo and a number that answers 24/7.
contact local law enforcement (police or sheriff) with jurisdiction over where the animal was last seen.
resources
Below is a list of online resources I've begun. Please let me know if I'm missing any or have incorrect information. Note that the names are copied exactly as they appear on Facebook.
facebook groups
911 Parrot Alert (Official) https://www.facebook.com/groups/911parrotalertofficial/
Allegheny County, PA Lost and Found Pets https://www.facebook.com/groups/AlleghenyCountyPALostPets/
Animal Finders Of Beaver County PA https://www.facebook.com/groups/animalfindersobeavercountypa/
Animal Find. Lost, missing Pets Greater Pittsburgh Pennsylvania https://www.facebook.com/groups/1496011393965259/
Beaver County, PA Lost and Found Pets https://www.facebook.com/groups/BCPALAFP020/
Butler PA Lost and Found Animals https://www.facebook.com/groups/butlerpalostandfoundanimals/
Deceased Pets of Western PA https://www.facebook.com/groups/232021113653774/
Dog Missing / Pet Lost & Found Alert Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/198089680645/
Guardians of the Lost-Pittsburgh Pa https://www.facebook.com/groups/GuardiansLostPittsburghPA/
Help Me Get Home: Lost, Found, and Homeless Animals (Pittsburgh) https://www.facebook.com/groups/1514210118866991/
Indiana County, PA Lost and Found Pets: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IndianaCountyPALostPets/
Lost and Found Dogs-Pittsburgh, PA area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/810066972386388/
Lost & Found Pets in Allegheny, Beaver & Butler County Areas Cross-Posting https://www.facebook.com/groups/LostandFoundPetsAlleghenyBeaverButlerCountyAreas/
Lost and Found pets in Fayette County , Pa https://www.facebook.com/groups/lostpets2/
Lost & Found Pets in Pittsburgh: https://www.facebook.com/groups/101077416622772/
Lost & Found Pets * Mon Valley & Surrounding Areas: https://www.facebook.com/groups/466069926831090/
Lost & Found Pets Plum, North Murrysville, New Ken Upper/Lower Burrell PA https://www.facebook.com/groups/543777305718972/
LOST DOGS (CATS) OF HANCOCK COUNTY WV: https://www.facebook.com/groups/618270364921371/
LOST DOGS PITTSBURGH https://www.facebook.com/groups/690560301062929/
LostDogsPittsburgh: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringeggrollhome/
Lost/Found Cats Pittsburgh https://www.facebook.com/groups/165832903940861/
Lost/Found Cats Pittsburgh https://www.facebook.com/groups/LostFoundCatsPittsburgh/
Lost and Found Pets Berkeley County, WV https://www.facebook.com/groups/BerkeleyCountyWVLostPets/
Lost Pets Pittsburgh Area https://www.facebook.com/groups/348603275284884/
A New Leash on Life Pittsburgh Animal Shelter https://www.facebook.com/groups/2051579291720298/
Northern Allegheny County, PA Lost and Found Pets: https://www.facebook.com/groups/652176694881788/
Pawluver NETWORKING Rescue Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/287338044795467/
PENNSYLVANIA LOST/FOUND PETS https://www.facebook.com/groups/palostfoundpets/
Pittsburgh Pet Helpers https://www.facebook.com/groups/1541051009474535/
Pittsburgh Pets https://www.facebook.com/groups/129803137036007/
PITTSBURGH PIT BULLS Lost Found Advocate https://www.facebook.com/groups/pittsburghpitbulls/
Rehoming Our Furry Friends Westmoreland https://www.facebook.com/groups/RehomingOurFurryFriendsWestmoreland/
REUNITING DOGS WITH FAMILIES PITTSBURGH AREA https://www.facebook.com/groups/274087052755008/
Saving Pets In Pittsburgh PA and Surrounding Areas https://www.facebook.com/groups/1668581590097133/
West Mifflin Area Pet Finder https://www.facebook.com/groups/wmpetfinder/
Westmoreland County PA Lost Dogs "Fuzz Finders" https://www.facebook.com/groups/516126432140971/
Westmoreland County, PA Lost and Found Cats https://www.facebook.com/groups/202843826870601/
Westmoreland County, PA Lost and Found Pets https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestmorelandCountyPALostPets/
other online resources
General Pet Search Tips: Tips for finding lost and missing pets: http://www.catsinthebag.org/
Jenne Mundy: Catprofiler: http://www.catprofiler.com/
LostMyKitty: http://www.lostmykitty.com/
Missing Animal Response Network https://www.missinganimalresponse.com/
Nextdoor https://nextdoor.com
PawBoost https://www.pawboost.com
Pet FBI https://petfbi.org
Tabby Tracker https://www.tabbytracker.com/