Sometimes the unthinkable happens and no matter how secure your home, how mindful you are, and how careful of a pet parent you are, your beloved pet may get out and get lost.
Each year, thousands of animals are brought into County of Los Angeles Animal Care and Control Centers (DACC) as strays and only about 35% of dogs and less than five percent of cats are reunited with their homes.
Animal Care and Control uses a variety of methods to try and reunite lost pets with their owners, including:
— enhancing its website with action plans for lost & found animals, including digital lost pet flier templates for the owner’s use;
— recently launching a team of volunteers called the Finders Seekers who keep an eye on social media and the department’s website to provide information on possible connections when available;
— partnering with the community to provide Lost & Found fliers and resources to help bring pets home, and;
— launching a pet license amnesty program through June 30 that waives all penalty fees for new or renewal pet licenses AND provides a free microchip for pets (in participating service areas).
In addition, here are some ways pet owners can assist in finding their lost animals:
— downloading and customizing a lost pet poster from the department’s website, https://animalcare.lacounty.gov/if-you-lost-your-pet/ and posting on social media. All seven county animal care centers have free 18″x24″ Lost Pet Posters that are designed to be eye-catching backgrounds for lost pet fliers to post or hand out in your neighborhood (remember, not everyone is on social media);
— making an appointment for your pet to have a microchip implanted at a vaccine or chip clinic. If you live in our service areas and buy a new pet license or renew your current pet license between now and June 30, your pet can receive a free microchip, and;
— getting to know the pet owners in your community and encourage them to spay/neuter, vaccinate and microchip their pets.
“Losing a pet can be a very distressing event,” DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. “Make sure your pets are microchipped, their registration information is current, and they are licensed. Proper identification can help you reunite with your beloved pet and have ease of mind.”
