How to Find Missing Pets

An estimated one in three pets will get lost in the U.S. every year. Follow these expert tips to get yours home safe and sound.

- LIZZ SCHUMER

Having to post a "Missing" sign around the neighborhood or on social media is every pet owner's worst nightmare. Here's how to get your four-legged friend home quickly.

KEEP ID UP TO DATE

The most important step happens before your pet goes missing: Make sure they're wearing proper identification at all times. Every pet, even an indoor cat, should wear a well-fitted collar, says Josh Cary, national director of the American Humane Rescue Team. Cats in particular should wear a quick-release or breakaway style because they love to wedge themselves into tight spaces and if their collar gets caught on something, they can choke while struggling to get free. Every pet's collar should include an ID tag labeled with the owner's current contact information. You can also purchase GPS-enabled tracker devices to attach to a pet's collar (see sidebar, next page)-just be sure to keep the battery charged. As a backup, every pet should have a microchip from a veterinarian's office or a shelter, Cary says; research shows that the rate of safe return home is two and a half times higher for microchipped dogs and 20 times higher for cats with microchips than for those that don't have them. Keep your address and contact information updated both on your pet's collar tag and in the microchip database, and store a few clear and current photos of your pet on your phone. That will help confirm that they're yours if they get picked up by others.