DOGS ONLY MEDICAL CENTER
614.939.9900
614.939.9900Lost your Dog?!!
Most pets are found within a 30-block range of their own house so keep looking! It is not uncommon for someone within your 30-block radius to have temporarily taken in your pet and care for him/her while trying to reach you.
It is recommended that you do them in the order listed or better yet, gather a search party and delegate each step.
SPEED AND THOROUGHNESS WITH WHICH YOU REACT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
1. SEARCH HOUSE AND YARD
You would be amazed how many times people have found the front door open and assumed the worst. Look under the bed, in closets, basement, garage, etc. Walk the yard - is the fence broken? Is there a hole dug under the fence? (follow footprints)
2. CALL/TALK TO NEIGHBORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN
Maybe they saw which way the pet was walking or they are holding the pet for you.
3. VISIT SHELTERS/HUMANE SOCIETIES
It is better to go there - not call.
Many shelters will only hold them for three or four days - quick action is essential. Take a picture.
Franklin County Animal Shelter
1731 Alum Creek Dr. 462-4360 Citizens for Humane Action
5505 Westerville Rd. 891-5280 Capital Area Humane Society
3015 Scioto Darby Executive Ct. 777-7387 Humane Society of Delaware County
4920 State Rt. 37, Delaware, Oh 548-73874. MAKE FLYERS AND DISTRIBUTE
Make eye catching and colorful a large picture of pet. Include pet's size, color, identifying marks or tattoos. Give two or three phone numbers as contacts. Some suggest adding "needs medication" in case someone has found your pet and decides to keep it. You may consider the offer of a reward, but not state how much.
-Distribute flyers to: neighbor's mailbox, bulletin boards, school yards, grocery stores, mail to all vets, convenience stores, mail to all shelters, laundromat, telephone poles, boarding kennels/ groomers
5. TALK TO:
postal carriers
meter reader
paper carrier
kids in neighborhood/school
6. VISIT SHELTER/HUMANE SOCIETY EVERY DAY
Drop off a flyer each time.
7. CHECK PET FBI WEB SITE FOR LOST PETS
www.petfbi.com
8. CONTACT LOCAL VETERINARIANS
Your pet may have been injured and taken for treatment.
9. CHECK LOST AND FOUND SECTION OF NEWSPAPER EACH DAY
10. IF YOUR DOG WAS A PUREBRED
Call the Central Ohio Kennel Club (division of AKC) for local breed rescue clubs - 299-3647.
11. POST ON NEXTDOOR NEIGHBORHOOD APP
12. NOTIFY POLICE
Even if your pet is lost but not stolen, they may spot him/her in their travels.
Gahanna PD 471-8080New Albany PD 855-7547Pataskala PD 224-2122Westerville PD 882-744413. ARE THERE ANY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT MAKE IT INTO A HUMAN INTEREST STORY?
Call TV & radio stations.
DON'T GIVE UP. Keep checking the shelters and the papers for the next couple of months. Often someone will house your stray, hoping that you will find it. When he gets frustrated or can no longer keep the pet, he will turn it over to a local animal agency as a last resort. By this time, the shelter personnel will have forgotten about your lost pet unless you have kept up your search.
After you have found your pet, call us to set an examination to make sure there are no hidden wounds or injuries and at that time we can MICROCHIP your pet.
We hope this has been a help to you.
Microchip Owner Registration Information:
Avid Microchip Registration 1-800-336-2843
Home Again Microchip Registration
1-866-738-4324
"Hundreds of miles away from home"
Mr. Dicerbo took Jake to visit family in Indiana over the Christmas holiday. While there, the unthinkable happened. Jake got out of the house he was staying at and got lost. Jake’s dad searched for days. Visions of Jake cold, hungry, scared or hit by a car kept Mr. Dicerbo awake at night. Finally Mr. Dicerbo had to go back home to Columbus without Jake! ! Meanwhile, Jake was presented to an animal hospital in Indiana. The doctor there scanned Jake for a microchip and found one (hooray). The registration of the microchip gave the doctor Mr. Dicerbo’s home number. When they called him at home there was no answer so the doctor next called us because we placed the microchip – we were able to call Mr. Dicerbo at work and give him the great news. Jake's life was saved because Mr.Dicerbo spent a few extra dollars for the microchip.
Other Resources:
Franklin County Dog Shelteror 614-525-3400 to report a lost dog.
Serving Gahanna, New Albany, Blacklick, Westerville, Bexley and surrounding communities.
