Have you lost your pet? What to do next

Losing a pet is a heartbreaking experience, as both 80-year-old Karl Daniels and CityNews reporter Avery Haines can attest.

While both those stories had a happy ending, the tearful reunion between pet and owner followed weeks of frantic searching.

Here’s what to do if your pet is lost.

The first step seems obvious, but needs to be stated: Search around your home and neigbourhood, including asking your friends and neighbours if they’ve seen your pet. The City of Toronto has a full list of the steps on their website, and recommends not giving up the search too early.

Second, contact the City of Toronto at 416-338-PAWS (7297) to file a Lost Animal Report. Be prepared to provide a description of your pet, licence number and tattoo or microchip number if applicable.

Licensed pets are easier to track. Daniels’ dog Kimbo did not have a microchip or a collar when he turned up at the Toronto Humane Society, making it impossible for the Society to track down Daniels.

Third, look at photos of lost pets online, and fourth, look at this list of pets that were found in the past five days. That list also includes where the pets are now.

Then, it’s time to visit shelters and vet offices in person, and look for your missing pet. “Only you can identify your missing pet,” the City said, and phone descriptions don’t always cut it. Post photos and flyers in public places and around your neighbourhood, and other community centres.

Finally, it’s the step no animal-lover wants to consider: The city keeps a list of all the deceased animals over the past month. Click here to view it, including the location of where the animal was found.

CityNews reporter Avery Haines shares the heartfelt reunion after her two cats were reunited after one of them went missing. Watch the video below or click here to view it.

The City of Toronto also recommends using the website Helping Lost Pets. It’s allows users to post photos of their missing pets, as well as lost-and-found reports. The site covers North America, and includes a map, so that it’s easier to search by area.

It also has an email function, so that you could receive notices about potential matches.

If your story has a happy ending, and your pet has been found, it’s time to call Toronto Animal Services again. Let them know your pet has been found.

Remove any flyers you may have posted, both online and in your neighbourhood.

If You Find A Lost Pet

If the lost dog or cat is wearing a City of Toronto tag, contact 311. If the animal does not have any identification tags, bring it to one of the city’s shelters.