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If You Have Lost Your Dog                                                                          updated     July 12, 2021

Immediate Action To Find
Your Dog/Cat


- post flyers as soon as possible where the dog was last seen
- use minimal words and make them as large as possible
- use wide, clear tape to tape flyers to phone poles 
-use 3 ring binder cover stapled upside down to protect from rain
(important part of the sign still be readable if it rains)

      Lost Dog
      Collie Mix
       Reward  
      555-5555


-lost dog generic flyer with your phone #

-lost dog half page with your # to stuff mailboxes

- hit the streets and give everyone flyer or business card.  People are usually very helpful in looking for a dog.

- post on www.petfbi.org

- RICO Pet Recovery
​
   -Columbus based lost dog assistance

-Contact Lost Pet Recovery for volunteer 
   search assistance

-check Franklin Co Auditor 
Lost Dog Bulletin

-Ohio Lost/Found Portal

-Recovery Tips & Prevention
​
-National Lost/Found Databases
HelpMeFindMyPet.com
​
Petkey.com

​FindingRover.com

- Visit Franklin Co An Shelter
525-3646 Go there every few days...
 there are too many dogs for them to try figure out if your dog 
is there over the phone        

-call Mary Jane Stockdale 471-7397  she is a lost/found service

-leave a recently worn t-shirt, shoes, socks on your front/back doors so the dog can smell their way back

-we lost a dog once and drove around with our flashers on and a sign in the
window that said lost dog...a trucker stopped us and sent us 5 miles
in the other direction and we eventually found the dog

-if this is a frightened dog that will not come to anyone, contact us for use of a humane trap

-if you are trying to catch a dog that is on the run, try these tricks
  
-run/jog/walk AWAY from the dog, see if he/she will follow you to your car

-say SIT, STAY to see if the dog will, then slowly approach while continuing to talk

-staying low will make you less intimidating, sitting/laying down encourages some dogs too 
be more likely to come to you


What to do if your pet was stolen

Rescuing a lost pet

Micro Chip  Registries 

Home Again
 866-738-4324

Free Pet 
Chip Registry


911PetChip

Avid 
800-336-2843  
(They also own Pet Net Microchip  

Web Sites to Check
Hoobly.com  
Kijiji.com 
CraigsList.com

pets are stolen, 
then sold online, 
hoobly is used by 
those who do not 
want to attract too 
much attention

Dogs Hit by Cars
You must go in person with a picture of your dog. They will let you know if they find a dog matching the description.

Refuse Collection
2100 Alum Cr Dr     Columbus 43207
between 
104 & Refugee Rd, square blding on left
Picture
    









​
Try This to Catch a Loose Dog


Carry a slip lead in your car....have a rope like slip lead that fits in the 
handle well of your driver door.  You can make a slip lead out of a regular leash by turning it around, you don't want to risk just a leash on a collar that a scared dog may back out of then have not even a collar on.

-call the dog in a quiet voice, Here Buddy, then say ..in a little more stern voice, Sit....and if he does....approach slowly while saying siiiiiiiiiiiitttt.....siiiiiiittt....gooooood siiiiiittt...having your voice carry till you are able to catch him. 
The other word to try is Stay....good boy Buddy....Staaaaaaayyyyy.....you should also do these things with one hand extended in front of you to catch his gaze. 

-run away from the dog.....get his attention...pat your knees..then run back to your car or a fenced area to see if he will follow..once you have him coming toward you...he may be more willing for you to approach. 

-pretend you have something and are hiding it from him, slower reach for collar when he comes close enough
  (use any wrapper to make that "I have a treat noise"

-sit on ground, turned slightly to the left or right, smile, open arms inviting dog

-sit down, hide your head, cry

-open car door and say "let's go for a ride"

More Tips on catching a loose/shy dog
Lost Dogs, Tips to find a lost dog

​
 
Humane Traps
-you can sometimes borrow traps from rescues, shelters, humane societies

Where to buy:

Animal-traps.com
Tomahawk Live Traps
Safeguard Traps
Tru Catch Traps

Tractor Supply Stores
Harbor Freight
Lowes  &  Home Depot Stores
Havahart (cat/wildlife traps)


Humane Net Traps
Trap Lending   
   -Adopt Ohio
​
www.HumaneCapture.com
​

Tips on using:
You Tube how to set  trap door on  trap 
-lock trap w/ cable/lock
-put grass on trap bottom in case dog/cat is afraid  
  of walking on the wire
-use old wrappers from McDonalds/KFC will 
   remind dog of items that sometimes have food
-use Sardines in water (less messy) or KFC to 
   entice dog/cat

-put trail of food from outside trap to very rear of 
  trap so they step on plate and make trap door 
  close
-use zip lock bag w/ contact info on bottom/rear of 
  trap so it doesn't flap in the wind
-take trapped animal, still in trap to secure 
  location to get out of trap
-use choker collars and/or slip leads to transport 
  dogs



   How to help a dog/cat you found

If you have helped a dog by getting that dog off the street or out of a bad situation, thank you.  

We are typical of most rescues and our foster homes are always full.  As much as we would like to take this dog from you, we have had a waiting list of dogs to come into our group since the day we formed. 

These are the things you can do to try to further help this dog.  Please read before you call.  
We are swamped with many calls everyday.  We are an all volunteer organization and our hotline and e-mail responses are returned by people who volunteer their time.  We have found that we are typically hearing the same information and giving out the same info.
Picture
1  If the dog has a dog license, go to this link to input the license number and get the phone  number of the dog's guardian,  Franklin County Auditor's Office      
2  Check Petfbi.org
petfbi@petfbi.org
to see if someone listed this dog as missing

3  Call Franklin Co Animal Control, 525-3646 to file a report

4  Have the dog scanned for a micro-chip at a vet's office.  Most vets will do this for free

6 Post to:  Petkey.com



                          Options
if you do not find the dog's hom
e


1  Have Franklin Co Animal Control pick up the dog

2  Call a pure breed rescue to see if they can assist you.  Pure breed rescues are sometimes more able to take dogs of   
    their breed in to their groups because they have waiting lists of people who want that kind of dog.

3  Try to place this dog on your own.  Read our "Surrender/Placement" information.  This info includes
    tips/ideas on how to go about finding a new home for the dog you have found. Most importantly, get this  
    dog spayed/neutered before he/she leaves your care.  See our low cost spay/neuter info so you can 
    help us stop the cycle of overpopulation.
   
4  Columbus Dog Connection will assist you in placing this dog by listing him/her on our site under "other  
    dogs available"  The pooch would need to stay in your care and it would be up to you to place him/her.    
   Spay/neuter assistance may be available if needed.  Contact Kellie for more info  KDifrischia@gmail.com


Picture
Dog Search Services

​--From Above Aerial's Pet Search/Rescue
--Lost Dog Recovery  614-377-1777
--Steve Hagey 215-997-2687 Pet Rescue Bloodhound  Reasonable rates & very good. His dog is trained to locate cats and dogs.

More Resources:

 FindToto.com  For $85 will use your house as the center to call 500 homes or more depending on the package you choose in your neighborhood to ask if they have seen your dog
 petfbi.com/lostcattips.htm
  use of a humane trap
 wikihow.com/Find-a-Lost-Cat
 ehow.com/how_2455_find-lost-cat.html
 missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-lostcat.php
 missingpetpartnership.org/recovery-lostcattips.php

​
Questions? Email us at:   ​ColumbusDogConnectionInfo@gmail.com​
Columbus Dog Connection    614-471-9000 
2761 Johnstown Rd Columbus  OH   43219   (near the Columbus Airport)