Safeguard Your Pets: Lost Pet Prevention Tips

Did you know 1 in 3 pets go missing during their lifetime? Let’s work together to change the odds! In honor of National Lost Pet Prevention Month in July, we’ve compiled essential tips for pet guardians to help ensure a swift reunion if your pet ever gets lost. 

Steps to Prevent Your Pet from Getting Lost

• Microchip Your Pet
  A microchip cannot be removed or lost, and it’s often the last link between a lost pet and its owner. We offer microchipping for income-qualifying residents for just $25, which includes national registration! 
• Update Microchip Information
  If your pet already has a microchip, ensure all the information is up to date. Remember to update it anytime you move or change your phone number. 
• Check Your Pet’s Collar and Identification
  Ensure your pet’s collar fits well and can’t be easily slipped off. Dogs must wear license tags at all times, so ensure the license is current and attached to their collar. 
• Register Your Pet on Petco Love Lost
  Add your pets for free on Petco Love Lost to help them get home if they go missing. Learn more at Petco Love Lost. 

Tips to Find Your Missing Pet

• Walk Around Your Neighborhood
  Most lost pets stay close to home and are often found within a mile of their house. Check in with neighbors and walk around your neighborhood. 
• Spread the Word
  Use social media to post about your missing pet on local community groups and lost and found pet pages. Create flyers and posters to distribute in your area. 
• Use Online Resources
  Post on Nextdoor, Craigslist, and Ring’s neighbors feed, which partners with Petco Love Lost to share missing pet posts. 
• Post to Petco Love Lost
  Enter a photo of your missing pet and search Petco Love Lost’s national lost and found pet database. 
• Check Shelter’s Lost Pet Pages
  Browse the online listing of found pets in our shelter to see if your pet is listed. 

Found a Lost Pet? Here’s How You Can Help

Seeing a loose dog or cat might make you want to take them to a safe place like our shelter. However, local and national data show that many stray dogs are found close to their homes, and taking them away can reduce their chances of reuniting with their families. 

Steps to Reunite a Lost Pet with Their Family: 

• Walk the Pet Around the Area
  Most pets don’t wander far. If it’s a dog, walk around the area, alert neighbors, and ask if they recognize the pet. 
• Check for Tags and Microchips
  If the pet has tags, call their owners to set up a reunion. If not, take them to a vet clinic, pet store, or shelter to be scanned for a microchip. 
• Spread the Word
  Post on social media networks and websites like Nextdoor, local Facebook groups (Lost and Found Pets of Pierce County and Tacoma Lost and Found Pets), Ring’s neighbors feed, PawBoost, Petco Love Lost, and Craigslist. 
• File a Found Pet Report
  Call our shelter at 253-383-2733 and give a description of the pet. You can also contact local vet clinics with the information. 
• Hold on to the Pet
  If possible, temporarily keep the pet. They have a better chance of reuniting with their family if they stay near where they were found. 
• Schedule an Appointment
  Schedule an appointment to bring the lost pet to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. 

As one of the few open-admission shelters in Washington state, we welcome animals regardless of age, breed, medical conditions, or behavioral needs. Our appointment-based intake system empowers the community to play an active role in giving pets a second chance, reducing stress for lost animals and their owners, and allowing us to manage our resources effectively. 

Explore more about lost and found pet best practices and how you can help reunite lost pets with their families. Stay positive, stay vigilant, and let’s help keep pets with the people who love them!