LOST DOGS ARIZONA

LOST DOG ACTION PLAN

Page 1 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014

Page 2 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014

Searching is a team effort. However, one person needs to be the point person for coordination. Communication is key. Keep people updated on a daily basis by using email, a phone tree or free conference call service.Don’t give up! Many dogs are found weeks or months after they are lost.

Before starting your search: Organize all current information about the lost pet (name, color of collar, tags, current picture,

breed, microchip information, etc.) Place a blanket the dog has used and/or clothing that smells familiar to your dog along with a

dish of canned or tasty human food and some water outside where he/she was last seen. You will need to publicize your phone number and email address. If you are concerned about

this, create a new email address just for this purpose that you can forward to your regular address. Consider which phone number you want to use.

Use flyer and posters: The Helping Lost Pets website provides a free flyer when you list your lost dog. If you want to

create your own, include date, where dog was lost, thorough description, special instructions (including "do not chase"), and contact phone. For examples, visit Missing Pet Partnership - Recovery Posters. Submit this form to list with Helping Lost Pets and Lost Dogs Arizona: http://www.HelpingLostPets.com/LDAZ

You may need to print as many as 200-500 copies. Use smaller flyers to hand to people and larger flyers as posters.

Walk and drive the area distributing and posting your flyers. Look for “Found” posters. Keep flyering and increase your area! Dogs can walk 8 to 10 miles from home. Some dogs are picked up by people and transported even further and some breeds (e.g., Siberian Huskies) can travel great distances on their own.

Create posters using neon colored paper or mount white paper flyers on bright poster board. For examples, visit: Missing Pet Partnership - Recovery Posters.

Pass out flyers and talk to people. Talk to the Mail Carriers, UPS and FedEx. Delivery drivers are great candidates to receive flyers. Stop at all food delivery places, cab companies, and bus stations and ask if drivers would carry your flyers. Give them enough flyers so that each driver can have one. Ask if you can place your flyers in all places of business around area including factories. Ask if you can put flyers on time clocks.

Post flyers at intersections where drivers are likely to be stopped or slowed down. Put a poster in your front yard Tag your car Mobilize your friends and family to assist you in getting the word out and searching for your

dog. Exchange phone numbers for quick contact. Remind your search team not to shout and chase your dog if they find him/her. This may make

your dog feel threatened and panic which could cause them to run even further, possibly into traffic. Tell them to quietly sit or lie down, avert their eyes and lure the dog with tasty treats.

Each team member should carry a quart bag of tasty treats, water and a leash with them. Let callers know to leave a detailed message if they have sighted your dog: “If you are calling

about (your dog’s name), please leave your name, phone number along with what time, location (including street number or intersection as well as what direction my dog was going, thank you for calling”

Check your posters often and replace them if they are removed or unreadable

Involve your Children:

Page 3 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014

We realize how hard this time is for you and want to help you every step of the way! We have some suggestions for you and your children.First off, kids are very intuitive. The loss of your pet affects them as much as you. So let’s get them involved. It’s good for them to know they are helping, and good for you to give you the space you need for your “time out.”

Maps: Call local Chamber of Commerce for street map of area where dog is missing. Go to googleearth.com, maps.yahoo.com, or maps.google.com to get an aerial view of the

area. Divide map into sections. Highlight and assign each section to a volunteer to distribute flyers.

Use a 3-mile radius. If there are no sightings, expand search area. Use a separate map to record sightings of the dog. Record the date, time, and exact location of

each sighting. Suggestion: Use an Excel spreadsheet to record sightings.

Notify by phone, fax, or visit: Your county shelter. IMPORTANT: In Arizona, the required stray hold is 72 hours. After 72

hours, your dog belongs to the county and will either be put to death or put up for adoption. You must go visit and check all the kennels yourself at least every other day. Make sure you notify and check nearby county shelters if you are near a county border.

Arizona shelter list: http://www.scribd.com/doc/123397954/Lost-Dogs-Arizona-Arizona-Shelter-List Maricopa Animal Care & Control Pima Animal Care Center Pinal County Animal Care & Control

Other local shelters/rescues such as the Arizona Humane Society or Humane Society of Southern Arizona

Microchip company. MAKE SURE YOUR CHIP INFORMATION IS UP TO DATE! Police department. Some police departments pick up lost dogs. They may hold them for

awhile before delivering them to the county shelter or they may do sheltering for the county Veterinarians – yours and others in the area Homeowners Association, Neighborhood Watch and other local organizations Animal service businesses – retail stores, trainers, pet sitters, boarding kennels, etc. Highway/public works departments

Post/Check Internet sites: www.petharbor.com Select all shelters in your area to search for dogs in the shelter. Also

scroll down to “search pets found by public”. Do not select gender because that can be incorrect. Also don’t assume the breed is correct. Report your dog as lost on petharbor. If your dog has been lost for more than 72 hours, you will also want to view the adoptable dogs on petharbor.com.

http://www.craigslist.org/ (post to and check both the “Lost and Found” and the “Pets” sections). Make sure your post includes a photo, the date the dog was lost and the nearest intersection as well as your contact information.

www.helpinglostpets.com . Check the map for found dogs in the area. Post your lost dog using the Lost Dogs Arizona form: http://www.helpinglostpets.com/LDAZ

http://thecenterforlostpets.com/ In Maricopa County, also check MCACC interactive map:

http://gis.maricopa.gov/mapapp/animalcarecontrol/stray/index.html

Page 4 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014

Maricopa County twitter feed @nolostpetsMC Pima County Intake List: http://www.paccintake.pima.gov Rescue websites. Arizona rescue list: http://www.scribd.com/doc/123390194/Lost-Dogs-

Arizona-Rescue-List Adoption websites if your dog has been missing for more than 72 hours and might have been

put up for adoption: www.petfinder.com, http://www.adoptapet.com

Social Networking (there are many groups and pages so it’s best to do a search. This is not a complete list): Lost Dogs Arizona (Public Page). Submit using form http://www.helpinglostpets.com/LDAZ Lost Dogs Of Arizona (Group you will need to join) Straydar (Group you will need to join) Lost And Found Pets Of Maricopa County Az (Public Page) Friends of Arizona Shelter Animals (Public Page) Your Homeowners Association Facebook Local swap/buy/sell pages and groups Nextdoor.com, a social network site for neighborhoods Lost And Found Huskies Malamutes and Northern Breeds Arizona San Tan Valley/Queen Creek Pets Anthem Pets Lost and Found Pets of Pima County Use Twitter to get the word out

Place ads: Area newspapers Radio Stations

Websites for more information: missingpetpartnership.org lostdogsearch.com lostdogsofamerica.org

Sites to buy traps: animal-traps.com livetrap.com Contact your local animal control agency and/or shelter for a dog trap. Make sure the trap is

large enough to fit your dog.

Search dogs:Place something that has your dog’s scent in a plastic bag – in case there is a need to bring in a scent dog. Please read this before hiring a scent dog: Missing Pet Partnership - Pet Detective Warning

If No Sightings: Start from the beginning and expand your search area. Check Petfinder.com, Adoptapet.com and other pet adoption sites to see if your dog was

surrendered to a shelter/rescue and has been put for adoption. Also check Craigslist Pet sections for dogs that are being rehomed or sold.

Once Your Dog is Home: Take your dog to a veterinarian to be checked over.

Page 5 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014

Remove all flyers and posters. Take down web postings and discontinue ads. Let all agencies you contacted know the dog has been recovered and thank them for their assistance.

Update the status of your dog on the Helping Lost Pets website/Lost Dogs Arizona by changing to “Back Home” at http://www.helpinglostpets.com/mypets.

If not already, make sure your dog is microchipped and the information is up to date If not already, make sure your dog is wearing tags on a secure collar or harness

Page 6 of 6 Lost Dogs Arizona 9-29-2014