Lost Animal Prevention

By Lorelei Hunt

Spring is just around the corner and so is the increase in animals who, for whatever, reason can’t find their way back home.   The animal may be just plain lost, frightened by something, or he may be injured and can’t come home.  Although we hope it never happens, there are some precautions you can take to increase your chances of reunification with your animal.

 When I was a child, my mother told me never to talk to, take candy from, or go anywhere with strangers.  I was also taught to memorize my telephone number, address, and the places where my Mom and Dad worked.  If I was lost, I should stay in one place so that it would be easier to find me.  In the same way, you can also talk with your animals to prepare for these situations.

 Sit with your animal when you can get their attention.  Be very clear in your instructions.  Do not worry; your animals will not have any trouble understanding you.  If the animal is indoor/outdoor, talk to him about the places he will be the safest.  If you say, “stay out of the road”, you are imagining the road and it may be confusing.  Instead, say, “stay in the yard” and have a clear, visual, image in your mind of where the boundaries lie.  Tell him what you would like him to do in case he is lost.  Perhaps you would want him to go to a trustworthy person.  Or you may want to encourage him to stay where he is, but be visible from the road where you will be able to see him.  Talk through scenarios with your animal.

 For indoor animals, being lost outside is a much more frightening ordeal.  You may want to take your indoor animal on a tour of the outside of your house so that he can see what his home looks like.  We tend to be lulled into a sense of security with our indoor animals because we never think that they would ever get lost.  Typically, these are the animals that are most difficult to find.