Lost Pets
The following information is provided by the Animal Rescue League.
- Bringing a lost pet to a shelter may harm the pet’s chances of finding his/her family again. More than half of lost pets are found by their owners in the neighborhoods where they live. If you cannot keep the pet in your home, please contact the Berks County Animal Rescue League or another local shelter/rescue like Safety Net Sanctuary.
- Check for a tag or other identification markers. If the pet does not have tags, you can take it to your local veterinary clinic to have a microchip checked.
- If a cat you’ve found has a tipped/notched ear, please return the cat to the place where you found it. A tipped/notched ear typically means that the cat is an outdoor community cat, has been spayed/neutered, and has a person caring for her/him.
- Please use this form to report that you’ve lost/found a pet. If you cannot complete this form, please call us at 610-373-8830 instead. We also recommend contacting other shelters in the area.
- Make flyers and post them around the area where you found the pet. Knock on doors. Many times lost pets are only a few blocks from home.
- Post the found pet on Petco Love Lost, as well as Facebook groups like Berks Dog Search, Berks County Cat Search, and Maidencreek Township Residents. Some people may use their local neighborhood Nextdoor site to find pets or report lost ones.
Tips for Finding Lost Dogs
- Search your neighborhood several times a day. Call for your dog. Shake a favorite treat jar or bag. Wait and see if your dog responds or comes to you.
- If you have more than one dog, bring your other dog with you (on a long leash) as you search. Your other dog may catch your lost dog’s scent or encourage him to come out of hiding.
- Put out items with your scent or your pet’s scent, like a dog bed.
- Don’t give up after a few days. Pets have sometimes been lost for weeks or months before they find their way home.
Tips for Finding Lost Cats
- Cats that are lost typically hide in silence. They typically will stick close to the location that they were lost from, though some may migrate. If you can fit your fist in a hole, a cat typically can fit in it.
- The more outgoing the cat typically is, the early the sightings will be. If your cat tends to be more timid and skittish, they are typically rarely seen and when they do come out is at night. The average timeframe that a cat is lost for is 10 days to 2 weeks. So be patient and don’t lose hope!
- Have up to date pictures of your cat: All angles including their face. The whisker’s pattern on cats is as unique as a fingerprint.
- Follow the clues (pawprints, fur on objects that match your cat’s fur, etc.)
- Check with neighbors on sightings
- Sit & Wait: An ignored cat is more likely to approach.
- Always have a towel so if you catch your cat, you can wrap it and safely bring it inside
- Be Patient: Yelling their name and making noises will often cause cats to hide in silence longer due to fear.