Riverside Rescue works with community members and law enforcement officials to ensure that every missing pet has the opportunity to return home.
LOST
Guardians of missing pets should act immediately and not assume that your pet will come home on his/her own. Here are some basic search tips:
- Post flyers in your neighborhood with your pet’s information.
It is a good idea to include a recent photo of your pet and a detailed description of what he/she looks like. Being specific about breed, coloring, identifying markings, and collars or tags increases the chances that someone will recognize your pet if found.
Download a sample Lost Pet Flyer (MS Word). Edit the information and print for distrubtion.
- Search your neighborhood thoroughly.
Pets instinctively seek shelter and protection, oftentimes in small or hidden places, thus making them more difficult to find. (This is especially true of cats.)
Ask permission from neighbors to search their property thoroughly, including under porches and in storage areas, places that your pet may not easily be seen at first glance.
- Contact the local police department.
Law enforcement officials are charged with picking up stray dogs. Giving them your information as soon as possible lets them know what to look for in a stray dog.
While most municipalities do not require police to pick up stray cats, officers do make patrols throughout the community and may come across your cat in the course of their routines.
- Contact Riverside Rescue or your local humane society.
Stray animals are often picked up and brought to Riverside by private citizens from numerous towns. A dog or cat may not wander to us on his/her own, but he/she may easily be transported to Riverside by someone else.
To report a missing pet to Riverside, please call (802) 892-5300 and provide a detailed description of your pet.
- Understand pet behavior.
Different animals respond differently to unfamiliar circumstances. Some freeze up with fear and don’t move from a protected area. Others move from one safe spot to another in search of home.
Try thinking about how your pet reacts when afraid or feels threatened, as that is how he/she will likely react when lost.
FOUND
If you find a stray pet, acting quickly not only increases the likelihood that a lost pet will be found, but also decreases the number of risks to him/her.
Community members are encouraged to contact Riverside Rescue at (802) 892-5300 if they have found a stray animal. Even if the pet is not brought to Riverside, knowing where the animal is being cared for increases the likelihood of him/her being returned home.
