Lost & Found

Is Your Pet Lost?

A lost pet can be a frightening experience for any pet parent. Immediate action is crucial, but where do you start? Follow the steps below for the best chance of a reunion.

What to do immediately after your pet goes missing:

Walk the neighborhood: Take a walk around the immediate area and speak to any neighbors, postal service workers, landscapers, or anyone who may have seen your lost pet. You know your pet best, so look in areas that your pet may have been interested in or comfortable hiding in. Most pets are found close to home.

Share their scent: Put a couple of your pet’s favorite items near the most common entry ways into your home. The front door and the door into your yard would be the best locations. You can include items like their favorite bed, blanket, toys, their litterbox (if cat) and any other items they use frequently. Their scents may help them find their way home.

Next Steps:

  1. Check with your local animal services, animal control, and animal shelters: Call to see if your missing pet is at one of these locations. An in-person trip is preferable so you can look and see if your pet is in their care. Many organizations allow you to place a lost report with them, where you can leave a photo of your pet and your contact information.
  2. Make sure your pet’s microchip information is updated: If a finder takes your missing pet to be scanned for a microchip, you want to make sure that all the information is correct so that you will be contacted immediately.
  3. Create an effective lost pet flier to include a large, color photo of your pet, date and location your pet was lost, description of your pet gender, breed, and any unique identifying characteristics, your name & contact information, including area code and phone numbers.
  4. Search for your lost dog or cat on Petco Love Lost: We have partnered with Petco Love Lost to easily help search the national lost and found database and create a searchable/shareable alert for your missing pet. Upload a picture of your pet or searching by location. Powered by facial recognition technology, Petco Love Lost helps match found animals to reported lost pets nationwide. Visit Petco Love Lost and search now!If you haven’t done so already, be sure to register your pet on Petco Love Lost to do things like create a Lost listing that can be shared and print out premade fliers. You can also receive fliers via text message or email.
  5. Use the sharing features on Petco Love Lost to distribute your lost pet listing on other social media outlets like Facebook, Instagram, Craigslist, and Next-door. Also, check the following Winchester – Frederick County VA Lost and Found Pets Facebook Page and the Clarke County Va Lost And Found Pets Facebook Page.
  6. Continue to spread the word about your missing pet: Make sure any posters or fliers made are large and bright with only relevant information on it. Place in high traffic areas and in the vicinity of where your lost pet went missing.
  7. Don’t give up! Finding a lost pet can take time. Remember to regularly check websites that you have posted your lost pet on and make updates as needed. New lost and found pets are added regularly to Petco Love Lost and to your local shelters.

Local Shelters:

Winchester Area SPCA

111 Featherbed Lane
Winchester, VA 22601
540-662-8616
winchesterspca.org

The Winchester Area SPCA keeps records of animals reported as lost for 30 days. When new animals are brought in, the lost records are cross-referenced, and potential matches are notified. If you have lost a pet, contact the WASPCA with a description. If you have a picture or flyer, you may e-mail it or bring it to WASPCA Admission Center during business hours to place it with your lost pet report.

Reclaiming your pet.
Should your lost pet arrive at WASPCA, you may reclaim him or her by providing the following: valid ID and proof of ownership. The Winchester Area SPCA does not charge a fee to reclaim your pet in normal circumstances. 

Frederick County Esther Boyd Animal Shelter 

161 Fort Collier Rd.
Winchester, VA 22603
540-667-9192
Visit website here 

Clarke County Humane Society/Animal Control 

225 Ramsburg Lane
Berryville, VA 22611
540-955-5104
Visit website here