The Johannesburg and Krugersdorp SPCA has had a substantial increase in the number of stray animals admitted into our societies this festive season, when compared to last year.

There are no guarantees that you will find your pet, but there are vital steps that you should take to increase the chance of finding him/her.

BEFORE THE PET IS LOST!

Before doing anything else, STERILIZE your pet.  There are various myths and beliefs that your sterilized dog will not protect the family, become less vicious or will become fat and lazy. 

The truth of the matter is, sterilizing your pet, has its advantages.

• Animals which are not sterilized tend to wander.  For example, a Maltese, can easily become “Supermaltese” by clearing a 6ft wall when he smells a female on heat.  You will decrease the chances of them wandering in the road in search of a mate.  Animals wandering in the road have a great chance of being injured through various means such as being knocked down by cars, fighting with neighbouring animals etc.  
• If you ensure that your animal is regularly exercised, you feed your animal a nutritionally balanced diet, and offer treats on occasion, your animal should not become overweight, unless he/she has a health condition.
• It is a fallacy that a female dog must have at least 1 litter before sterilizing her.  A female dog may start her heat cycle from as early as 4 months old.  This is an equivalent of allowing a young girl to have a baby during her first menstrual cycle.

Make sure your pet has identification.  Having both a microchip and collar and tag is advisable.  A collar and tag can easily get lost but a microchip is permanent.  Vets and SPCA’s are equipped with scanners which will be able to pick up a microchip and then we can contact the owner.

If you are going away on holiday, do not leave your animal at home alone; make sure you find reputable boarding facilities or house sitters for your animals.

AFTER THE PET IS LOST!

• Do not panic.  Panic Clouds your mind!
• Contact all the animal shelters and veterinarians in your area, to report the animal as missing.  Be sure to provide as much detail as possible and also mention any distinguishing characteristics.  E.g. Black spot on left ear. 
• Visit local animal shelters and look for yourself.  Any animal may become dirty, matted and neglected looking very quickly when on the road.
• It is also important to visit all the shelters within 20-30 km of where your pet was lost.  Remember that someone picking the animal up may not take the animal to the animal’s closest shelter but to a shelter convenient to the person.  A person might also keep a pet for a few days hoping you would look and ask about it.
• Visit all your neighbours and in surrounding streets. 
• Hand out pamphlets with a photograph of the animal and your contact details. Ask Shops, petrol stations if they don’t mind you putting your lost poster on their notice boards.
• Walk in your surrounding streets and call your pet.
• Put an ad in the local paper, and in the papers in surrounding areas. Also advertising in the paper can also be important to establish you were actively looking for your pet in case someone were to claim it you meant to give it up or didn't want it