With plan, you can increase odds of bringing lost pet home

I lost a dog once. Her name was Cocoa. It happened under rather extraordinary circumstances. When we found out she was lost, we didn't leave the area. After searching for nine hours, we found her. She was several miles from where she started. Losing her was a traumatic experience for everyone, including my dog.

The Humane Society of the United States and PETS911.com suggest a number of tips on what to do when you've lost a pet -- including staying calm. From personal experience, this is easier said than done, but it doesn't help to panic.

A study reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association found dogs were recovered primarily through a call or visit to an animal agency, from a dog license tag and after posting neighborhood signs.

Contacting local animal shelters and animal control agencies is important. File a lost pet report with a photograph and description with every shelter, within a 60 mile radius of your home, and visit each shelter daily.

Posting fliers and neighborhood signs are ways to get word out about your lost pet. Create fliers and posters containing the following information: a photo; a brief description of your pet including age, sex, weight, breed, color and special markings; and a phone number that is always available. When describing your pet, leave out one identifying characteristic and ask the person who finds him or her to describe it.

Post these fliers and signs at stores, veterinarians, groomers and anywhere else that will let you put them up. Go door to door, giving the fliers out to your neighbors and ask if they have seen your pet. Also, put an ad in your local newspaper and post your lost pet online at PETS911.com.

Another tip is to search your neighborhood by walking or driving through it several times a day. Ask your mail carrier or anyone regularly in your neighborhood if they have seen any wandering animals, especially during early morning or late evening hours. Before going to another neighborhood to search, thoroughly check your immediate area. For example, if it's a lost house cat, it may have been scared and hid in your neighbor's bushes.

Another suggestion is if you have to go to work or sleep, leave your pet's favorite food in a dish, or leave a T-shirt or blanket with your scent or your pet's scent on it outside. Since animals have a more sensitive sense of smell, they may smell it from a distance.

PETS911 suggests you be on call. A message such as, "If you are calling about our lost pet, please call us on our cell phone," then give the number. This will put people in touch with you immediately.

According to the Humane Society, be wary of pet recovery scams. When talking to a stranger who claims to have found your pet, ask him for a description of your pet. If he leaves out the identifying characteristic, you left out of the advertisement, he may not really have your pet. The Humane Society also suggests being particularly wary of people who insist you give or wire them money for the return of your pet.

As always, if your pet gets lost, his ID tags are his ticket home. A pet has a better chance of being returned home if he is wearing a collar and an ID tag with your name, address and telephone number. In addition to ID tags, personalized collars with a pet's name and a phone number are now available from several pet catalogs.

Also, talk with your veterinarian about a permanent method of identification, such as microchipping your pet.

The Humane Society stresses not to give up the search. They report animals who have been lost for months have been reunited with their owners.

We were lucky. We found Cocoa and brought her back home. May all the lost animals find their way home.

Adoptable

Squiggy is a tiny 1- to 2-year-old, who is good with other dogs, rides well in the car, is exceptionally well-mannered and doesn't mind being picked up. He loves to play games with his toys, shakes paw, is clean in the house and walks well on the leash. Squiggy is initially timid at meeting new people, particularly men and children. He would do best in a fairly quiet home that doesn't have young children.

Max is a 6- to 7-year-old shepherd/Lab mix, who is up to date with his shots, is neutered and housebroken. A little overweight currently, Max should be around 75 pounds. He is lovable and would be best suited to a home that doesn't have other animals. He would also benefit from a well-structured home as he still needs to learn some basic manners. He loves long walks and walks well on the leash. He needs a fenced yard and a home without small children.

Holiday happenings: Come and celebrate the upcoming holiday season with The Buddy Foundation at the following events:

Photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18; Knupper Nursery, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine.

Fashion show: Dec. 2; Hotel Indigo, 920 East Northwest Highway, Palatine.