The Oktibbeha County Humane Society has seen surprising success as of late offering help and resources to reunite lost pets with their families.
OCHS outreach coordinator Sarah Buckleitner said the first step to take if a pet is lost is to get the word out as soon as possible through posters and social media.
Posters and social media posts should include the pet's name, a clear and recent picture of the pet, a physical description of the animal, owner contact information and when and where the pet was last seen.
"Notify your local humane society and animal control," Buckleitner said. "They will keep an eye out for your pet and let you know if it comes in. We do a 'Paw Alert' on our social media that has successfully reunited hundreds of pets with their families."
Buckleitner also suggested asking neighbors to keep an eye out for the lost pet, calling all veterinarians in the area to notify them of the lost pet and drive around the area when the pet was lost to look for it.
Buckleitner said the best way to ensure pets are reunited with their owners if they get lost is to make all pets wear a collar and identification.
"So many animals come to us because they don't have a collar or their tags fall off or aren't readable," she said. "If that happens it takes so much longer to reunite the animal with its family. If someone can pick up your dog or cat and call you directly, you can cut the shelter out of the equation completely."
Microchipping is another easy and affordable identification method for pets that can’t be removed or lost, Buckleitner said.
In December 2017, the OCHS helped Sam, a black cat who was lost for four years, reunite with his owner through the help of a microchip after four years.
The first step to take if a person finds a lost or stray animal is to contain the animal in a safe place, Buckleitner said, if you have space and feel comfortable.
Buckleitner said the second step is to address the animal for injuries.
"Don't put yourself in danger," Buckleitner said. "If the animal seems aggressive or you aren't sure, it's better not to risk it at all."
She said step three is to contact OCHS, who will then release a Paw Alert, and the animal can either be brought into the shelter and be placed in stray hold or it can be kept at the finder's home until reunited with the owner.
Buckleitner said most pets are lost around the holidays, especially New Years and the Fourth of July because fireworks scare animals and they run away. Bad weather can also scare animals and cause them to get lost.
Buckleitner said to make sure all pets are safely contained if there is a chance of bad weather or loud noises, and all enclosures should be checked for safety regularly.