Lost Pets / Found Pets
Lost Pets
What to do
Advertise, search the neighborhood, see tips suggested by The Human Society here.
Contact local Adoption and Rescue organizations. See our list here.
File lost pet reports with these local organizations:
How FIDO can help
E-mail fidolostdog@gmail.com with the following:
Dog’s sex / age / weight / breed / color
Clear pictures
Where your dog was last seen
A contact phone number
We will e-mail our ~400 FIDO members for free, the majority of whom live within a few miles of Prospect Park & Downtown Brooklyn. We will also post to our the FIDO in Prospect Park Facebook.
Stolen Dogs / Extortion
Often a posted reward does help get your dog back but commonly someone will hold your dog until a reward goes up.
Their story will be that they bought the dog from a stranger and only want their money back. If you feel that someone is extorting you for a bigger reward, call the police. If you can make a case that you feel "threatened" then they should help you.
If the police do not seem to be interested in helping you, then call 311 with the date of the call, the police station called and the name of the officer who refused to act. They will give you a complaint number and someone will get back to you.
If your dog is stolen and no one approaches you for a reward, then in all likelihood the dog has been sold, possibly just a few neighborhoods over from where you live. Now is the time to pull out all the stops: go to the press! Nothing like the glare of publicity to make someone put pressure on someone to do the right thing/or rat on them.
Prevention Tips
Always have ID on your pet's collar at all times.
If you lose your tags – replace them immediately!
Microchips are not infallible. (The chip in your dog's body may not match the chip number on the paperwork so neither Home Again or ACC will have the correct registration number.)
Found Pets
Finding a Lost Dog's Owner
Call the number on their tag.
Send your contact information, a photo, and a description of the dog to to fidolostdog@gmail.com.
If you find a dog with tags that doesn’t include a phone number, call the veterinarian identified on the rabies vaccination tag. The veterinarian should be able to identify the owner by the rabies tag number. If the dog has no tags, there is a good possibility that the dog may be microchipped. Most vets have the facility to scan the dog between its shoulder blades to see if it can be identified. This service is not terribly expensive, painless - often as little as $35 which includes the registration number by which you are contacted. Chip must be registered though (often neglected).
If the dog appears to have been lost recently, (healthy but panicked) try walking around the neighborhood and asking if anyone recognizes it. It may have slipped its collar only a few minutes ago and the owner is actively looking for their pet, or perhaps doesn't realize it’s gone. Dogs know where they live so look for any reaction.
Post flyers in your neighborhood, at pet supply shops in and around Prospect Park, and at your veterinarian’s office. Many veterinary offices will take a description of the dog over the phone. Cast your net wide as you can, because a lost dog may travel some distance.
We will e-mail our ~400 FIDO members for free, the majority of whom live within a few miles of Prospect Park & Downtown Brooklyn. We will also post to our the FIDO in Prospect Park Facebook.
Local Groups Reuniting Lost Pets with Owners
File lost pet reports with these local organizations:
Abandoned Dogs
Unfortunately, many or most dogs found in Brooklyn are abandoned, not lost. Sad to say no-kill shelters have long waiting lists. While small dogs may be able to go to a shelter like Bide-a-Wee, larger dogs are harder for them to fit in. In any case, you’ll have to hold the animal for ten days in order to establish ownership before you surrender it.
Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find a permanent or foster home right away, but if not, the truth is that you can expect to invest substantial time and money in your rescue. If you’re unable to do that, you’ll have to find a rescue organization or take the dog to to a city Animal Care Center where the odds are pretty high that the animal will be euthanized. If the dog is a pit bull (or look-alike), those odds rise.
If you can’t keep the dog at home but want to place it in a care facility, you might consider boarding. Kennels cost about $20/day (less in the suburbs.)
The Good News is that dogs do find homes. Help is out there. To make the dog more adoptable (because it’s the right thing to do) you should take the animal to a veterinarian for an exam, shots, and a spay/ neuter if necessary. Many veterinarians will discount their fees for strays, especially if you have other pets under their care. By all means ask.
Can't keep the dog yourself?
Know that it's perfectly acceptable to not want to take on an abandoned dog for any reason. There's no need to say you haven't the room; your other dog won't adjust; you can't afford double veterinary bills. Simply tell people that you can't keep the dog but do make an effort to find a foster/adoption opportunity. See local rescue organizations below...
These are rescue organization who take in and foster abandoned dogs with the hopes that they will eventually find a home for them.
Do offer a sizable donation - these organization always are short of funds. And they do good work!