What happened?

Consider putting a GPS tracking device on your pet to help pinpoint their location if they are ever lost. While microchipping is essential for finding a lost pet, GPS trackers are the only way to see your pet’s location at all times.

Losing a pet often causes an immense amount of stress. Some coping methods to ease that stress are:

• Remain hopeful by knowing PetLink is here to help bring your pet home.
• Do not place the blame on yourself. Don’t overthink about what went wrong and what you could have or should have done differently. Instead, focus on the strategies in place to find your lost pet.
• Practice self-care to maintain a healthy mindset. Blaming and guilting yourself will not help bring your pet home, but being positive and active can make the difference needed to locate your missing pet.
• Statistically, lost pets are returned to their homes in the majority of cases when their owners attempt to find them. By using PetLink and following the suggested steps after losing a pet, the odds are significantly in favor of the pet being found and reunited with its owner.

No matter what, always approach a strange pet with caution. Use a leash or pet carrier to safely restrain the found pet. If the pet will not safely cooperate, contact the local police department or animal control right away to retrieve the pet.

If you cannot find the pet’s owner, you must turn it over to authorities. They are responsible for keeping the pet while trying to connect with its owner. If they permit you to keep the lost pet, you can do so as you search for the owner. Refer to your local police department for legal instructions based on where you live.

You can always turn the lost pet over to the local authorities or an animal rescue to care for the lost pet while they search for its owner.

Yes, for the pet’s safety, anyone claiming to be the owner should be required to show proof that the pet actually belongs to them before it is returned to their possession.