What to do when your pet goes missing

PET owners who have lost their pets can identify with the anguish that one goes through when a pet goes missing, as well as the joy at finally finding the beloved furry friend.

Below are some tips on looking for a missing pet:

1 Cats walk on the ground, but they don’t take roads. They tend to cut across gardens, the tops of walls and over roofs. So when you think where they might have gone, think like a kitty, not a human.

2 Cats hide when scared. So, go search when it’s quiet, before first call to prayer and after people come home from supper.

3 Walk slowly, look under cars and in drains. Also, don’t forget roofs and trees! Call loudly as your pet may not hear you the first time.

4 Put a treat in your pocket, in case you need to lure your pet.

5 Connect with the people in your area by going out in the early morning when the air is fresh, and at dusk. Hand them a photo of the whole cat. You need to get the tail in as well as the face, for easier identification.

6 If you make a poster, be sure to include a good photo, the area he/she went missing and your phone number. If you speak more than one language, make it multi-lingual. However, do not add in languages you don’t speak because you’ll get calls you can’t understand.

7 Social media can work, but be sure to put up one post and then to share from that. Then, update the information on that one post as you go along. Whatever you change, will automatically be reflected on the shared posts. This is important because it will save you a lot of time when updating.

8 Gather support group! It’s awful to lose a pet, so be sure you have friends and family who are there for you, unconditionally.