There are few worse feelings then realizing your pet is missing. A few years ago, my cat Olive decided to brave the streets of Hampden for 10 days before I was able to track her down.  Here are a few tips from the SPCA that I used to help get her home and get me the awesome nickname, “that Cat Lady from Wellington Street”. (Luckily the nickname didn’t stick when I moved over to Canton)

• Check with people in your neighborhood. Talk to your neighbors, mail carriers and newspaper delivery people, anyone who spends time in your neighborhood who might have seen your pet.
• Make a poster. Include a description and  current photo of your pet. Offer a reward. It doesn’t have to be large, but any reward may motivate people to help the search. Decide what you think is a fair amount. Include your telephone number.
• Put your poster up around town. Post it on street corners and in area shops. Many places like libraries and supermarkets have bulletin boards that you can post it on.  Make a smaller sign (perhaps 4 or 6 to a page) and put them in your neighbor’s mailboxes.  Olive only made it a block away.

Read more lost pet tips here.

If you find an animal, you should proceed with caution.  

• Use common sense when approaching any unknown animal. He may be hurt. He probably is hungry and frightened and may be unpredictable.
• Be careful about bringing any unfamiliar pet into your home, especially if you already have animals.
• Check the classified section for lost pets. Some newspapers accept lost and found pet ads for free.
• If you can’t hold onto the animal while you search for its owner, call your local Animal Control agency or take the animal to the closest animal shelter.
• If you can hold onto the animal while you search for its owner, please complete a Found Dog Report or Found Cat Report and submit it to the MDSPCA.

For more information on what to do if you find a pet, read the MDSPCA helpful lost pet brochure.

Additional Social Media Tips:

Please send us any photos of your lost or found pets.  We will post it on our wall and share it with our networks.  You should also send your pet’s information here:

• If you lost or found a dog, please post to For the Love of Louie‘s Facebook page.
• If you lost or found a cat, please post to Lost and Found Cats of Baltimore‘s Facebook page.